Applications for next year's CEO class due Feb. 17

3121811+052416.N.WCT_.CEOTradeShow (14).jpg — Aaron Roeder, a 2015-16 member of the CEO class from New London-Spicer High School, shows off his business called BackWoods Industries, which does small custom orders of screen printing and embroidering, in this spring 2016 file photo. Applications for next year's program are due Feb. 17. GARY MILLER | TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

By Linda Vanderwerf

January 30, 2017 at 6:10 AM

WILLMAR - The application period is open for the Kandiyohi County CEO program for the 2017-18 school year.

CEO stands for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It's a business-supported program for students in Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, New London-Spicer and Willmar school districts. About 20 students are chosen each year, based on their applications, character references and a written personal narrative.

Students' completed applications are due Feb. 17 in their school counselors' offices. Students may download the application packet at the class's website, kandiyohiceo.com.

The class meets for 1 1/2 hours each school day for the full school year. Students meet with local business leaders, tour businesses and learn from guest speakers and mentors. Over the course of the year, they learn to write business plans, start a class business and start their own businesses.

In the spring, the class has a trade show to showcase the students' businesses.

More information about the application process and the class is available on the website.

By Linda Vanderwerf

In 42 years in the newspaper industry, Linda Vanderwerf has worked at several daily newspapers in Minnesota, including the Mesabi Daily News, now called the Mesabi Tribune in Virginia. Previously, she worked for the Las Cruces Sun-News in New Mexico and the Rapid City Journal in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She has been a reporter at the West Central Tribune for nearly 27 years.

Vanderwerf can be reached at email: lvanderwerf@wctrib.com or phone 320-214-4340

Applications for next year's CEO class due Feb. 17

WILLMAR -- The application period is open for the Kandiyohi County CEO program for the 2017-18 school year. CEO stands for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. It's a business-supported program for students in Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, New Lo...