A Moment of Courage Worth Celebrating
On Friday afternoon, something extraordinary unfolded inside the Mascoutah High School auditorium. Public speaking is one of the world’s biggest fears—nearly 75% of people feel anxious about it. And honestly, at the start of the year, many of our Silver Creek Area CEO students would’ve said the same.
But on Friday… our CEO students from Mascoutah stood tall. They stood proud. And they shared their CEO journey in front of 280 juniors—with courage that filled the entire room.
Taylor Cahill opened our story, sharing the unexpected connections she’s made through CEO. She talked about how guest speaker Anne Fritz helped guide her toward studying marketing in college, and how a site visit turned into a marketing internship with Eric Riess of Aspen Legal. Two connections. Two conversations. One life path becoming clearer.
Timothy James followed, reflecting on his fear of joining a class made up of students from four different schools. But after those early team-building moments, the walls fell. The awkwardness faded. And what formed was something real—one big family, bonded by ambition and curiosity.
Then came Grady Yoder, who didn’t shy away from honesty. Yes, balancing CEO before school and athletics after school makes for long days. Yes, it takes discipline and time management. But he said he wouldn’t change a thing. Because waking up early to see his CEO team—and the excitement each day brings—is worth every minute.
David Winters reminded the room why site visits matter so much. “We’re not reading from textbooks,” he said. “We’re witnessing business in action 2-3 days a week”. He shared how business owners open their doors—and their hearts—to our students, making them feel valued, welcomed, and inspired.
Mariam Barrientos stepped up next, highlighting the impact of our guest speakers. From learning life-saving cyber safety skills to understanding the soft skills that shape thriving adults, she reminded everyone that CEO isn’t just about business—it’s about becoming better humans.
And finally, John Robert Wall beautifully wrapped our class story together—from our fall badge business venture to working through our class business right now. He shared the excitement building for second semester when each student will launch their own individual business.
We also shared the heartbeat of our program: our communities, our business leaders and our mentors. Local heroes who choose to walk alongside these students, shaping their lives in ways that will echo far beyond this year.
On Friday, our students didn’t just present. They showed their peers what courage looks like, what growth feels like, and how powerful it is to step outside your comfort zone and into your future.
We are incredibly proud of them—for living out the CEO culture every single day, and for showing others what’s possible when you choose to lead. These students are tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, and changemakers. And on Friday, they proved they’re already on their way.
A very special thank-you to Amy Kelly Johnson, Mascoutah High School Principal and Silver Creek Area CEO board member, for making this opportunity possible. Her support—and her thoughtful opening and closing remarks—helped guide students through the CEO application process and encouraged juniors to imagine themselves in this experience next year.
And now it’s your turn. The Silver Creek Area CEO application window officially opened today and will close on December 15. If you’re a junior student (or know of a junior student) who’s ready to grow, ready to lead, and ready to step into opportunities that can truly shape your future—this is your moment.
Scan the link to apply. Take the leap. Join us. Your CEO story starts now.
