The Carlmont Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) club is hosting its first mixer, Electric Vibes, at the Quinlan Community Center on Feb. 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. Carlmont alumni Ryan Pau will be featured as the DJ.
Senior Grace Yi and sophomores Connie Yi and River Manochio have been organizing the mixer since December.
Grace Yi said, “We always wanted to throw a dance for our DECA friends and us. Personally, I have more fun at DECA dances than school dances because at DECA dances, there is no judgement. We don’t know them most of the time, and when we do, they dance like crazy.”
Connie Yi was first inspired to organize a mixer when she attended DECA’s Flash Fashion Show when she was an eighth grade. Her sister, Grace, was one of the organizers of the event, and she was inspired by the hard work put in by all the students.
Connie Yi said, “When I was in eighth grade, my sister asked me if I wanted to model for the fashion show. It sounded like a good idea, and I knew I wanted to do something similar.”
Like the DECA Flash Fashion show, the mixer is ran by students. The Yi sisters and Manochio coordinated everything from the date and time to the decorations and music for the event.
Throughout the planning of the mixer, the Yi sisters and Manochio have gained professional and business skills.
Grace Yi said, “Connie made sure she sounded professional and laid out all the information they needed in order to book the sheriffs that needed to be on duty on the day of the mixer. We received an email later lauding our professional demeanor and mannerisms that we used to execute our necessary bookings.”
The Yi sisters and Manochio plan to submit their event as a project for the upcoming DECA state conference as a Learn and Earn Project. The project would require them to write a 30 page business plan about the event including details about the target market, planning and execution, and the end results of the event.
Connie Yi said, “DECA has taught me how to be a leader and that when you’re going to start something, you should finish it off strong. I feel like DECA makes me think in a different perspective than other people. Other people look straight ahead, but I widen my horizons and I try to see what people don’t see and help them with what they do. ”
For more information on the event, visit this link here. Tickets are $10 with RSVP and $15 at the door.
