Second-year students in the Eastpointe High School marketing program are moving their focus from classroom learning to hands-on practice, as they not only build their own programs but also contribute to the success of others.

The students have spent the fall semester cleaning out and organizing the Shamrock Shoppe school store to be re-opened for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It all started with a vision,” says marketing teacher Paula Cardinale. “At the beginning of the school year, the second-year Marketing students took it upon themselves to create a vision board. They have taken that vision board and made it come to life by taking ownership of the challenge to reopen the school store.”

The students have cleaned out the store and are working to clear out old stock to make room for new creations that they are designing and printing themselves using a DTF printer and other equipment.

During back-to-school night this fall, marketing students did a made-to-order T-shirt giveaway for EHS parents with a custom “Shamrockin’ EHS Parent” logo they designed.

In addition to their work in the Shamrock Shoppe, the marketing students have partnered with other programs at EHS to test their skills in other areas.

They worked with the culinary arts program to create branding and menus for their recent food truck battle, and are working with the athletic department to reimagine the athletic entrance and showcases and design new Shamrock warm-up gear.

They also plan to create a Shamrock branded cart to sell spirit merchandise alongside the concession stand at home games.

Finally, Eastpointe students are preparing to return to DECA competition this month for the first time in several years, with membership in the group growing to 25 students.

Cardinale hopes these ambitious projects will prepare Eastpointe’s marketing students for potential careers in many different areas.

“Hands-on learning is the ultimate goal in CTE,” she says. “I am looking forward to seeing their hard work pay off and continue on to the next class.”