IN Bethel Park Fall 2016 | Page 59

“The Bethel Park Community Foundation is excited about working with our high school students,” explained Community Foundation President Dan Duff. “Through the research the students are conducting, we will be able to learn how the Foundation can further share its message and philosophy of local philanthropy with the community. “We are also pleased to be able to provide the students with a hands-on, real-world scenario, which will help better prepare them for careers in marketing and research.” Coordinating the research campaign are Bethel Park High School sophomores Tammy Stugan and Sabrina Tatalias. Bethel Park High School DECA students did a great job with their presentation to keep the Bean & Berry coffee/smoothie shop going into the 2016-2017 school year. To end the school year, a group of BPHS DECA students gave a Shark Tank-style presentation to Bethel Park High School Principal Dr. Jansante, BPHS teacher Mrs. Robb and Greg Gold from Miller Ace Hardware, who has been working with the students as a Junior Achievement Advisor. Their presentation revolved around the results of their 13-day test of Bean & Berry, a coffee/smoothie shop that they ran out of the concession stand area in the high school cafeteria. Students who had a study hall in the cafeteria were able to purchase Honduran coffee, smoothies and healthy snacks, such as yogurt and granola bars. Proceeds from coffee sales benefitted Coffee Arabica, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarship money for Honduran students to stay in school. Their presentation not only detailed their efforts, but also their plans for continuing the Bean & Berry through the 2016‑2017 school year, as a fundraiser to help defray the expenses of competing at DECA State and International competitions. At the conclusion of their presentation, Dr. Jansante gave his support for the project to continue. He was extremely impressed with the market research the students did to develop the concept, as well as their technology-based marketing efforts, and their excellent record-keeping, to determine which products should continue to be sold and which products should be discontinued. The students plan to expand their offerings in 2016-2017 to include tea and hot chocolate. Bethel Park | Fall 2016 | icmags.com 57 B E THE L PARK S CHOOL DIS TR IC T B ethel Park High School Marketing students have been keeping themselves busy, preparing for their futures by presenting at international competitions, helping the Bethel Park Community Foundation with market research, and running a coffee/smoothie shop to raise funds to travel to future competitions. At the 2016 DECA International Career Development Conference, held in Nashville, TN, three students finished among the top 20 in their respective events. This year over 17,000 students, representing all 50 states and several foreign countries, competed against one another in a variety of marketing-related events. Each event had approximately 200 competitors or teams. Finishing as Top 20 Finalists were senior Natalie Lalama in the Restaurant and Food Marketing event; freshman Alyssa George in the Principles of Finance event, and freshman Sabrina Tatalias in the Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling (Left to right): Bethel Park High School students Natalie Lalama, Sabrina Tatalias and Alyssa George were Top 20 event. Finalists at the DECA International Conference. Also turning in a good showing at Internationals by Finishing in the Top 10 in the Role Play for the Hospitality Services Team Decision Making event were seniors Sean McClaine and Carolyn Vona. Additionally, junior Rachel McClaine turned in a Top 10 Test Score in the Principles of Business Administration event. The students were prepared for this event by Bethel Park High School Marketing Teachers Emily Smoller and Maria Christenson. In other DECA news, the Bethel Park Community Foundation awarded the Bethel Park High School DECA organization an Educational Grant in the amount of $350. As part of the grant, the DECA Bethel Park Community Foundation Executive students will be Committee member Bill Holden (far left) and working with Foundation Vice President John Carberry (far right) present a check for $350 to Bethel Park High School the Community DECA students Sabrina Tatalias (second from left) and Foundation, to Tammy Stugan (second from right). provide market research that will provide the Foundation with insights about the community’s awareness of the Bethel Park Community Foundation and the grant opportunities it provides. Bethel Park MARKETING STUDENTS KEEP BUSY WITH COMPETITIONS, MARKET RESEARCH AND RUNNING A COFFEE SHOP