Hamilton Heights Husky Fan Shop, the school-based enterprise (SBE) at Hamilton Heights High School, was among 461 SBEs achieving GOLD for the 2022-2023 school year and will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Fla. Heights is among eight chapters in Indiana to achieve GOLD certification.
In addition, earning GOLD certification qualifies officers to attend the DECA ICDC competition from April 22 to 26 in Orlando, Fla. Competing for Hamilton Heights will be Hannah Smallwood and Melissa Lovell.
An SBE is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA advisors have used 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.
Hannah Smallwood and Lydia Lytle were among the Heights’ DECA members who played an instrumental role in the chapter earning its GOLD re-certification. Heights is one of eight schools in Indiana to hold a DECA GOLD certification. (Photo provided)
The Hamilton Heights DECA members who contributed to the certification were Hannah Smallwood, Lydia Lytle, Melissa Lovell, Alex Rickey, Elijah Bowers, Micah Colvin, Tanner Orton, and Aidan Orton with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisor, Ms. Kim Kaiser. The SBE at Hamilton Heights High School has operated for over five years and is commended for this achievement.
The individuals above, in addition to Gavin Poland, also helped the Husky Fan Shop earn the THRIVE recognition earlier in the year. Hamilton Heights DECA was among 525 chapters to achieve THRIVE level recognition this year and will be commended at DECA’s ICDC in April in Orlando, Fla.
Each fall, DECA offers four campaigns for chapters to complete as part of their program of leadership for the year. These campaigns are designed to grow membership engagement and build lasting partnerships within the school and local community. Chapters that achieve THRIVE level receive a commemorative pennant, flag, and plaque. The chapters also have an opportunity to participate in ICDC. In order to receive THRIVE level recognition, the chapter completed two out of the three chapter campaigns including the community service campaign, ethical leadership campaign, and promotional campaign.
“DECA is a great way to network and create connections with other business students with similar interests,” Lytle said. “Being involved in DECA has helped me to find what direction I want to pursue in college.”
“DECA provides students with real work challenges, and if you want to be successful, you need to take advantage of learning opportunities to be better prepared for your future,” Orton said.
The DECA organization is made up of marketing students that manage and operate the Husky Fan Shop. The shop sells Husky apparel and accessories to promote school spirit.
The community service promotional campaign highlights activities that the Husky Fan Shop has participated such as “Back to School Bash,” Cicero Street Festival, Cicero Tree-Lighting/Christmas Parade, Backpack Buddies, and Ryan White Walk. The promotional campaign featured new items the Husky Fan Shop offers in the shop to generate sales and recognition such as the “Kinley” shirt – a shirt designed to honor the Hamilton Heights school facility dog where $1 from each shirt sold goes back to Kinley’s training facility ICAN. The “Red for Ed” shirts are offered to school personnel to promote public education and recognition of Heights staff.
The Husky Fan Shop also has included new items such as school logo lanyards, license plates, baseball caps, beanies, and blankets. “Heritage” and “Husky Gear” items are stock items kept in the store.