Wally’s— student store reimagined for a successful year

Good old fashioned learning-by-doing

The start of school this week marks the reintroduction of the Chisago Lakes student store at the high school, plus an unexpected opportunity for Wildcat alumnus Josh Parks. He was a standout Wildcat football player, who went on to play at the University of Minnesota. But as a freshman he stepped away from the sport in 2014. He explains that he looked for an endeavor he could focus on that would become as important in his life as football had been. The gap was impacting his life’s happiness and purpose. In the ensuing transition period he got involved in developing an ‘ath-leisure’ apparel line Ghost Fit. Parks found former Minnesota Viking Alexander Mattison and connected with his youth outreach foundation “I Am Gifted.” The foundation has an affiliation with Mental Health America.

He adds, the moral of the story is dare to “set audacious goals in life”

Parks explains in a Ghost Fit promo video that a portion of proceeds from the sale of his gear, which is now among the products featured in the student-run store, goes to the foundation.

Parks celebrated with the DECA program students and school officials for the ribbon-cutting that was held August 29, just in time to get the store (named for the school mascot “Wally’ ) out in front of the community and boost school spirit.

Partnerships were established with the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Chisago Hardware’s Marcus Clay, who came by for the ribbon-cutting.

The students involved in the DECA business program are being educated through this hands-on opportunity. Chisago Lakes business instructor Hannah Lindstrom said the students met over the summer and formulated the store operations and what goes into that and then the space was given some physical TLC and prepared to go “live.”