Elwood-John H. Glenn High School implemented a Virtual Enterprise class this school year, taught by Matt Carrino, after several years of careful preparation. A total of 27 students are enrolled in the new course, which provides meaningful skills-based career experiences through a simulated business that the students themselves create and manage. Through hands-on curriculum and a variety of competitions throughout the year, they can test drive potential careers and develop essential business skills needed in the real world. By managing the day-to-day operations of a virtual company, students not only develop an entrepreneurial mindset, but also identify career pathways that align with their interests, talents and aspirations.

“It's a great opportunity for students who want to be in business to get hands-on experience,” said Carrino, who would like to see the program expand eventually to multiple classes. “The students take control of their learning, I’m just facilitating them, and it’s really interesting to see how creative and hardworking they are – when they put their mind to something, they accomplish their goals.”

“I think this program is something that our school has needed for a very long time,” senior Ishan Shah said. “We lacked a financial program here at the school, and Mr. Carrino did a great job taking the initiative to research the program, go to competitions and judge them, and gather as much knowledge as he could about it to bring to John Glenn. It will help us long-term, because the problem that I have noticed in society is that kids are illiterate in finance. They don’t know how to manage their wealth. This program helps them design a product, and ultimately market it, in a way that teaches us valuable insights for the future and builds character.” 

Date Added: 10/6/2025