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For the fifth-consecutive year, the Southwest Minnesota Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program showcased student-developed business in its annual showcase event.
This year’s showcase took place May 17 at the Big Top Tent Rental in Luverne.
CEO participants, along with their school and business name, include:
•Kai Buss, LHS junior, “Airrends.”
•Kayla Bloemendaal, LHS junior, “Macra-kay & Co.”
•Anika Boll, LHS junior, “Simply Crafted.”
•Abby Boltjes, LHS junior, “Connected Creations.”
•Morgan Bonnett, LHS junior, “Memories by Morgan.”
•Liv Bork, Hills-Beaver Creek High School senior, “Liv Cleanly.”
•Conner Connell, LHS junior, “CK Baseball Academy.”
•Kristofer Eischens, Pipestone Area High School junior, “Sled X.”
•Jacie Graham, LHS senior, “Sweet Creations by Jacie.”
•Mason Hamm, Southwest Minnesota Christian High School senior, “Polar Fury Rods.”
•Lauren Hansen, LHS senior, “Front Porch Market.”
•Henry Hartquist, LHS junior, “Outdoor Apparel.”
•Camden Hoven, LHS senior, “Mocked.”
•Chloe Olivier, PAS High School, “Prairie Winds Lamb Supply.”
•Isabella Oye, LHS senior, “B’s Blankets.”
•Gavin Reisch, LHS senior, “Get Money Golf.”
•Will Serie, LHS junior, “Serie Socks.”
•Belle Smidt, LHS junior, “Carried by Christ.”
•Ana Wolf, Adrian High School junior, “Elation Gifts.”
The CEO program is open to students in Luverne, Hills-Beaver Creek, Adrian, Edgerton, Pipestone, Ellsworth and Southwest Christian in Edgerton.
Each year, the CEO committee chooses a group of incoming juniors and seniors to complete the program.
Over the course of the school year, the students follow the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship model of visiting area businesses, where they develop connections and skills toward a successful future as adult entrepreneurs.
CEO students develop a business, and their work is showcased to the public at year-end.
According to CEO facilitator Katie Baustian, many CEO graduates continue their businesses after the program’s showcase is over.
“The impact is different for all alumni, but the fact is all have learned something — one little thing that a business owner or guest speaker shared with them, that down the road they will remember as they have a fond memory of their CEO experience,” she said.
First Legacy Award presented to Buss family
For the first time in its five-year history, the Southwest Minnesota Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program gave out a legacy award.
The Troy and Niki Buss family has had all three of their children participate in the CEO program.
The CEO Legacy Award recognizes those families and their children for their dedication.
In addition to their son Kai, who participated in the program this spring, son Quinn completed the program in 2020 and daughter Kendall in 2021.
“They pretty much inspired me to do it,” Kai admitted.
Family discussions about the business professionals they’ve met and the experiences among CEO students led Kai, a Luverne High School junior, to apply to the program.