LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Joe Dellis was nominated anonymously.

"High school always made me excited but nervous. When I first stepped on campus, my mom told me to get involved in DECA and take marketing classes. I didn't have Mr. Dellis in my first year, but I was planning on taking Principles of Marketing next year. The next year, stepping onto campus, I was ready. From the day I stepped into his class, my experience changed. I took this class and was prompted to participate in the DECA competition that year. The first competition at the district level did not go as planned. We did not place, but we had made it to districts, and that's when the DECA bug hit us hard. The next year, we had a statement to make. We knew where we wanted to be, and Mr. Dellis knew we could get there. We competed at districts and did quite well, taking third place, which positioned us perfectly to qualify for the state conference. Mr. Dellis pushed us to compete hard, and we placed third—we had done it! This was a big milestone in our DECA competition journey. We moved forward to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). It didn't go as well as expected, but competing at the national level is nothing to shake a stick at. My senior year of DECA competition was also less than expected—we did not even place at districts. At the end of the day, though, this was the year another student and I put in the most work to prepare. It was a lukewarm feeling. But sitting here, graduating in less than a month, I wouldn't want it any other way. Mr. Dellis' classroom has fostered an uplifting and welcoming environment throughout my high school years, and I'm forever grateful," said the nominator.