J.P. Taravella High School DECA students will attempt entrance into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest handshake chain as part of their "Let's Shake On It!" campaign.

Over 1,500 students, teachers and staff are set to participate in the handshake attempt on the school's football field on the last day of school before the winter break – Friday, December 16 beginning at 12:40 p.m. Taravella High School is located at 10600 Riverside Drive, Coral Springs.

The driving force behind the project is to promote and encourage "respect, empathy and acceptance" among others, while raising awareness of the school's Exceptional Student Education program. The marketing chapter has already held a Special Needs Field Day and an interactive business handshake activity and tie-tying event for students involved in the Best Buddies Club under the leadership of Taravella High seniors and co-chairs Ricky Cutler and Katie Santangelo.

Student members of DECA were inspired to contact the Guinness organization after hearing about the 33-hour two-man handshaking record set earlier this year. They wondered what the record was for the largest group handshake and found that they could set the record with more than 250 individuals participating. From start to finish, it will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the continuously moving handshake. The students will be shaking hands as their commitment to show empathy, respect and acceptance of differences between their peers and to treat each other in more compassionate ways.

DECA is a national student marketing association with over 140,000 members across the United States. Students participate in community service projects and compete at the district, state and national levels in various individual and team-oriented marketing competitive events.