Oak Creek, Wisconsin – The Armory, the school-based enterprise at Oak Creek High School, was among 461
school-based enterprises achieving the Gold level of certification for the 2021-2022 school year and will be
recognized during DECA's International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA.
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. 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 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.
The Oak Creek High School DECA members who contributed to the certification were Evie Chandre, Madison
Borts, and Matt Schraith with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisor, Camden Horner and the instructor
and leader of the school-based enterprise, Ricci Huber. The SBE at Oak Creek High School has operated for
14 years and is to be commended for this achievement.
"DECA's School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA
members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory, and then translate that into
meaningful outcomes," said Christopher Young, CAE, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. "These DECA
members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers."
DECA's School-based Enterprise Certification Program provides recognition for outstanding achievement by
school-based enterprises and motivates 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 explains how the SBE demonstrates the practice of various marketing and retail
standards. A review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been
achieved. DECA's School-based Enterprise programs are sponsored by Intuit and Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.
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.
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or more information about DECA, visit http://www.deca.org.