Midvale, UT — The Husky Hut is a place where students at Hillcrest High School can get snacks, drinks, and some food using cards that are given out by teachers for positive behavior, or sometimes just for fun. Nicholis Pappas, the teacher for digital studies, career and technical education, and most importantly marketing, oversees the class that helps run the Husky Hut.
Marketing is a class based on understanding how to sell something, who to sell it to, and why the item is being sold. Mr. Pappas not only teaches this class but also has personal degrees in marketing and many real-world experiences in the field. Because of that, students gain firsthand experience in how to sell products by working directly in the Husky Hut. Mr. Pappas’ goal for the class is to teach students not only practical experience but also how to conduct business through marketing.
The Husky Hut’s biggest challenge this year has been determining the real value of a Husky Card. This is the first year Mr. Pappas has taken control of the Husky Hut, and the department needed to change the value of the card. Mr. Pappas stated, “The direction we had was to make the Husky Cards more meaningful—that’s why we had to figure out a value to assign.” This explains what many students refer to as “inflation on Husky Cards.” Mr. Pappas has mentioned that because students receive items from the Husky Hut for free and the school must pay for those items, the fluctuation in prices became necessary.
Mr. Pappas believes that marketing is a skill that can truly impact people’s lives, and he is glad to be teaching a class that not only learns how to market but also how to work in business. He has many new ideas for the Husky Hut, including adding new items such as school supplies. There are also plans for holiday events, including possible promotions for gift cards.