In January, the National Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) School-Based Enterprise (SBE) program recognized the Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) student-run store, The Jag Shack, with a Gold Certification. The students were recognized for their business operations, customer service, community engagement, and personal design performance.
Recently, DECA has made this Golden Certification available to school-based enterprises. With this achievement, Jag Shack is now among the top high school enterprises in the nation.
Every year, DECA evaluates SBEs based on their business elements: marketing, financial aid and management, human resources, and business practices. Achieving this certification helps demonstrate the store’s operation level while providing valuable learning experiences for students.
“We were beyond excited [for this achievement.] It was the result of months of hard work, dedication, and collaboration. Everyone in the class celebrated together because this wasn’t just about the store—this was a huge achievement for all of us. It felt like a recognition of everything we had been putting into Jag Shack,” says Sharon Ferrer, the Jag Shack sponsor.
The Jag Shack is entirely student-run and provides experiences on how to run a business. Students who are involved work with store management inventory, handle transactions, and develop marketing strategies that will help prepare them for future careers in business and entrepreneurship. Through this experience, participants gain financial literacy, leadership skills, and customer service expertise that extend beyond the classroom.
To ensure that their submission was at its highest potential, “[we had to] develop a marketing plan to attract students, teachers, and staff to shop at Jag Shack, which included designing displays, creating promotions, and running sales events,” Ferrer explains.
With this recognition, Jag Shack representatives can attend the DECA International Career Development Conferences (ICDC), where they will showcase their insights to other SBEs from around the country.
Jag Shack’s Gold Certification has become a testament to the dedication of its student team and faculty advisors. As the store grows, the team commits to excellence, providing learning opportunities and innovating for future business leaders.
