DECA at SMCS: From a Small Club to the International Stage
Twelve years ago, DECA at St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) started with about 10 students. This year, more than 100 students competed. That kind of growth doesn’t happen on its own—it comes from students who take the programme seriously and staff who build something worth showing up for.
DECA gives students a chance to compete in business scenarios that go well beyond anything covered in a classroom. Role-plays, written events, case studies, and presentations—the events push students to think fast, communicate clearly, and back up their ideas under pressure. The areas of focus range from marketing and finance to entrepreneurship and hospitality, offering real breadth for students to explore.
One thing that has shaped the programme at SMCS is how it brings together students from Grades 9 through 12. Older students mentor younger ones, and that culture of passing knowledge down has helped build consistency in how the team competes and carries itself. A turning point came in 2015 when Julian Greco ’18 became the first SMCS student to qualify for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC), setting a standard for future students and the programme. This year, two students cleared that bar—Arjun Sivakumar and Shelain Fernando both qualified for the 2026 ICDC in Atlanta.
“DECA at St. Mike’s has evolved into far more than a business competition club—it’s an extension of the school’s commitment to leadership, character development, and experiential education,” says Dr. Daniel Lumsden ’96, community engagement and learning lead. “Students are encouraged to take risks, think globally, and develop the confidence to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.”
Here is what our students took away from the ICDC experience:
Arjun Sivakumar:
“I originally joined DECA to bridge the gap between my passion for STEM and the realities of the professional world. While my long-term goals lie in science and technology, I recognized early on that even the most groundbreaking innovation requires a solid foundation in business to reach its full potential.
My experience in DECA has pushed me to sharpen my public speaking and analytical skills far beyond the traditional classroom setting. Competing in the Integrated Marketing Campaign Event (IMCE) taught me not only how to sell but also how to communicate complex ideas to a global audience. Stepping onto the international stage at ICDC in Atlanta was the culmination of that journey. Competing at the highest level was exhilarating, but the true highlight was the networking. Meeting driven, like-minded peers from across the globe provided a fresh perspective on how interconnected our world, and our future careers, really are.
I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to grow as both a leader and a communicator, and I look forward to applying these lessons as I move into the next phase of my journey.”
Shelain Fernando:
“What drew me to DECA was my desire to connect with like-minded individuals who also aspired to do great things within the professional world. My interest in the club was only furthered after attending my first provincials at DECA. This pushed me to aspire for greater heights and to make it to ICDC.
My DECA experience can only be described as a journey of incredible growth. Through DECA, I have greatly improved my public speaking skills, which have helped me in all walks of life. Competing in IMCE has helped me learn skills I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I am eternally grateful for that.
Attending the ICDC after all that hard work was an unforgettable experience. Five full days of competition filled me with a kind of anticipation and excitement that I had never experienced before. ICDC connected me with people from around the globe, and it showed me that people living thousands of miles apart can work towards a common goal.”
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