The Ballard High School DECA is creating a fully customized Monopoly-style game that celebrates Ballard.

Titled Ballardopoly, the game will become available for sale in the fall and will be distributed throughout the community.  Proceeds will support BHS's ever-growing DECA organization, which will possibly become the largest in Washington next year with over 150 students.

DECA is an international student marketing association that promotes leadership development and helps students to gain valuable business experience through competitions and interacting with the business community.

"For a number of reasons, including nutrition and non-compete policies, our store does not generate enough revenue to support our ever-growing program," said DECA Advisor, Jill Zawatski.

"This semester, I challenged my Marketing students to devise business plans to drive more revenue to support our DECA program. Maarten Monhemius, an exchange student from the Netherlands, developed the idea of a custom Monopoly game that celebrates the Ballard community. The rest of the class loved the idea, so we decided to run with it."

Creating Ballardopoly has been completely student-driven and now the students are reaching out to the local business community to invite them to take part in the project.


Local businesses, organizations, and individuals have an opportunity to purchase real estate on the board, where they can display company logos or personal messages. 

"In selling the “real estate” on the board, students are practicing leadership, communication, and sales skills.  Our DECA officers are functioning as project managers as they lead the “sales team” through the processes of setting goals, tracking progress, and meeting deadlines," Zawatski said.  

"Once the game is developed and becomes available to purchase, the board itself will showcase all of the businesses Ballard DECA has created a relationship with.  It is our hope that these relationships will endure, and that businesses will continue to support what we do in the classroom."

To claim a territory on the game board, please see the attached order form. Orders must be postmarked by June 23, 2011.

"Ballardopoly is a win-win opportunity.  Students benefit from the process of creating the game and, in the long road, the proceeds will help to support their continued participation in DECA.  Businesses benefit from an advertising perspective; business names and logos will be featured on the game board," said Zawatski.