Senior Pamela Snowden-Reynolds placed 4th in the New Jersey DECA 2021-2022 Central East District Conference; as a result, she has qualified to compete at the New Jersey State DECA competition to be held in Atlantic City on March 1, 2022. Pamela’s area of concentration for the competition was Quick Serve Restaurant Management. This is the first year West Side High School has participated in a DECA competition, and she has represented West Side and the city of Newark well. Pamela has been accepted to six universities and has earned over $400,000.00 in scholarships.

What is DECA? I’m so glad you asked. Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. During the 2021-2022 school year we are proud to announce over 25 West Side students enrolled in the CTE Supply Chain Management program of study participated in the Central East District Conference. NaDeen Richardson, Supply Chain Management Master Teacher and DECA Senior Advisor, has spent numerous hours preparing her students through role-play scenarios, oral presentations, public speaking techniques, and building overall self-confidence.

Pamela’s 4th place Central East Conference finish has been applauded by all of her peers as they embraced her victory as a victory for all; in addition, she is eligible to apply for a $5,000 New Jersey DECA Scholarship. Her application has been submitted for consideration. In the words of Mrs. Richardson, “The need for students of color to be represented in statewide and national educational platforms is so necessary. My goal is to expose my students to a world without limits and not defined by their color, ethnicity or zip code.”

As the School of Business and Finance, West Side High is the only school in the Newark district to offer the CTE Supply Chain Management program of study. The program consists of three courses: Supply Chain Management I, II, & III and concludes with each completer earning a Certificate of Completion from Rutgers University, and 3 general elective credits for completers who enter Rutgers Business School. Thanks to our many industry partners: Johnson & Johnson Corporation, FedEx, DHL, Farmland Dairy and the Newark/Elizabeth Port - students will be offered positions earning a competitive living wage upon graduation in June, and 15 completers will graduate earning an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Essex County College.