UHS school store named among top ten in nation

The Chieftain Connection, a School-based enterprise at Utica High School, was named one of the top ten school stores in the nation for the second straight year at DECA’s International Career Development Conference.

The school store competed against 160 other enterprises across the nation to receive the top award from DECA, a business organizers that promotes education in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges.

Utica High School store managers Devin Werner, Mirna Ayar and Pjeter Lulgjuraj presented to two sets of DECA judges before a final presentation to business leaders from Otis Spunkmeyer, a national cookie dough manufacturer.

Students were required to pick a best practice from the 80 page DECA manual to present in 5 to 7 minutes while incorporating the audience and showing how the school store is unique. UHS students chose promotions.

The store is under the direction of Utica High School Marketing teacher Dana Boice. This is the second straight year the UHS store has been named among the nation's ten best at the conference.

In addition to top ten award, the Utica High School store was also among the 166 school stores in the United States honored for achieving highest level of Gold Level Certification through DECA.

In order to apply for the certification, the school store submitted extensive documentation showing how they have achieved set standards that are outlined in the certification guidelines.

DECA’s School-based Enterprise (SBE) Certification Program was developed to provide recognition for outstanding achievement by school-based enterprises and to motivate SBEs to strive for excellence and to grow.