Hi everyone!

I’m Shriya Sreejith, a junior at Bentonville West High School in Centerton, Arkansas. I’m beyond excited to share that I recently placed 2nd in Arkansas DECA State—qualifying me for the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 25–28, 2026!

DECA has shaped so much of my high school experience. It’s taught me real-world business strategies, public speaking skills, and a love for blending technology with entrepreneurship. As a single-team competitor in an Individual Series event, I’ll pitch my original AI app idea to professional judges, demonstrating how it solves a real problem, its user experience, market strategy, security features, and business potential.

My recent Information Security externship at Walmart through Ignite Professional Studies program inspires my pitch directly. I’m gaining hands-on experience in cybersecurity, learning how to protect large-scale systems, which strengthens my AI app’s design and privacy features. This national stage is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: competing against top students from across the US and internationally, attending workshops, networking with industry professionals, and connecting everything I’m learning toward my future in Computer Science.

I’m proud of my journey so far, including placing 2nd at the State Career Development Conference and gaining valuable experience through my Walmart externship. However, attending ICDC comes with significant costs. The estimated total is $1,500, which includes flights, hotel, DECA registration, and meals/transportation.

Every donation—no matter the size—helps make this possible and sharing this page with friends, family, teachers, or your community makes a huge difference!

Thank you for believing in my passion for tech, business, cybersecurity, and leadership. I’ll post updates from Atlanta—photos, competition highlights, and what I learn—so you can see the impact of your generosity. Your support will help me grow, compete, and chase my college and career goals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

With Gratitude,

Shriya