Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical Students Earn DECA’s Gold Level Certification for School Store, the $ilver Dollar

The $ilver Dollar school store at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School recently received DECA’s Gold Level Certification thanks to the efforts of seniors Xavier Melo, left, and Jaelynn McAuliffe, right. The store serves as a training ground for students in the Business and Applied Technologies program. (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School)

TAUNTON — Superintendent Alexandre Magalhaes and Principal Karen Guenette are pleased to share that the school store at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School recently received Gold Level Certification from DECA as a result of the diligent efforts of two students in the school’s Business and Applied Technologies program.

The two seniors, Jaelynn McAuliffe and Xavier Melo, worked together with the assistance of their DECA chapter advisor, Jennifer Karamanian, to establish a comprehensive documentation of the school store’s adherence to best practices in customer service, financial management and marketing.

The B-P school store, known as the $ilver Dollar, was among 851 school-based enterprises nationwide to achieve Gold Level Certification for the 2024-25 school year as part of DECA’s School-based Enterprises (SBE) program.

DECA is a nonprofit aimed at preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management, founded in 1946, now with more than 260,000 members in 4,000 high school and college chapters in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Germany.

McAuliffe and Melo, both 18 years old, are now invited to attend DECA’s International Career Development Conference from April 26-29 in Orlando, Florida, joining fellow Gold Level Certification recipients from around the country who are being recognized for upholding rigorous standards of business operations at their school-based enterprise.

An SBE is a student-managed business operating within a school, which serves as a training ground for entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future, providing hands-on learning experiences in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA’s SBE Certification Program is a strict process that evaluates retail and food service operations on their adherence to national curriculum standards and model business practices.

McAuliffe, who is from Freetown, and Melo, who is from Raynham, each played an important role in compiling and submitting a detailed written plan, demonstrating the store’s adherence to best business practices, customer service, financial management, and operational standards.

“Jaelynn and Xavier both worked very diligently and were able to achieve gold level certification for the school store,” said their DECA chapter advisor, technical instructor Jennifer Karamanian. “They had to submit extensive documentation explaining how the $ilver Dollar meets high retail operations and marketing standards. It was a rigorous process. But this has helped them and all of the students in our Business and Applied Technologies to learn more about what it takes for a business to succeed in the real world.”

The $ilver Dollar school store has been in operation for 12 years, serving as a linchpin for Bristol-Plymouth’s Business and Applied Technologies program. The $ilver Dollar sells B-P branded accessories and apparel, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, and more. And it also operates an online store, which can be found at www.bptechstore.myshopify.com.

Principal Guenette said that earning the Gold Level Certification demonstrates the school’s consistent efforts to provide students with meaningful learning opportunities that bridge the gap between education and industry, preparing them for future careers in business and beyond.

“The $ilver Dollar school store has long been a valuable learning laboratory, and this recognition highlights the real-world skills our students develop through this hands-on experience,” Principal Guenette said.

Superintendent Alexandre Magalhaes applauded the students’ efforts, along with their DECA chapter advisor’s guidance.

“This Gold Level Certification is a great accomplishment, and it serves as a reminder of the high standards that we keep for our school-based enterprise,” said Superintendent Magalhaes. “Jaelynn and Xavier’s commitment to excellence at the $ilver Dollar is an example of what we always seek to instill in our students Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School. Thank you to Ms. Karamanian to all of our instructors who are preparing our students for a successful future in business and entrepreneurship.”

###

Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School’s Silver Dollar school store, now recognized with DECA’s prestigious Gold Level Certification, provides students with real-world business experience in marketing, finance, and customer service. (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School)

Thanks to the dedication of students Xavier Melo, left, and Jaelynn McAuliffe, right, the Silver Dollar school store at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School has earned DECA’s Gold Level Certification, showcasing excellence in school-based enterprise operations.  (Photo courtesy Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School)