The CEO program gives students an opportunity to get out of the classroom and explore the world of business. 

Lisa Sheppard, Facilitator of the Sangamon Valley CEO program, says she has 12 students from five different schools this year, and they are getting to interact and learn from local business leaders. They then apply this information to the main projects of the program, the Class Business and the Individual Business. 

From the beginning of the semester to now, Sheppard says the students have been growing their professional skills. She adds that the class business her students have come up with this year is the Gingerbread Jog 5k, which will take place on December 20th at Allerton Park. 

One of the building blocks that leads towards creating the class and individual businesses is the Badge Business. Students are tasked with funding and finding the means to create their own brand, which they funded with a bake sale this year.

Site visits are a big part of the CEO Program. Sheppard explains that they only meet two to three days a week, which means students must use their class time very wisely.  

Ultimately, the program aims to prepare students for life after education by building soft skills that can aid them no matter the career path they choose. Learn more about the Sangamon Valley CEO program by visiting sangamonvalleyceo.com or by finding their Facebook and Instagram Pages.