Harrison High School DECA Business Club Students Compete at International Conference; Liam Azar Earns Silver Medal Recognition
Students from Harrison High School recently joined thousands of top business students from around the world at the 2026 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC), held in Atlanta from April 25-29. The ICDC competition represents the highest level of DECA competition and brings together top performing DECA students in marketing, finance, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and business management.
This year, nearly 316,000 students worldwide participated in high school DECA programs, with close to 26,000 students qualifying to compete at the international level. Approximately 500 students from New York State earned spots at the prestigious event, including 17 students from Harrison High School.
Students competed against peers from all 50 states as well as Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, Spain, Japan, and several other nations. Competitors participated either individually or in team events that required written business plans, exams, and professional presentations judged by industry professionals.
Among Harrison’s standout achievements was junior Liam Azar, who earned a silver medallion in the Quick Serve Restaurant Management event as a top performer in his presentation category. The recognition placed Liam among the highest-performing competitors in one of DECA’s most competitive international events.
“Liam’s achievement reflects an incredible amount of preparation, professionalism, and dedication,” said DECA advisors Joseph Santo and Deirdre O’Brien. “Competing successfully at the international level is an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are extremely proud of him and all of our students.”
Harrison High School students competed in both individual and group events: Liam Azar (Quick Serve Restaurant Management), Jonathan Lewis (Hotel and Lodging Management), Marissa Lusardi (Human Resource Management), Emily Salemo (Franchise Business Plan), Addison Valente (Restaurant and Food Service Management), Arata Yamazaki (Accounting Applications), Cassandra DiBlasi and Selin Cangir (Sales Project), Reese Haines and Brynn Ensign (Business Solutions Project), Jonah Peligri and Avery Sickles (Finance Operations), Riko Suzuki and Zoe Kim (Buying and Merchandising Operations)
Senior Addison Valente, Harrison DECA President and the only student in the program to qualify for the international competition all four years of high school, reflected on the experience: “Throughout the ICDC we were immersed in a professional environment…that pushed us to think and communicate like real professionals….We stayed focused by supporting each other between competitions. These moments not only helped us succeed but also strengthened our bond as a team.”
According to advisors Joseph Santo and Deirdre O’Brien, the success of Harrison High School’s DECA chapter reflects the commitment and discipline demonstrated by all 107 students involved in the program this year.