Photograph by George Sakkestad
Sunnyvale Lumber owner Bob Roberts (left) shakes the hand of Fremont High student Andrew Monarch, whom he helped send to Florida for a marketing conference.
By LESTER CHANG
Sunnyvale Lumber wanted to help a Fremont High School student compete at a national business conference for students in Florida, but initially couldn't because of limited funds.
Company owner Bob Roberts gave it a second thought and donated $545 to cover the travel expenses for Fremont High junior Andrew Monarch.
Because of Roberts' generosity, Monarch was able to fly to Distributive Education Clubs of America's 50th Annual Career Development Conference in Orlando, Fla. from April 27 to May 1 and came home with a first prize in marketing.
"It is the responsibility of business to contribute to the next generation," Roberts said. "We had money set up for other community causes for the year, but we thought this was something worthwhile."
Roberts didn't choose Monarch directly, but wanted funds to help a Fremont student. Monarch took the initiative and secured Roberts' help.
As a condition for the contribution, Monarch had to provide a summary of the trip to Roberts.
Monarch, his adviser and teacher Tonette Rancadore and fellow student Nancy Buoi, a junior, joined nearly 12,000 students from the United States, Canada and U.S. territories at the conference.
The event sponsor, DECA, is a national student organization designed to teach high school marketing students leadership and management skills.
In winning a first prize in retail merchandising, Monarch beat out 1,100 students, taking a written test and performing skits on marketing. Buoi distinguished herself by being named a national qualifier.
Before they went to the national conference, they successfully competed in preliminary contests DECA held in Costa Mesa from March 15 to 17.
Monarch said the marketing and sales skills he learned from Rancadore enabled him to win in the national competition.
"What I learned from my teacher made the difference for me," Monarch said.
Monarch said attending the conference also got him in contact with "corporate types" and allowed him to explore professions he could get into after college, such as the hotel and restaurant, retailing and high-tech industries.
Rancadore said she thinks Monarch will go far in the business of selling, because he "knows what a person's needs are and how to meet them."
Monarch said attending the conference helped build his confidence.
"I did well because someone gave me a chance," he said. "I am grateful."
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 19, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.