With Masco’s DECA Quiz Bowl on the horizon, students are preparing to represent their school in Boston.
DECA’s Quiz Bowl is a way for students who did not make States to get another chance to represent their school in a competition that tests knowledge on business and marketing-related topics. DECA members must be ready to compete against teams from other schools and answer questions covering real-world scenarios on various topics.
For some DECA members, this will not be their first time participating in the Quiz Bowl.
“Quiz Bowl is a great opportunity for members of DECA that did not make it past districts to get to States,” said DECA officer senior Sandra Scenna. “They’re able to use their business knowledge and apply it to a fun trivia event against other schools. I did Quiz Bowl last year and can confidently say it was a lot of fun and expanded my knowledge in the business world.”
This year, only two students will be chosen from Masco, instead of the usual four students in previous years, which means there will need to be great amounts of collaboration and practice in advance of the competition. In preparation for the event, the two selected students must be able to ensure they can work together productively to ensure Masco’s best shot at success in the event. This means mastering time management, communication, and a shared understanding of the topics that will be covered.
Although the reduction of students on the team places more emphasis on each individual, it can help limit the arguing and disagreements among a team. A larger team can introduce many different ideas and perspectives, which, while beneficial in some scenarios, can also lead to conflicting answers making it difficult to agree as a team.
Along with the students working well together, they also need to work hard by themselves to prepare for the questions and topics that will be discussed. Many participants have already started studying online and watching previous years’ Quiz Bowls to familiarize themselves with some key business concepts that they are likely to be asked about.
Junior Ryan Richardson is preparing for the Quiz Bowl, hoping to be selected to represent Masco in the event. The two students will be chosen by the DECA advisors before the event that takes place on February 27.
“I am taking this time to get ahead of the competition and build off of my current knowledge by watching videos and doing Quizlets,” said Richardson.
Richardson’s extensive business knowledge throughout his multiple years of DECA and other business classes gives him an upper hand in this competition against many other students in other competing schools.
“When it comes to the Quiz Bowl, I think the skills that are needed are effort. You definitely need effort to think on your feet, answer quickly, and have a basic knowledge of business,” said advisor Madison Marc-Aurele.
Success in the DECA Quiz Bowl isn’t just about knowing business concepts, but also about thinking fast and responding under pressure. With all the hard work, collaboration, and preparation underway, Masco students are determined to give it their all and come out on top at this year’s DECA Quiz Bowl.