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Created: May 14 2014

Mickey Mouse joined DECA during the 68th Annual International Career Development Conference to congratulate Zack Schaja on being named Executive President. Mickey also presented Schaja with his own personalized Mickey Mouse ears and trophy.

Congratulations to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Zack Schaja for earning an international honor. He will be the new Executive President of DECA during the 2014/15 school year, the first Florida high school student to earn the prestigious position.

Schaja was named the organization's incoming president during DECA's 68th Annual International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, which took place May 3-6, 2014. Schaja is a four-year DECA member and a two-term association officer for Florida DECA, serving as vice president and president. Schaja, who has already been accepted to Emory University, is deferring college for one year so he can fulfill his responsibilities to DECA.

In addition to representing approximately 200,000 high school DECA students as the incoming president, as part of DECA's new partnership with Disney, Schaja will visit the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando to learn more about opportunities available to DECA members. He will also participate in exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, meet with Disney's leadership team and learn more about Disney's operations.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, connect to business and promote competition. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's DECA has a record 400 members in 2014, and includes students in the Academy of Finance (Naf.org) and Marketing programs.