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