By Sarah Opdahl

Dozens of flags will be placed on school property to honor New Fairfield’s veterans next week. New Fairfield High School’s (NFHS) DECA Club is organizing the flag placement as a fundraiser for the New Fairfield Veterans Association.

The flags sell for $3 in the school’s DECA Rebel Supplier store and the sales will go through Veterans Day. Each flag will be placed in the grass along the walking path from the gravel lot at the high school to the middle school. 

The flags are placed every year at the school but this is the first year that DECA is organizing it, having been approached by administrators to possibly take up the pr oject. Impressively, there are over ninety members in NFHS’s DECA charter and they are a very active group. The club helps students expand their leadership experience through business and marketing programs and the members are proactive in community service efforts in school as well as in the Town. 

Led by student officers, Nicole Taylor and Brandon Gangi (Co-Presidents), Zachary Peterson (Vice President) and CJ Guadagnoli (Treasurer), Deca has worked this year to raise awareness and funds for the Nicole Vengalli Scholarship Fund, they are working on a food drive for the New Fairfield Food Pantry, and they promoted and organized the NFHS Homecoming Dance on October 26. Plus, they have many other plans for the remainder of the school year. 

Advisor and math teacher Danielle McDermott remarked, “The group of students I have had the opportunity to work with are so passionate about all differe nt aspects of our DECA program.  Some are wanting to better our school spirit and promote our event s, others are excited to run the school store each day and create/design new clothing for the store, others want to get involved in DECA competitions offered by the state and nationally, and others are more interested in the school and community events/efforts.” She went on to say, “They all have their own niche that they love and together we are able to help many, promote events, and hone their business and leadership skills while learning from each other and working together.” A group of thirteen students recently attended the DECA Fall Leadership Conference with McDermott at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on October 28 where they were trained by industry professionals and were able to network with students from other schools. 

Please feel free to stop in at the DECA Rebel Supplier (school store) this Saturday, November 9, during the BETA Club Fall Vendor Fest from 10:00am – 2:00pm.  There will be many local vendors and the s chool store will be open to the public.