July 11, 2007

Media Advisory- CampCEO Awards

Nearly two dozen high school students from all over Illinois are at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this week to participate in the innovative CampCEO. Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to attend the special ceremony that wraps up the entrepreneurship experience at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 13, at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale.

Prior to the ceremony, the 22 participants will present their very own business plans before a judging panel comprised of six community leaders and former CampCEO award winners. The private presentations are the culmination of a weeklong residential camp during which the teens are learning sales techniques as well as negotiation, leadership, problem-solving, networking, time management, record-keeping, public speaking and various other skills to help them succeed in the business world.

Departing young entrepreneurs take with them business and marketing plans, a briefcase, business cards and a vast amount of newly acquired business expertise. The Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at SIUC, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, hosts CampCEO.

The 2 p.m. awards ceremony, recognizing the best of the business presentations, is open to the public and media.