Academics
Institute of Business and Innovation
To better instruct, inspire and ignite our students for academic and professional careers through a commitment to business and innovation instruction.
100% of our students will one day be in Business
“The Institute has been extremely well received across Prep’s stakeholders. From college admissions representatives, to corporate partners, our parents and, most importantly, our students, in just a few months you can feel the momentum and excitement. It’s inspiring all of us to do even more.”
--Jeff Rehling, Director of the Institute for Business and Innovation
100% of our students will one day be in Business
“The Institute has been extremely well received across Prep’s stakeholders. From college admissions representatives, to corporate partners, our parents and, most importantly, our students, in just a few months you can feel the momentum and excitement. It’s inspiring all of us to do even more.”
--Jeff Rehling, Director of the Institute for Business and Innovation
Curriculum and Courses
The Institute’s new business curriculum is based on three principles: holistic perspective, experiential learning and real world application. Currently the program is reaching 69 upper school students across the program’s initial four courses,which include:
The Institute’s new business curriculum is based on three principles: holistic perspective, experiential learning and real world application. Currently the program is reaching 69 upper school students across the program’s initial four courses,which include:
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Professional Tools & Technology (required)
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Personal Finance (required)
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Introduction to Business
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Economics
In promoting our hands-on and experiential approach to teaching, we’ve had guest speakers from USC, Mattel, Stauffer Safety and Amazon. Each class has had at least one field trip along with multiple case studies and applied learning projects. In fact, our Introduction to Business students have had a chance to present business plans to local business leaders…twice!
As planning begins for the ‘25-’26 school year, new courses are being planned in marketing, sales and entrepreneurship, with additional project-based coursework potentially added to complement these new courses. Stay tuned for more details.
Clubs and Competitions
The student-led Dolphin Business Club meets twice a week with the goal of finding opportunities to expose Prep’s students to business principles and opportunities that compliment our coursework. So far this school year, the Club has a lengthy list of accomplishments:
The student-led Dolphin Business Club meets twice a week with the goal of finding opportunities to expose Prep’s students to business principles and opportunities that compliment our coursework. So far this school year, the Club has a lengthy list of accomplishments:
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Field trips to Outside Hilton Head retail and Gulfstream.
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The management and development of the Dolphin Spirit Store, including introduction of Prep’s new Energy Bar.
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Prep hosted a ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce for the Dolphin Spirit Store, including HH mayor Alan Perry speaking with our students.
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The creation and development of a confidential new small business enterprise with more details coming this spring.
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Several other programs and events are in development for spring of 2025. The rumors may be true of a dress for success and etiquette dinner planned in the not too distant future!
In addition to the Business Club, HH Prep has also joined DECA, the nation’s leading high school business association that is helping prepare emerging leaders for successful business careers. DECA has over 4000 high school members, reaching nearly 300,000 students. In just our first few months students are quickly embracing the opportunities presented by DECA.
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Seven Prep students competed in the SC regional competition in November, with all seven placing in the top 5 in the respective categories and advancing to the state-wide competition in February.
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Select students attended the three day DECA Power Trip in Charlotte where they competed in role plays, attended college and career professional development workshops and even got to spend an evening testing their skills at the NASCAR museum.
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A team of HH Prep students participated in DECA’s National Day of Giving event with other low country high schools, creating holiday cards for the children served by the Ronald McDonald House.
There are lots of ways for local businesses, parents and other stakeholders to get involved in supporting the Business Club and our DECA efforts. Please reach out.
Community Connections
The goal of the Institute is to not just instruct and apply business principles, but it is to showcase the program and, specifically, our student’s talents to the broader community. Over the last several months our outreach efforts have begun to have an impact.
The goal of the Institute is to not just instruct and apply business principles, but it is to showcase the program and, specifically, our student’s talents to the broader community. Over the last several months our outreach efforts have begun to have an impact.
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The Institute has hosted keynote talks including, MIke Overton (President of Outside HH, Jon Dunkelberger - Director of Sales at Ricoh, Santana Pina the President of SC DECA.
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Field Trips to SCAD and Great Dane Manufacturing, along with over a dozen guest speakers and judges supporting the program.
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Enhanced partnership with the HH/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, including a unique marketing effort promoting our high school students for internships (keep an eye out on social media in January).
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Speaking of internships, the Institute is looking for area companies to support our student’s desire for quality, business internships this summer. If you have any opportunities and/or have any contacts for these types of jobs, please contact Jeff Rehling.
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