SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD — Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School student Caroline Lowder placed in the top 20 out of 220 students in her event at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) held in Anaheim, Calif., on April 30.

Caroline, who finished her junior year of high school this month, competed in the Marketing Communications Series event, which required her to take a business cluster exam in Marketing as well as perform role-plays on different business case studies.

Caroline received medals for each one of her preliminary role-plays, which recognized her as the top competitor in her section. More than 5,000 students competed in the Marketing Communications Series event at DECA regional and state conferences nationwide. Caroline was joined by 10 other Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School DECA members who also were competing in various events. These students qualified to compete at ICDC based upon their success at the New Jersey State Career Development Conference in March.

DECA is the co-curricular Marketing club of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools in all 50 states as well as other countries. Students in DECA have the opportunity to compete in various business topics as well as lead and manage different projects such as Mr. Spiffy High. Marjorie FitzGibbon is the DECA advisor and Marketing teacher at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.