A Riedel Foundation grant of $5,000 will help strengthen the Hannibal Area CEO program, an entrepreneurial initiative for high school seniors operated through the Hannibal Area Career and Technical Center. The program gives high school seniors hands‑on experience with local businesses, leadership opportunities and the chance to launch their own ventures.
Hannibal Area CEO fully immerses students in the local business environment. Participants meet off campus each school day from 7:30 to 9 a.m., dress in business‑casual attire and engage directly with business owners and community leaders.
The CEO facilitator is Kendel Locke, a young entrepreneur who graduated from Hannibal High School in 2022. She owns Hula Bowls restaurants in Hannibal, Webster Groves and Quincy, Illinois, as well as 30hot Studio, a heated fitness studio in Quincy.
“The CEO program helps students discover the assets of our community and understand the opportunities available to them — whether they choose to stay in Hannibal or return after college,” Locke said. “They learn to communicate professionally, network confidently and think like entrepreneurs.”
Riedel Foundation Administrator Sarah Deien met with the class and took them on a walking tour of downtown Hannibal. She shared the history of Hannibal, the impact of tourism on the economy and the importance of being involved in the community.
“The CEO program fits the mission of the Riedel Foundation,” Deien said. “By supporting the class, we are investing in our youth, helping establish the next generation of business leaders and promoting the importance of giving back to the community.”
Each year, students visit more than 40 businesses and interact with more than 50 professionals, gaining firsthand insight into how real problems are solved, how goals are set and what skills are needed to succeed. Throughout the year, students develop both group and individual businesses, culminating in a public trade show where they present their ventures to the community.
The program is entering its fourth year and currently serves five students from Hannibal Public Schools. Funding from the Riedel Foundation is helping stabilize and grow the program during its early years. Community donations and Riedel support allow the program to continue building momentum as it becomes fully established.