The vision of Project ECHO Vikes' Cafe was realized in 1997 at Santa Monica High School in order to improve student’s satisfaction with cafeteria food and student involvement in food services. Students enrolled in this program learn about entrepreneurship and business in the classroom, and then apply knowledge by collaborating with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Food Service Professionals to convert the school cafeteria into a high tech fast service cafe. While redesigning and operating this entrepreneurial business, students are engaged in an exciting curriculum that teaches important life skills in a "real world" setting.

     The Vikes' Cafe is open five days a week at lunch and requires 15 students to run the business daily. These students serve over 250 students per day. Since its inception in 1997, the Director of Food and Nutrition for SMMUSD Orlando Griego, reports a 45% increase in student lunch sales. This years gross sales exceeded $70,000.00 dollars. Over the past four years the Vikes' Cafe students were directly responsible for raising more than $21,000.00 dollars in scholarships funds awarded to Project ECHO students. The Vikes' Cafe students under the leadership and guidance of Anita Kemp, Small Business Management Instructor and Dorothy Holsome, Vikes' Cafe Advisor, have established links between education, school food service, technology, business education and the business community. Today, ALL Santa Monica High School students now have the opportunity to learn the true meaning of entrepreneurship.