Baldwin High School DECA Team Advances to International Competition

Two Baldwin High School students, Layla Gentles and David Kreutz, have qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 25–29, 2026. The pair earned this opportunity after placing sixth overall at the New York State DECA Conference, securing their spot to represent New York at the international level. DECA advisor Brendan Malin will also be present to support Layla and David.

During the conference, students will compete in business and marketing events while participating in professional development activities alongside top DECA competitors from across the country. The Baldwin High School seniors’ advancement builds on a strong competition at the regional level, where Layla and David advanced in the Team Entrepreneurship and Team Decision Making categories. Their success contributed to Baldwin High School qualifying for the New York State DECA Career Conference for the second consecutive year—an impressive milestone that highlights the continued growth of the program since its launch.

DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an international student organization dedicated to preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Through competitive events and hands-on learning experiences, students apply classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges, including role-play scenarios, case studies, and comprehensive project presentations. More than 90% of DECA members report that the program has influenced their future plans for college and career, and members are seven times more likely to study business topics in college. Baldwin students are part of a global network of more than 300,000 members across over 4,000 high schools.

For more information about DECA, visit www.deca.org.