TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — There are a lot of young entrepreneurs waiting to get their start and one program is helping highschoolers reach that goal.
CEO is a program for seniors in high school that helps them network, create ideas, and become more confident as a young business person.
In its third year, there are 11 high schoolers in this program and by the end of the program they will have created a business.
There a 43 business in Vigo County that donate money to help fund this program, while some business owners and entrepreneurs donate there time and become mentors in the program.
The program is incorporated in their school curriculum with a class that they attend and receive credit for.
“They really learn how to write a business plan and they launch a real business,” said Brian Huxford, chair board of the Vigo Co. CEO program. “That was one of the things that was really appealing to us as a board was gee if we if we could have new businesses launching in our community on a regular basis and we’re building the leaders of the future that’s going to have a big impact in our community.”
Many students have had success with this boosting their business and creative ideas.
“My business was a hair accessories business,” said Cassidy Sullivan, a former CEO program student. “I was able to sell take-home kits and also do them at events so the night market that they host downtown I was actually able to go and do people‘s hair accessories in it.”
The program can take up to 20 students each year and applications for next year’s seniors will open up this fall.
