Come Join Us! The 2026 Gateway CEO FISH TANK is Thursday, March 26 at Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville. This is a 3 minute pitch competition between the students of Gateway CEO. The morning kicks off at 7am with 10 students presenting, followed by a brief intermission and then the remaining 10 students before judges determine our winners. 1st ($300) , 2nd ($200) and 3rd ($100) place winners are sponsored by Wendy Symer with WLS Consulting. Special thanks to Gateway Convention Center for being our location sponsor.
A few additional categories will be awarded:
- Best Presentation Style
- Most Creative/Unique Business
- Best Answers to Questions
- #CEOProud Award - The goal of this award is to recognize a CEO student that has shown tremendous growth, hard work, and perseverance throughout the individual business development process in class.
We are thankful to our local business leaders serving as Judges this year:
Jon Sparks, Midwest Railcar Corporation
Wayne White, Maryville Mayor/Village President
Joe Newman, Newman Carriers
Katie Slimick, Executive Director of Collinsville Chamber
Rachelle Lengerman, Plocher Construction Company
So what kind of businesses have our students put together this semester? Here is a list of their business names. Join us on Thursday to learn more about each of them!
Avery Nonn - Nonnster Woodworking
Braxton Yates - B Rips
Berenice Mauricio - Chicana Inks
Lilly Schott - Mae's Embroidery
Vivian Marron - Rooted by Marron
Amarion Hall - Mowtown CLS
Matthew Blakeburn - MB Electric Skateboards
Drew Jansen - Lost Time
Jackson Cline - Clean Soles
Noah Jacob - Trinity Woodworking
Brody DeVary - Momentum Golf
Kenzie Keeler - Snapshot
Emma Steinhauer - Goblin Glam & Incense
Emma Rivas - Emma's Custom Creations
Avery Arrington - Avarri Apparel
Luke Schwarz - Luke's Services and Solutions
Sophia Murphy - Sophia's Chapter Critters
Jack Nimmo - Nim's Fit
Devin Maedge- Fresher Flour
Lily Becker - Sips and Saddles
This is a morning to celebrate confidence to stand in front of an audience, determination to pull a business plan together and passion for doing something so different than most high school students as they finish out their last 6 weeks as entrepreneurs!
This event is open to friends, family of Gateway CEO, Mentors, Investors and those interested in learning more! See you there!
