Hamilton Heights DECA was among 525 chapters that achieved THRIVE level recognition this year and will be commended at DECA’s International Career Development Conference (ICDC) to be held April 22 to 25, 2023, 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.
The Hamilton Heights DECA members who contributed to the THRIVE recognition include Hannah Smallwood, Lydia Lytle, Melissa Lovell, Alex Rickey, Micah Colvin, Aiden Orton, Elijah Bowers, Tanner Orton, Gavin Poland, with the assistance of their advisor, Kim Kaiser.
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 our 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.
“I am so proud of our students,” Chapter Advisory Kim Kaiser said. “This was a re-branding year for the Husky Fan Shop and the students have proven themselves. We have expanded our fan shop inventory and exceeded our sales goals. We are constantly trying to bring new ideas and promotions to the shop and generate community awareness of the Husky Fan Shop. This student-run enterprise is Hamilton Heights official spirit wear fan shop and can be accessed online through the link on the high school athletic website.”
About DECA Inc.
DECA is a career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs who are interested in careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA enhances the preparation for college and careers by providing co-curricular programs that integrate into classroom instruction, apply learning, connect to business, and promote competition. DECA student members leverage their DECA experience to become academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders.
DECA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with more than 225,000 members in 4,000 high school and college chapters in all 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Germany.