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Harding High DECA students win gold-level SBE, present ICDC experience to school board
Summary
DECA students Lydia Price and Angie Reyes presented their chapter's growth and achievements, including a gold certification for their student-run coffee shop (Harding Brew) and participation at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Board members praised increased student participation and leadership development.
Two Harding High School DECA students, Lydia Price and Angie Reyes, presented the DECA chapter's growth and experiences at the Marion City Schools board meeting on May 29, highlighting leadership development, a gold certification for the school's student-run coffee shop and participation at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC).
Price and Reyes described DECA as Distributive Education Clubs of America and explained the range of competitive events, chapter campaigns and academies that qualify students to attend ICDC. Price said the chapter sent 41 students to the district conference this year, with 22 advancing to the state level and six qualifying for ICDC; three students attended the international conference in Orlando.
The presentations emphasized the Harding Brew coffee shop, a certified student-run enterprise (SBE). Price said the Harding Brew achieved gold certification this year — the highest SBE level — and that only 51 SBEs worldwide and 21 from Ohio reached gold status. "We were lucky to be one of those 21 chapters," Price said.
DECA adviser Olivia Davis described classroom logistics: student officers run operations, manage social media, keep books and handle requisitions, and the SBE gives students hands-on experience with finance and operations. Board members praised the program's doubled student participation since 2022 and noted short-term benefits such as improved presentation confidence, time management and leadership skills. President Weibling commended the students for their effort and told them "you earned it. You were good. You were great."
Why it matters: board members said DECA offers career and technical education experience, supports workforce readiness and increases student engagement. Assistant Superintendent Hanger introduced the students and said the district intends to regularly invite student groups to report on trips and programs.
Ending: The board thanked the students, and the superintendent said the presentation would be a model for future student reports to the board.
