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VIKING VICTORIES
RECORD NUMBER OF VIKINGS HEADED TO INTERNATIONAL DECA CONFERENCE
A record number of H-F DECA students earned the right to call themselves "state champions" after the Annual State Career Development Competition of the Illinois Association of DECA, which was in Decatur. Twenty-five H-F students are now qualified for the International DECA Competition, set for April 28-May 2 in Salt Lake City, where they will compete against more than 14,000 kids from all over the world. The students need your help to attend conference! Click here to help the DECA team reach their fundraising goal:
The international qualifiers are:
* International Business Plan: Luke Lawlor, Justin Johnson(qualified in multiple events), Matthew Teykl (qualified in multiple events)
* Hospitality & Tourism Professional Sales: Anna Ciambrone, Emily Drwiega
* H & R Block Virtual Business Challenge Team: Eli Lichtenberg, Kevin Noe & Jordan Pounder(qualified in multiple events)
* Retail Virtual Business Challenge Team: Haley Hruska, Hope Hruska & Morgan Lundblad (qualified in multiple events)
* Sports Virtual Business Team:Jordan Pounder, David Stern & Matthew Teykl
* Business Law & Ethics Team:Josh Barrett & Justin Johnson
* Financial Services Team: Eboni Williams & Irene Zhang
* Hospitality & Tourism Teams:Matthew Teykl & Joe Marshall; Lucy Pavisich & Jordan Giffney
* Travel & Tourism Team: Morgan Lundblad & Nicole Herkert
* Apparel & Accessories: Sara Lichtenberg
* Automotive Services: Gregg Kuznieski
* Food Marketing: Danielle Markus
* Principles of Business Administration: Toso Mohammed-Haruna
* Senior Management Institute:Dana Yanow
* DECA LEADS Academy: Franne Aboushousha
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H-F DEBATE REPRESENTS SOUTHLAND AT STATE
H-F was the only Southland school representing the Southland in the Policy Debate category at the IHSA State Debate Finals this year (March 15-17 at Illinois Wesleyan University) and our students brought back some great results! Seniors Donald Grasse and Margaret Strong finished the preliminary debates with a 9-1 record, making them top seed in a field of 37 teams. They advanced to the quarterfinals, where they defeated 8th-seed Glenbrook South on a 3-0 decision. This brought them to the semifinals, where they were defeated by 4th-seed Glenbrook North on a 3-0 decision. This marks two consecutive years where Donald and Margaret reached the State semifinals, an accomplishment not duplicated by any other H-F team in recent history! It also marks Donald's 3rd consecutive year appearing in the elimination rounds of the state tournament, another feat no one else has matched. Donald finished as 2nd speaker out of 74 students, making him a member of the All-State Debate Team for the second year in a row. Margaret finished as 4th speaker, also making her a member of the All-State Debate Team. This marks Margaret's third consecutive year to be named All-State. No other student, at least in recent H-F Debate history, has accomplished this.
Rufus Coates-Welsh was 10th speaker, and also named to the All-State Debate Team.
Honorable mention is due to seniors Rufus and to Adam Griesbach, who compiled a winning preliminary record of 6-4, but did not advance to the elimination rounds.
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