By Stephen Smoot
As public schools face more challenges than ever from budget issues, social problems, and other issues, part of the response has come in the form of providing enrichment opportunities. These take the students outside of their sense of comfort to develop new skills, go to new places, and gain from new experiences.
DECA, among many other clubs, has contributed considerably toward providing a broad spectrum of opportunities to learn and grow.
One of those opportunities came in the form of competing against the best in the world. Every spring in late April, as the school year comes to a close, DECA holds its International Career Development Conference. Students from Lincoln High School joined over 25,000 students, teacher-advisors, business professionals, and alumni. Students can compete in a broad selection of competitive events that test skills and knowledge related to business and entrepreneurship.
“Students placed first or second in their state competitions to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference,” shared Julie Yearego, an LHS teacher who advises the club. They battled in areas such as marketing, finance, hospitality and tourism, and management.
Outside of competition comes the important aspect of meeting, interacting, and learning from contemporaries from across the nation and around the world. One of the most enjoyable parts of the conference comes in the form pin sharing. Each state or country represented has its own specially designed pin. The pin representing West Virginia features the new swings installed in scenic spots all over the state.
Closer to home, the DECA club has spent over two years supporting state, county, and local efforts to develop and beautify the Rail Trail. Currently expanding in segments, the ultimate plan lies in building from “P to P,” meaning Pittsburgh to Parkersburg.
In their first year, the students secured a state grant and worked on creating events that brought family fun-filled attention to the trail in and near Shinnston. This spring, the club installed eight geocaching boxes along the West Fork Rail-Trail. These extend from near the Shinnston bridge toward the Marion County line.
Geocaching helps to make the trail even more interactive while also attracting a different group of trail enthusiasts.
As Yearego said, students “were happy to attract more visitors to their local community and encourage others to try and find the new geocaches.”
The National Geographic Society calls geocaching “a global treasure hunt . . where hiders provide online clues for seekers . . (who) use global positioning system (GPS) devices to find hidden caches.”
Seekers use latitude and longitudinal coordinates of caches. GPS points the seeker to a general area and they must then use clues to locate the cache. Caches can include a number of small items that are interesting, but also resilient to extremes of heat, cold, and other elements of the natural environment.
According to the National Ocean Service, under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, geocaching serves the purpose of outdoor fun, but “can also be a valuable public service.” Geocachers often, but not always, seek out special survey points called “benchmarks.” Starting two centuries ago, these markers make up the National Spatial Reference System, which serves as “the foundation for all mapping and surveying activities in the United States.”
Over time, these physical markers get lost, broken, or displaced. The NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey, which administers the system, encourages geocachers to report finding the metal discs used for markers to them.
In related news, Lincoln High School reported that students “earned close to 60 industry recognized certificates during the course of the 2024-25 school year.” Many of these came in various Microsoft certification programs.
Certification demonstrates a level of mastery of a different technology-based skill and are prerequisites for a number of lucrative jobs in the field.
