The CEO program features 15 high school juniors from Farmer City, Blue Ridge, Clinton, Maora-Forsyth and Warrensburg-Latham showcasing the businesses they have created.

FORSYTH, Ill. (WAND) - Central Illinois CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) highlighted student entrepreneurs at its seventh annual Trade Show.

The CEO program features 15 high school juniors from Farmer City, Blue Ridge, Clinton, Maora-Forsyth and Warrensburg-Latham showcasing the businesses they have created.

In the program, students develop their businesses from the ground up over the school year and receive hands-on experience with leadership, finance management, marketing and customer service. 

Melanie Brown serves as the facilitator for the Central Illinois CEO Program, accompanying students throughout the entire school year.

"They started this program with a willingness to learn, and also a little bit of apprehension of 'I don't know what I signed up for.' They have learned all of these skills over the course of the nine months through trial and error, and successes, and getting up and doing the hard thing when they didn't feel like it. Tonight is our celebration and recognition of all of that hard work," she said.

Additional information, including the list of student businesses, is available on CEO's Facebook page. 

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