2026 𝓔𝓓𝓦𝓐𝓡𝓓𝓢𝓥𝓘𝓛𝓛𝓔 𝓒𝓔𝓞 𝓕𝓘𝓢𝓗 𝓣𝓐𝓝𝓚 – 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽’𝓼 𝓪 𝔀𝓻𝓪𝓹!

Since August, CEO students have been developing an individual business venture, a side hustle that they could launch during their senior year of high school. This morning, each of our students presented a 3-minute pitch deck to an incredible panel of community judges.

Not only did they demonstrate business knowledge of their problem, solution, customers, target market, competitive advantages, potential value, and potential prize use…they endured a 2-minute Q & A session with our “sharks” and absolutely NAILED IT!

We are thrilled to announce the top candidates scored by our judges…drum roll please…

🥇 1𝓢𝓣 𝓟𝓛𝓐𝓒𝓔 ($300)
Dia Villhard | Glisten Gem Kits | FMCHS
🥈 2𝓝𝓓 𝓟𝓛𝓐𝓒𝓔 ($200)
Simon Stearns | Stearns Honey | EHS
🥉 3𝓡𝓓 𝓟𝓛𝓐𝓒𝓔 ($100)
Matthew Huddle | Metro East ACT Prep | EHS

This year, we had several additional categories to spotlight incredible presentations. Congratulations to the students below for being awarded the following categories by their judges and peers:

🏆#𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕𝑬𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 | Cooper Wittek | HangBack Hammocks | EHS
🏆#𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒕𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒚𝑻𝒐𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆 | Zane Maxwell | Barnwood Resin Studio | EHS
🏆#𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒕𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑵 | Sophia Noascono | happy little movements | EHS
🏆#𝑪𝑬𝑶𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 (Peer elected!) | Antonella De Avila | Glossy X Nails | EHS

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒:

This event would not have been possible without our incredible panel of judges:

👏 Adam Walters | President/CEO BloxByte Games | Edwardsville CEO Class of 2019!

👏 Dr. Mario Hayek | Dean, SIUE School of Business

👏 Matt McSparin | President/CEO | Edison's Entertainment Complex @edisonsentertainment

👏 Megan Pashea | Co-Owner | 1818 Chophouse

👏 Loren King | President, Woaha Consulting

👏 Steve Cooper | Division President | First Mid Bank & Trust

SCOTT CREDIT UNION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION for sponsoring our event and prize money! Scott Credit Union

REVITY CREDIT UNION for sponsoring the bonus prize categories!

THE INK HOUSE, Kristen Pfund & Laraeli Barron for providing an amazing venue and incredible service!

🐮 CHICK-FIL-A & Phillip Brunner, for constantly fueling us with amazing food.

EMCEE, Lacy Able, it was a pleasure having you lead today's event!

Today's event would not have been possible without our Entrepreneurial Extraordinaire, Doug Villhard (Academic Director for Entrepreneurship at WashU), for teaching students how to craft the “perfect pitch” and for all of his entrepreneurial advice! Doug, you have given these students an incredible gift. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
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To each of our young entrepreneurs...bravo. You've made your community proud!

They've planned...they've pitched...get ready to watch them LAUNCH their businesses at our 2026 Edwardsville CEO Trade Show on Sunday, May 3rd at The Ink House. Follow our FB and Instagram for event details to be posted soon!

Edwardsville High School - Father McGivney Catholic High School - Metro-East Lutheran High School