Our next graduation took place this afternoon at Lebanon High School. While Collin Adams was our lone student from Lebanon this year, he had absolutely no problem making quick connections. Collin has one of the biggest hearts, and so much of his reflection focused on the people who impacted him along the way and the importance of knowing your “why.”

When reflecting on his most impactful CEO experience, Collin shared that hearing from Kory C Best and learning about the MB Foundation—created in memory of Kory’s daughter, Maddie Best, left a lasting impression on him.

“The most impactful experience I’ve had this year was definitely the MB Foundation. How Kory took such a tragedy and made something good out of it is really inspiring. Hearing his story made me rethink my why. Why am I pushing for my business? What is keeping me going? He was a true inspiration.”

Collin also spoke about the impact his mentor, Cody Whitworth, had on his journey this year.

“He is my appointed mentor and he has helped tremendously. He knows pricing, taxes, community, customer service, etc. He is the real deal. I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at without him.”

As he closed out his reflection, Collin expressed gratitude for the many people who supported him throughout the year, but especially for the relationships built within the class itself.

“This class has formed bonds that I never want to lose. These are the people that I want to be around after I graduate, growing as adults and business owners together. I love this class with my whole heart.”

After graduation, Collin plans to attend SWIC for his first two years before transferring to SIU-E to complete his final two years. We are proud of you, Collin, and excited to see where your journey leads next.