In Butler Tech’s Business Program, students don’t just learn about entrepreneurship, marketing, and leadership; they apply those skills in real, hands-on ways that prepare them for college and careers. This year, students at D. Russel Lee are doing exactly that by launching and operating a new DECA chapter and running it like a real-world business.
For juniors Sekhar Timsina and Slesha Acharya, the program offered something more than a traditional business class. It offered relevance.
“I chose the Business Program because I wanted a better insight into the entrepreneurship field as well as the law field,” Sekhar said. “I feel like this would help me engage with professionals in their actual careers. I’m getting a deeper insight into everything.”
Slesha was drawn to the program for the academic momentum it provides.
“I want to get ahead of my college credits,” she said. “If I get my associate’s degree while I’m in high school, it gets me really ahead, especially if I want to pursue further education.”
That mix of college-level coursework and applied learning is a cornerstone of Butler Tech’s Business Program, and DECA quickly became the perfect extension of that model.
“DECA is larger than other Career Tech Student Organizations (CTSOs). It’s international, so it allows students to network and meet professionals,” Slesha said. “I really wanted us to have that opportunity.”
Sekhar, who had already competed nationally through other business organizations, saw DECA as the next step.
“I’ve been involved in CTSOs in the past, like Business Professionals of America, and I’ve been to nationals twice,” he said. “Knowing that they were doing DECA this year really pushed me to explore more about what DECA is.”
Launching a new chapter meant students weren’t stepping into a polished system. They were creating one.
“It was kind of daunting at first because most of these CTSOs are already established,” Sekhar said. “They have a lot of foundation they can build upon.”
With a new Business Program still growing, students embraced the challenge.
“We’re really trying to work from the ground up,” Slesha said. “It was a challenge, but it was a challenge that everyone was interested in engaging in.”
That startup mindset is now driving everything the chapter does. Students are experimenting with fundraisers, learning from what works and what doesn’t, and adapting along the way.
“We had a dine and donate with Chipotle, and unfortunately, we didn’t make the minimum benchmark,” Sekhar said. “We kind of learned from experience, and we’re going to try new things as we go along.”
They are also actively reaching out to local businesses and past classroom partners to build sponsorships that support student travel, competition, and growth.
“We’re in the process of cold calling different businesses and past collaborators to see if they want to work with us,” Sekhar said. “It’s a win for both sides.”
Student leaders are focused on building something that will continue to grow long after this first year. Their goal is to see Butler Tech students advance to state and national competition, while also creating a culture that inspires future classes to step into leadership and keep pushing the chapter forward.
They are also looking beyond their own school, running for DECA state office, so they can bring new ideas, experience, and opportunities back to D. Russel Lee. That focus reflects the way the Business Program encourages students to think, not just about individual success, but about how to strengthen the system around them.
That same mindset is driving the chapter’s growing community connections. Students are building partnerships with local businesses to support competition, travel, and career exposure, while also welcoming professionals into the classroom as mentors and guest speakers. Everyday community members can even support the chapter through programs like Kroger Community Rewards, which turns routine purchases into direct student support.
If you would like to support the Business Program and the new DECA chapter, contact the Business Instructor, Yufang Van Gaasbeek at vangaasbeeky@butlertech.org
To enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards program and support the DECA chapter:
- Go to kroger.com or open the Kroger app
- Sign in (or create an account if you don’t have one)
- Navigate to My Account → Community Rewards
- Search for Butler Tech D Russel Lee – DECA
- Select & Save!
Every time you scan your Kroger Plus Card or enter your phone number at checkout, DECA earns rewards — at absolutely no cost to you.
Pictured are the 2026 DECA Officers:
Slesha Acharya (Co-President)
Sekhar Timsina (Co-President)
Amora Higgins (Vice President of Marketing)
Pralad Chhetri (Vice President of Community Outreach)
Kamare Benson (Secretary)
Samuel NkosiAn (Vice President of Competition)