DECA participates in contest for NFL player’s nonprofit

Juniors Paul Plawin, Sumaire Samuel and Peyton Lanier greet the judges prior to competing for the Pride and Passion Award. The team was made up of mostly upperclassmen, chosen by their teacher for their impressive understanding of the complex situations.
Juniors Paul Plawin, Sumaire Samuel and Peyton Lanier greet the judges prior to competing for the Pride and Passion Award. The team was made up of mostly upperclassmen, chosen by their teacher for their impressive understanding of the complex situations.
The judges look on as the team presents its ideas for how NFL player Morgan Moses can use his brand to help the community. The Statesmen provided four different ways it could be done.
The judges look on as the team presents its ideas for how NFL player Morgan Moses can use his brand to help the community. The Statesmen provided four different ways it could be done.

Redskins player Morgan Moses visited DECA on Dec. 8, through an invitation from Andy Ross, a Statesmen alumnus.

Ross, who prospered within the Sports and Entertainment Marketing program, also happens to be the NFL player’s agent.

Students from Marshall and Lake Braddock competed for the first-ever Pride and Passion Award, a competition designed for students to create and present promotional plans for Moses and his developing M.O.E. Foundation (Motivating Others through Education).

Before the competition began, Moses met with each team and shared his story about how he struggled in school as a teenager, and why education in kids is important to him.

Juniors Paul Plawin, Peyton Lanier and Sumaire Samuel; senior Alparslan Cevik; and sophomore Nick Sherr represented Marshall.
Nick discussed the personal impact of this opportunity.

“It was really inspiring to meet Morgan Moses. As a player in the NFL and prominent member in the local community, it motivated me to think about how my actions as a student and as an adult can have an impact on other’s lives,” Sherr said.

They presented ideas including a summer reading program, a web show hosted by Moses titled, “Extreme Library Makeover,” a special “Morgan Moses Day” at his favorite restaurant— Croaker’s Spot—and a camp for high school athletes who also play offensive line.

The group’s ideas ranged from costing thousands of dollars to $65. The variety of promotions offered were enough to win over the judges, which resulted in their victory.

“I was quite nervous actually. Just the fact that he’s an NFL player is pretty intimidating,” Lanier said. “My hands were pretty sweaty but we got through pretty well despite the nerves.”

Despite the worries, the Statesmen won unanimously. The judges were impressed by the maturity shown by the team and the depth that was included in all of the ideas offered. What made the biggest impact on the judges, however, was how well they presented themselves as a unified group.

“I was really glad we won and because it was setup like a competition, so we definitely wanted to be able to come out victorious,” Lanier said.