The school-based enterprise program at Willow Canyon High School was among 391 similar efforts in the United States achieving gold-level certification this year and will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Atlanta. The students who worked on the certification were Edith Micu, Cassidy Cosgrove, Jada Giles, Julia Stangler, Alexis Bellfy, Ariell Millican and George Silvas with the assistance of their adviser, Justin Stangler.

The school- based enterprise program at Willow Canyon has operated for 12 years, and the high school is one of four Arizona schools reaching gold status.

School-based enterprise is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market, according to a release on the Dysart district website. “SBEs are managed andoperated by students as hands- on learning laboratoriesthat integrate national curriculum standards in marketing, finance, hospitality and management,” the release stated. “ Marketing educators and

DECA advisers 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.”

SBEs can be certified bronze, silver or gold. In order to apply for the certifi cation, SBEs must submit documentation that demonstrates their adherence to various marketing and retail standards. After the documentation is submitted, a review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been achieved