The KP Mini-Mall, the school-based enterprise at King Philip, was among 461 international school-based enterprises achieving gold certification for the 2021-2022 school year and will be recognized during DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

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 King Philip DECA members who contributed to this year’s certification were seniors Jared Curran and Finn Meroski with the assistance of King Philip DECA chapter advisor James Dow. The SBE at King Philip has operated for five 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 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 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

In addition to the international achievement, several KP DECA members were also awarded state honor for their DECA contest. The students that won the Mass-DECA Design contests are Emma Sheehan, senior, Mask Design; Laura Gelsomini, senior, Video Contest; Jack McCreedy, sophomore, Pin Design; Trinjan Kaur, sophomore, T-shirt Design; and Luke Anderson, sophomore, Geo-Filter Design.

These students have also qualified to attend DECA ICDC in April in leadership academies.

“Every year, it’s our DECA members’ hard work and commitment that helps to ensure our KP Mini-Mall operates smoothly and effectively,” Dow said. “I’m extremely pleased to see Jared and Finn be recognized for their outstanding work at our school-based enterprise and all other KP DECA chapter members who received accolades in the Mass-DECA Design contests.”