What is CEO
The CEO Program is funded by local business investors strengthens your local community provides 2 high school credits utilizes area businesses as classrooms emphasizes 21st century Learning skills
CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) began in the Fall of 2008 in Effingham, Illinois.
The CEO program:
- Is funded by business investors
- Is open to high school juniors and seniors
- Selects students through a rigorous blind application process
- Serves students from public, private high schools and home school.
- Meets for 90 minutes each day
- Provides 2 high school credits
- Utilizes area businesses as host sites and never meets in a classroom.
- Visits 40+ area businesses each year
- Hosts 40+ guest speakers each year
- Emphasizes 21st century Learning skills
- Provides the opportunity for each student to start their own business
- Provides a mentor from the business community for each CEO student
- Hosts an annual trade show to showcase student businesses
What is CEO explained by Craig Lindvahl
Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities is a year-long course designed to utilize partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes.
Our local business community partners with area schools to create project-based experiences for students by providing funding, expertise, meeting space, business tours, and one-on-one mentoring. Students visit area businesses, learn from guest speakers, participate in a class business, write business plans, and start and operate their own businesses. Business concepts learned through the experiential CEO class are critical; the 21st century skills of problem-solving, teamwork, self-motivation, responsibility, higher-order thinking, communication, and inquiry are at the heart of a student’s development throughout the course.
Student Testimonials
The CEO class is teaching me a whole new approach to life: the entrepreneurial approach.
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Anne WesselCEO Student
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwsHg9k0O7g&authuser=4
From local business visits to planning the class business, I have learned so much from various advice and our own experiences; the good and bad. I went from being a regular high school kid to a future entrepreneur envisioning my own business. Without CEO it would not have been possible.
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Amber QuastJasper CEO Class of 2015
This class has changed me so much I forget how I used to be. It has changed how I think, communicate, and how I handle people. I never would have thought I would be able to talk to business people as I do. CEO has changed my entire outlook on life and I am very grateful for that.
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Jordan MammoserJasper CEO Class of 2015
The CEO class has taught me how to be a more beneficial and efficient leader for our community. In addition, it has brought many exciting learning experiences and has given me a better outlook for the future of myself being involved in the community. Not all businesses come in a can, a business must adapt to its marketing area with supply and demand.
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Garrett HallJasper CEO Class of 2015