Metro Tech DECA Chapter Announced as 2025 Outstanding School-Based Enterprise

Metro Tech's Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) Chapter and its school-based enterprise, the Lakeside Café, have received gold-level certification for the 2024-2025 school year. As one of only nine SBEs in Oklahoma, Metro Tech will be recognized at DECA's International Career Development Conference in Orlando this April.

A school-based enterprise is an entrepreneurial operation within a school setting that provides hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA's School-based Enterprise Certification Program recognizes school-based enterprises' outstanding achievements and motivates SBEs to strive for excellence and growth.

The Lakeside Café, located within the Information Technology Center on the Springlake Campus, has been in operation for 11 years by Metro Tech Entrepreneurship students who prepare and serve various snack foods, drinks, coffee, and custom apparel.

Metro Tech DECA members who contributed to this year's certification were Emani Atchison, Chazlanai Berry, Oliver Biederman, Hannah Boykins, Nevaeh Fair, Cherry Metcalf, and Michele Salazar, with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisor, Taiseka Adams.

"DECA's School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical learning laboratory and then translate that into meaningful outcomes," Christopher Young, CAE, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc., said. "These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers."

Learn More About DECA