PROGRAM HISTORY
*Video and Pictures at bottom of page
The award-winning Eagle Business Program began at Chaminade College Prep High School in 2007 when a need was identified for student business education. At that point, the extent of business education was limited to the AP Macroeconomics class and a few students involved in the Future Business Leaders of America club. Consequently, the Introduction to Business class was created for the 2007-2008 school year, offering students an experiential learning opportunity while learning introductory microeconomic concepts. When the demands of a growing number of aspiring business students exceeded the time to accommodate them outside of class, the Advanced Business Management class was created. For more information on our business and economics classes, please see the Classes tab.
Since it's inception, Eagle Business has worked regularly with Junior Achievement. The JA Company Program is a comprehensive educational and competitive avenue for aspiring entrepreneurs. Chaminade student companies have received awards at local and national JA competitions.
2012:
United States Student Company of the Year - Eagle Eye
Southern California Student Company of the Year - Eagle Eye
Southern California Best Financial Projections - Eagle Eye
Southern California Most Innovative Product/Service - Eagle Eye
Southern California Best Exhibit Fair Display - Eagle Eye
2011:
Southern California Best Marketing and Sales Strategy - Eagle Eye
Southern California Most Innovative Product/Service - Eagle Eye
2010:
Southern California Best Exhibit Fair Display - Better Half Bakery
2009:
The United States Best Social Responsibility Project - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Student Company of the Year - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Best Marketing and Sales Strategy - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Best Social Responsibility Project - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Outstanding Presentation Delivery - Higher Grounds Cafe
2008:
Southern California Best Social Responsibility Project - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Best Marketing and Sales Strategy - Higher Grounds Cafe
Southern California Most Innovative Product/Service - Memories on Demand
Other Awards:
2008 National Stock Market Game Champions
2007-2008 Chaminade Club of the Year
2010-JA Certificate of Appreciation "in recognition of dedication to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed."
2008-Woodland Hills Rotary Club Service Above Self
The Story of Higher Grounds Cafe
Higher Grounds Cafe was the first year-round student-run business at Chaminade and had an extremely successful four year run on and off campus. Beginning in Fall of 2007, the small group of Chaminade business students decided to create a cafe open every other morning before school selling only certified Fair Trade, Organic coffee, and fruit smoothies. Hot, cold, and blended coffee recipes were offered using professional equipment, but after a few months, the buzz of a new enterprise on campus subsided. Everything changed after the group watched the documentary of one of their coffee suppliers "Black Gold". Mr. Gideon decided to reach out to the man who was central in the film - General Manager of the Oromia (Ethiopia) Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union and ask him to travel to Chaminade for a campus screening of the film.
Remarkably, Tadesse Meskela agreed to visit the campus to speak, visit the cafe, and tour the campus staying with the Gideon family for a few days. At the end of that time, people on and off campus were energized to be part of a movement. Over 400 Chaminade students attended Mr. Meskela's talk and screening of the film in the gym. Also, Chaminade offered a scholarship to his daughter Yuliya Meskela, who first left her home country of Ethiopia to become an eagle in the Fall of 2008 and join the class of 2012. After graduating from Chaminade and working at Higher Grounds, Yuliya still lives in West Hills and attends Cal State University, Northridge. The Gideons and Meskelas have become good family friends, with Mr. Meskela visiting several times.
After Mr. Meskela's appearance at Chaminade increased the visibility and popularity of the Eagle Business Program, many memorable moments followed. These included an Ethiopian Coffee Roasting Ceremony at Mr. Gideon's home, a field trip to San Diego green coffee importer Elan Organic, a celebration of World Fair Trade Day, and the placement of bags of Higher Grounds coffee on the shelves of Fields Market. Also, Higher Grounds competed and won many awards listed above. The students were also invited to share their story at the Junior Achievement Gala in Beverly Hills, the Archdiocese Social Justice Fair, and Rock Out Youth Poverty. After the students and families who carried Higher Grounds through its successful run graduated, the students behind them decided they wanted to make their own mark by taking the program in a new direction that coincided with Mr. Gideon's return to coaching. The new student-run company would be known as Eagle Eye.
The Story of Eagle Eye
Eagle Eye was named the 2012 National Student Company of the Year. Students of the Advanced Business Management classes at Chaminade are responsible for the various operations of Eagle Eye, where it first reached a wide impact. However, the company was started by two enterprising Chaminade students in 2010 - Cameron Villadiego ('12) and Jake Speyer ('12). In the Fall of 2010, these students began filming games and producing highlight videos for varsity football players in order to create opportunities for the players to receive college offers to continue their playing careers. Interest in expanding the company was so strong that Eagle Eye replaced Higher Grounds Cafe as the central year-round student company at Chaminade in the Fall of 2011. That year, Eagle Eye quickly rolled out several more services for varsity football. They eventually included:
-5 videographers at each game
-1 offensive play charter (for coaches) at each game
-A scouting staff of 10 students at each game providing coaches information using an innovative system
-Equipment set up and transport
-Posting of weekly player award winners on our site
-Articles previewing upcoming games and summarizing the game experience for fans
-Postgame video interviews with players
-Private interviews with players to give an inside look at their personalities
-Real-time news using the @eaglebusiness twitter feed
Commercial for 2012 National Competition
(created by Mark Asfour, Class of '13)
Promo on Fox SportsFox Sports recognized Eagle Eye during their broadcast of the varsity football game vs. Valencia in 2012. |
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National Champions on StageRepresentatives of Eagle Eye pose at the U.S. Headquarters for The Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C. with the President of Junior Achievement. |
With a presidential candidateAt the Eagle Eye booth on Capitol Hill with two-time Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Rep. Kucinich (OH) was a college quarterback. |
Students with awardsWhen they were named national champions, each student received trophies, medals, and a college scholarship. Cameron Villadiego also received a computer for his work in a separate team challenge. From left to right: Villadiego, Kelley, Miller, Nazarian, Speyer, and Gideon. |
In front of the White House-Eagle Eye was selected as National Company of the Year after a year that approximately 20,000 students from over 100 offices across the country participated in the JA Company Program. Each student representative received a medal, trophy, Motorola Xoom tablet, and $1,000 scholarship. -Eagle Eye was selected as a national finalist by the New York Stock Exchange for its Financial Performance Award - 4 of Eagle Eye’s representatives in Washington led 4 of the 5 finalist teams for AT&T’s Social Inno |
SoCal Winners |
Team at their SoCal booth |
At the Washington Monument |
Interactive Booth |
Orange and White Logo |
Field Pass for Football Games |
Alternate Logo |
Blue, White, and Orange Logo |
State Champions! |
JA company of the year |
Logo |
Cafe Logo | Fair Trade LogoAll Higher Grounds coffee was Fair Trade certified. | Organic LogoAll of Higher Grounds coffee was certified organic |
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Welcome Sign at Launch | Taste test at Higher Grounds Launch | Movie Poster |
Tadesse talking to farmers | Tadesse Meskela at Higher GroundsHolding our Fair Trade coffee | Tadesse at Higher Grounds |
Tadesse with Kids at Cafe (Feb. 09) | Explaining the Roasting Ceremony | Higher Grounds AwardsHigher Grounds Cafe won several awards at the Southern California championships, including Company of the Year. |
Tadesse Leans on Eagle StatueMr. Meskela visited campus when they were setting the statue. | Ethiopian Coffee Roasting CeremonyAt the Gideon household | Coffee Roasting Ceremony at Gideon's |
Ready to Roast | Pouring coffee at ceremony | Ethiopian telling stories |
Coffee Roaster | Training at Rocky Roaster | At Elan OrganicStudents visited our green coffee supplier in San Diego. |
Tadesse with Bag under Posterat Higher Grounds | Children in School | Clean Water Station |
Coffee Warehouse | Health Clinic | Ethiopians in donated clothingshowing messages of thanks to Higher Grounds supporters. |
Taster training in San Diego | Craig Seidenglanz cupping | Supreme Bean Cupping |
Cupping in San Diego | Trip to San Diego Warehouse | Oromia Coffee Farmer |
Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at Hilton, 2009.JPG | JA Gala 2008 | Fair Trade Day at Fields Market |
Blended Coffee with Caramel Syrup | Boston Harbor | Amanda at Fair Trade Festival |
Corporate Sponsor Visits | Sponsor Visits Higher Grounds CafeAftermath Claim Science was an important sponsor. | Sponsors visit our market displayAftermath Claim science and Joe Gentile proudly view our coffee display, on sale at Fields Market. |
Fields Rack Top Artwork | Fields Rack Side Artwork | Bags Sold at Fields Market |
Ethiopia (in dark) | A World of CoffeeCoffee is the second most actively traded commodity in the world, after oil. | World Map on Child's FaceUsed as a promotion for World Fair Trade Day. |
Downtown Boston | U.S. Championships Award Dinner | The Beverly Hilton Ball RoomLocation where our students made a presentation on stage to over 500 Junior Achievement donors. The donors were also served Higher Grounds' Fair Trade coffee. Afterwards, the students were all offered jobs by the President of US Bank. |
World Fair Trade Day at Fields | Rock Out Youth Poverty BoothThe students were invited by the LA Archdiocese to set up a booth and explain their social justice project. | LA Archdiocese Social Justice Panel |
Tadesse and Christian at EagleMr. Gideon's son was with Mr. Meskela the day he added his hand print at the base of the new statue. |