Benchoff delivers best DECA performance in 22 years

At this year’s 2019 DECA International Career Development Conference, Senior and DECA President, Delaney Benchoff represented Gloucester High School and Massachusetts in the Financial Consulting Event. Benchoff took home 2 medals at the competition.

More than 22,000 students from across the country competed at international competition in Orlando, Florida from Friday April 26th to Wednesday May 1st.

Benchoff competed against 153 students in Financial Consulting, and placed in the top 18 qualifying for the finals. This meant that she had to turn around directly after this competition to present to another judge. She also received a silver medal for the best presentation in her bracket.

“I never thought that i would be competing at ICDC’s this year, let alone moving on to the finals,” said Benchoff. “This was a great way to end my 4 year DECA career with Mrs. Grassetti, and I could not have wished for a better outcome.”

In this event, students must take a 100 question finance exam, and then present a financial budget plan to a judge.

This has been the best Gloucester has done to date at Internationals.

Benchoff has done DECA for four years, competing at the district state level, for three years, and now for the first time at the international competition. She has also been on the Gloucester DECA leadership team for three years.

Benchoff also received a lot of help from Jen Orlando and John Brennan, mentors from Cape Ann Savings Bank.

“I feel very honored to have experienced this once in a lifetime event and to have a community that has subsidized my experience.” said Benchoff

Gloucester High School’s DECA Adviser, Ann Grassetti, also joined Benchoff at the competition and was very proud.

“From freshman year on she has been focused on being the best at everything, she is very determined,” said Grassetti. “DECA really opened her eyes to competition. She’s been in the program ever since. We have never had a winner with two metals on stage. She has done the best for Gloucester High School in 22 years.”