By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–Twelve Helena High School students recently competed at the Alabama State DECA Career Development Conference, where half of the students placed in the top three of their divisions.

The conference, which was held in February, saw students compete by taking a 100-question test followed by role-plays in front of judges at the conference.

HHS senior Toni Massey was awarded third place in principles of business management, senior Andrew Black was awarded first place for financial services marketing, senior Angel Rivera was awarded first place for business services marketing, freshman Jessie Zou was awarded for restaurant and food service management and freshmen Schuyler Arn and Santiago Vaqueiro Mina were awarded for financial services team decision making.

The students have now been invited to represent Alabama in their divisions at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville.

The HHS DECA Club is under direction of Eric Leslie, who also teaches career prep and marketing at Helena High School.

The club is currently selling Yankee Candles to try and raise funds for the International Career Development Conference in Nashville.

Orders can be placed online or by emailing Leslie at Eleslie@shelbyed.k12.al.us.