Auburn-Washburn USD 437

WRHS Bank, Common Grounds Coffee Shop, and The Shack, the school-based enterprises (SBEs) at Washburn Rural High School, have earned Gold Certification and will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in April in Atlanta, Georgia.

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 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 Washburn Rural DECA members who contributed to the certification were Nicholas He, Kaci Hodgson, Keegan Knudtson, Kate Muir, and Kailyn Petersen, with guidance from their DECA chapter advisor, Brian McFall. The SBEs at WRHS have operated for over 15 years, an accomplishment that reflects sustained excellence and commitment.

“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, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”

DECA’s SBE Certification Program recognizes outstanding achievement while motivating SBEs to pursue continuous excellence and growth. Enterprises may receive certification at three levels: bronze, silver, or gold. To apply, SBEs must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating how they meet established marketing and retail standards. Documentation is reviewed by a certification committee, which determines the level of recognition awarded. DECA’s SBE program is sponsored by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.

Auburn-Washburn USD 437 Police