DECA recognizes outstanding school-based enterprises at Shorecrest and Shorewood

SC DECA - Reilly Creech and Gabby Harness
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

The School-Based Enterprise at Shorecrest High School and at Shorewood High School were among 391 school-based enterprises in the United States achieving Gold Level Certification (or Gold Level Recertification) this year and will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia April 21-24, 2018.

The students who worked on the Shorecrest certification were Gabby Harness and Reilly Creech with the assistance of their advisor, Emily Wray.  The school-based enterprise at Shorecrest High School has operated for 20+ years.

The students who worked on the Shorewood certification were Jared Sanagustin, Quynh-Nhu Le, and Violet Schermer with the assistance of their advisors, Damon Oliveto and Wendi Lynagh. The school-based enterprise at Shorewood High School has operated for 43 years.

A school-based enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. Students learn business by running an actual business such as a student store.

SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in Marketing, Finance, Hospitality and Management. Marketing educators and DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

SW DECA Violet Schermer, Quynh-Nhu Le and Jared Sanagustin
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and growth.

SBEs can be certified at three levels: Bronze, Silver or Gold. In order to apply for the certification, SBEs must submit extensive documentation that demonstrates their adherence to various marketing and retail standards. After the documentation is submitted, a review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been achieved.

The DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) is the highlight of the DECA year. Thousands of students, advisors, businesspersons and alumni gather for several days. Participants compete in one of several competitive events. The top competitors in each event are recognized for their outstanding achievements. In addition to the competitive events, many students and advisors participate in a variety of leadership and career advancing academies.

DECA (known as Delta Epsilon Chi 60 years ago) prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

DECA Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit student organization with more than 220,000 members in all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Canada, China, Germany, Guam, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain.