Entrepreneurial students showcased in May 15 trade show

The public is invited to the first Southwest MN CEO Trade Show May 15 at Grand Prairie Events in Luverne.
The event begins with a 5 p.m. social hour followed by the trade show from 6 to 8 p.m.
The tradeshow features 16 students from Luverne, Hills-Beaver Creek, Pipestone, Adrian, Southwestern Minnesota Christian and Edgerton Public.
H-BC students are Josie Scholten, Madison Spath and Klara Honken.
Each student will have a booth showcasing individual entrepreneurial projects in various stages of development.
Luverne CEO students Lilli Donahue and Halle Hough shared their thoughts about the first-year program with Luverne School Board members earlier this year.
“I think I can speak for most of the class — if not all of the class — we really enjoy it and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has brought us out of the (traditional) classroom learning experience,” Donahue said.
The students visited 80 businesses, and guest speakers focused on business development, interpersonal skills and/or development of a resource network.
“I have really learned a lot from this program and gained a lot of great skills like public speaking and talking to others, met a lot of people and had a lot of opportunities,” Hough added.
The CEO class ends its year with the May 15 trade show.
Student businesses range from grant-writing services to making and marketing gourmet cakes.
Luverne’s Cody Henrichs is the CEO program facilitator.
“The model of the class is hands-on learning,” he said. “But secondarily it is an experiential class that teaches skills necessary to be successful as entrepreneurs.”
The students spent the fall completing steps for two fundraising events — “Snow and Glow” at the Luverne City Park last fall and a choir competition and gala dinner this spring.
Profits from the two events were used to kick-start the students’ individual businesses, which required business plans and financial spreadsheets. Students then applied for and interviewed for a bank loan.
“I have been incredibly impressed,” Henrichs said.
Thirty-nine local investors finance the program’s first three years.
For the entrance into the program, students complete written requests for admission, supply letters of recommendation and complete entrepreneurial profiles.
Students earn two high school course credits and possible college dual accreditation for completion of the yearlong program.
Ellsworth High School is also a member of the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program, but no students participated from EHS this school year.