Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/415428
" Today, as president of Collegiate DECA's Executive Officer Team, he can address hundreds of peers and supervisors with ease, motivate scores of students with humor and sound advice, and set goals to potentially gain nearly 20,000 new DECA members around the country. His high school advisor, "the rock at the beginning of my journey," re- marks Hubbard, first tapped into his potential when he was a freshman at Jupiter (Fla.) High School. "She saw that I couldn't stand in front of my class or a crowd," and thought DECA could help build public speaking skills — and confidence. JWU North Miami Professor Jack Rose, executive director of the Florida Association of Collegiate DECA and Hubbard's advisor at JWU, continued to sup- port Hubbard's involvement. "He guided me into where I wanted to go in the organization," Hubbard says. "He helped give me a voice to stand up for myself." Gaining experience in leadership roles through DECA, student gov- ernment or similar organizations is a significant part of the Johnson & Wales experience, says Scott Lyons, director of Student Innovation & Leadership, Providence Campus. "These experiences develop char- acter, commitment and skills like strategic planning," he says. "It's so rewarding to hear alumni talk about how they apply skills they learned as students to their careers today." Hubbard credits DECA and his mentors for giving him leadership opportunities. But he knows he's not finished yet. "When I graduated from high school, my grandmother told me, 'One day, you're going to be someone, as long as you listen and stay focused,'" Hubbard shares. "I've taken her words to heart, and I know I have to keep going, keep trying." " Character Development When you see Johnnie Hubbard '14 in front of a crowd, it's hard to imagine him as a once-shy young teen. He helped give me a voice to stand up for myself. Johnnie Hubbard '14