Dylan Beaudet and his partners sold cinnamon rolls to fundraise for Make a Wish after they were sponsored by DuffyRolls.
Fundraising and Sweets: The DECA Marketplace Brought Smoky Hill’s Community Together
The notes of fragrant, warm cinnamon and caramelized brown sugar had students buying Duffeyroll‘s classic cinnamon rolls from the vendors like crazy on Thursday. Though the vendors were not adults, Smoky Hill students ran the tables that promoted various businesses while raising money for our very own Wish Kid: Amner.
In addition to being able to raise money to allow Amner to meet his favorite soccer player, the Marketplace showcased student talent and preparation for the real world; as Smoky’s business classes are leading the way to successful connections, leaders, and future entrepreneurs. David Decker, IB business management teacher and DECA coordinator, says that the students “were asked to go out and try to partner with local businesses to find [support] that would help us raise money for Make a Wish. [In the classes] we talked about entrepreneurship, the free enterprise system, and supply and demand; just everything you would [need] to run a small business.”
Some of these students like Zainb Khan (11) found a local business that supported them, “we’re sponsored by Just Us Cupcakes which is a Muslim owned business. The baker, she’s a hijabi lawyer [who is] really amazing within my community. She made us hot chocolate bombs, cheese cakes, cookies, cakepops, and helped us create the theme of Valentine’s day along with hyping up for February 1, which is National Hijab Day.”
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Zainb Khan and other students selling sweets from Just Us Cupcakes to help out Wish Kid Amir.
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Smoky Hill teacher and DECA coordinator David Decker stands in front of students selling cinnamon rolls.
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Russell Leech captivates an audience through his juggling for a vendor.
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Gabe Beno stands in front of his booth sponsored by Freddy’s.
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Bisrat Demelash and other students partnered with Panera to create a fun soda-chugging game.
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Sofiia Znakharenko and Oliver Hanover smile as hundreds of students showed up to support DECA’s Marketplace.
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Participants of the event also had an enjoyable experience; “it’s pretty cool,” Ryan Mendez (11) said, “it’s a lot of fun to go see all the booths with different foods; I got a churro and a pie from over there [Mendez pointed to the vendors that sold the various foods].” Other vendors also had the education of learning to market to students and enjoying it too, as Dylan Beaudet (12) said “it’s an absolute treat. It’s very exciting to sell these [cinnamon rolls as] they are some of the best you can find in Colorado.”
Beaudet also said, “get Duffeyrolls! They’re delicious!”
