McDonough County CEO is now accepting applications for students who are interested in participating in next year’s CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program. Students of all skill sets and backgrounds can be successful in this class, so long as they are hard-working, trustworthy, and willing to take on an exciting challenge.
“McDonough CEO is not a business class,” says Ketra Roselieb, McDonough CEO board chair and vice president for finance and administration at Western Illinois University. “It’s a transformational learning course that offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn about their community, discover their entrepreneurial skills, and develop valuable interpersonal skills, unlocking their true potential.”
To apply, visit mcdonoughcountyceo.com/applynow, and submit your application by December 13. Organizers were on each high school campus, sharing more about the program and answering questions:
• Bushnell-Prairie City High School: November 25
• Macomb High School: November 25
• West Prairie High School: November 25
• Trinity Academy: December 4
CEO meets each school day morning from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in a local business. Under the guidance of their facilitator, students visit businesses and learn how community members work together to run their businesses. They also hear from a variety of guest speakers. But more than all that, CEO challenges them to become great communicators and networkers, problem solvers, and creative thinkers.
“I applied for CEO because I wanted to be in a class that gave me real-world experience – something that you couldn’t learn inside a classroom,” says Jun Yoshimura, a Macomb High School student and Class of 2025 CEO member. “I want to be able to communicate with my fellow classmates in a way I wouldn’t be able to in school, and I think CEO is a great opportunity to do that.”
CEO is tasked with helping student entrepreneurs bring the “wow” to any setting – or in other words, to make every contact realize they are not interacting with the average teenager.
“We want everyone who comes in contact with our CEO students to say ‘Wow!’” Roselieb says. “Our student entrepreneurs learn important soft skills like shaking hands, eye contact, professional dress, having meaningful conversations and problem solving, straight out of the gate – during their first week with us.”
The CEO learning environment has two culminating experiences for students: a class business and an individual business. In the past, McDonough CEO class businesses have brought a vendor fair, an escape room, a winter delivery business, and a battle of the bands contest to the area. In the spring, students’ individual businesses will be unveiled to the community through a trade show.
“We love seeing new CEO students turn into seasoned young professionals,” Roselieb says. “They leave our program with essential skills and an expansive, long-lasting network of community professionals and business owners.”
Current CEO class member Aimee Howerter, Trinity Academy student, has high hopes for her CEO experience
“When I finish the program, I want to become more decisive and confident in my abilities. I want to be a leader with the utmost regard, and I want to know what I’m capable of,” Howerter says.
“Through CEO, I hope to become more of a decision maker and a leader, both in the business and in the class. I genuinely want to communicate better and understand people’s ideas. And I want to grow through my intellect and through how I treat others.”
Students in the McDonough County CEO program can come from schools throughout the county, including Bushnell-Prairie City Schools, Macomb 185 Schools, West Prairie Community Unit School District 103, and Trinity Academy.
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