The school-based enterprise at Hudson’s Bay High School is one of 316 SBEs in the nation to achieve gold-level certification this year from DECA Inc.

Senior Alyssa Resurreccion (pictured above), with the assistance of adviser Lorilee Huereña, worked to secure Hudson’s Bay’s first-ever gold-level certification. The school-based enterprise—a traditional school store—has operated at Hudson’s Bay since 1999.

SBEs can be certified at three levels: bronze, silver or gold. Certification requires extensive documentation that demonstrates adherence to marketing and retail standards. A review committee evaluates the documentation to determine which level of certification has been achieved.

For its gold-level certification, Hudson’s Bay was recognized at DECA’s International Career Development conference in April in Nashville, Tennessee. Skyview and Columbia River high schools also sent students to Nashville for gold-level SBE re-certifications.

DECA Inc. is nonprofit international student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

(Photos courtesy of Lorilee Huerena)