Eastside Catholic develops its business sense
January 13, 2010
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
For many of Eastside Catholic’s DECA marketing club students, the most influential guest speaker they’ve heard this school year was Marc Barros, of Coutour HD. The University of Washington graduate taught them the power of taking a little idea and turning it into a successful business through marketing.
In 2003, Barros and friend, Jason Green, both avid skiers, got third place in a UW business-plan competition for their idea about a helmet camera for extreme sports enthusiasts. They earned enough prize money to rent a warehouse and eventually built their first cameras, the Twenty20 Helmet Camera. Now, the cameras sell around the world.
The school’s DECA program is in its first year and students are beginning to see the real-world impact of business plans and marketing strategies. They’re taking the new ideas and skills to their first competition Jan. 13 in Bellevue.
“I like the opportunity to learn about a subject that I will most likely pursue at higher education,” said senior Andrew Villenueve.
More than 185,000 high school students participate in 5,000 chapters in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Guam, according to the DECA Web site. The program is based on marketing, management and entrepreneurship curriculum and helps students network and gain real-world experience in business from an early age, as well as develop leadership skills and serve the community.
The organization holds annual conferences and competitions, where they can practice their skills and build their college or career resumes. But in class they also work with local businesses to develop tangible business or marketing plans.
“The guest speakers helped a lot,” Boswell said.
The DECA Student Store is another way the youth learn to manage money and run a small business. Paired with the school’s Spirit Store, the DECA Student Store, which opened Jan. 4, offers snacks and goodies not available in the lunchroom, said sophomore Kristina Boswell.
“This is kind of like our start-up company for DECA,” Boswell said as she tended the store counter during lunch period Jan. 6. “I look forward to see how the store skyrockets.”
Teacher Ronda Patrick brought the idea of starting a DECA program at Eastside Catholic to the administration in the 2008-2009 school year. Her degree is in marketing education, and she had taught DECA in the Lake Washington School District.
“Getting the green light needed some consideration, but I was ready to go,” she said.
Like at Eastlake and Skyline, the class is accredited as an elective. About 22 students signed up for Eastside Catholic’s first-year program. But she expects growth next year.
“(I like) the flexibility to learn my own way and solve problems my own way,” senior Robert Pfluger said of his DECA experience. “It’s really good because it’s the only class at Eastside Catholic that is real life. The skills transfer directly to out of college.”
At the Jan. 13 competition, students compete in individual and group events based on skills used in the workplace: effective communication, ability to solve problems and make decisions, as well as working as a team leader or team member.
Patrick said she has pushed each student to participate in the individual and group projects for this week’s competition. And they’ve responded.
“They’re choosing what they’re interested in,” Patrick said. “The kids really see the value.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
For many of Eastside Catholic’s DECA marketing club students, the most influential guest speaker they’ve heard this school year was Marc Barros, of Coutour HD. The University of Washington graduate taught them the power of taking a little idea and turning it into a successful business through marketing.
Eastside Catholic sophomore DECA student Kristina Boswell (left) makes change for senior Jackson Boyle, front, right, junior A.J. Rehn, and senior Alex McKelvey Jan. 6 at the school’s Spirit Store. Photo by Christopher Huber
In 2003, Barros and friend, Jason Green, both avid skiers, got third place in a UW business-plan competition for their idea about a helmet camera for extreme sports enthusiasts. They earned enough prize money to rent a warehouse and eventually built their first cameras, the Twenty20 Helmet Camera. Now, the cameras sell around the world.
The school’s DECA program is in its first year and students are beginning to see the real-world impact of business plans and marketing strategies. They’re taking the new ideas and skills to their first competition Jan. 13 in Bellevue.
“I like the opportunity to learn about a subject that I will most likely pursue at higher education,” said senior Andrew Villenueve.
More than 185,000 high school students participate in 5,000 chapters in the United States, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Guam, according to the DECA Web site. The program is based on marketing, management and entrepreneurship curriculum and helps students network and gain real-world experience in business from an early age, as well as develop leadership skills and serve the community.
The organization holds annual conferences and competitions, where they can practice their skills and build their college or career resumes. But in class they also work with local businesses to develop tangible business or marketing plans.
“The guest speakers helped a lot,” Boswell said.
The DECA Student Store is another way the youth learn to manage money and run a small business. Paired with the school’s Spirit Store, the DECA Student Store, which opened Jan. 4, offers snacks and goodies not available in the lunchroom, said sophomore Kristina Boswell.
“This is kind of like our start-up company for DECA,” Boswell said as she tended the store counter during lunch period Jan. 6. “I look forward to see how the store skyrockets.”
Teacher Ronda Patrick brought the idea of starting a DECA program at Eastside Catholic to the administration in the 2008-2009 school year. Her degree is in marketing education, and she had taught DECA in the Lake Washington School District.
“Getting the green light needed some consideration, but I was ready to go,” she said.
Like at Eastlake and Skyline, the class is accredited as an elective. About 22 students signed up for Eastside Catholic’s first-year program. But she expects growth next year.
“(I like) the flexibility to learn my own way and solve problems my own way,” senior Robert Pfluger said of his DECA experience. “It’s really good because it’s the only class at Eastside Catholic that is real life. The skills transfer directly to out of college.”
At the Jan. 13 competition, students compete in individual and group events based on skills used in the workplace: effective communication, ability to solve problems and make decisions, as well as working as a team leader or team member.
Patrick said she has pushed each student to participate in the individual and group projects for this week’s competition. And they’ve responded.
“They’re choosing what they’re interested in,” Patrick said. “The kids really see the value.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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