Gateway Technical College Collegiate DECA team members Kayla Mumford (Kenosha) and Mary Hvizdak (Sturtevant) took home first-place honors at the International Career Development Conference held April 18-April 23 in Anaheim, Cal.

Seven Gateway students placed in the top 10 of their events, as well.

“The students had great success at this event,” said Gateway instructor and adviser Kari Aiello. “They’ve worked hard to get to this point, and we’re proud of them. They represented Gateway and Wisconsin well.”

Mumford placed first in the Professional Sales event, while Hvizdak first in Sales Manager Meeting. Hvizdak also won an individual Leadership Passport Award at the Gold Level.

The Gateway chapter also took second place for garnering the most points and wins in the marketing and communications events.

Other Gateway students to place in the top 10 at this international competition, and the event they participated in, were:

• Jacob Powell (Kenosha), Banking Financial Services
• Bruce Townsel (Kenosha), Professional Sales
• Sergio Casillas (Racine), Professional Sales
• Heather Rupp (Caledonia) and Yesenia Martinez-Hall (Trevor), Event Planning (team event)
• Jordyn Favre (Kenosha), Advertising Campaign
• Ryan Bognar (Wind Lake), Emerging Technologies
• Mark Short (Kenosha), Test Finalist

Three other students won individual Leadership Passport Awards at the Gold Level:

• Lauren Boston (Kenosha)
• David Czuper (Racine)
• Samantha Perez (Pleasant Prairie)

Gateway won two Chapter Leadership Passport Program awards:

• 2016-17 Presidential Level
• 2016-17 Community Service Award

The program provides chapters a guide for year-round engagement, enhancing the benefits received from membership in Collegiate DECA. There are three levels of achievement: executive, diplomat and presidential.