If you like to run or promote young entrepreneurs in the area, consider coming out for the Frosty 5K, Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Verndale Community Center.

The Frosty 5K is a fundraiser for the Central Minnesota CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Class. Registration for the event starts at 11:30 a.m. at the community center with the race set to begin at 1 p.m. Check the Wadena-Deer Creek School's website for a registration form or at school offices at Verndale, Staples-Motley and Wadena-Deer Creek.

For more information, contact Mitchel Haman at mitchelhaman@gmail.com or Amber Moen at amoen1234@hotmail.com.

The entrepreneurship education through the CEO class seeks to prepare people, especially youth, to be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial thinkers and contribute to economic development and sustainable communities. The CEO program is much more than a textbook course, the CEO website states. Students are immersed in real life-learning experiences with the opportunity to take risks, manage the results, and learn from the outcomes.

Students in the program visit area businesses and speak with leaders there to gain insight into running their own business. The class is paid for entirely by area businesses. This race is the "business" that the students created, much like a fishing tournament the group created last year.

CEO of this year's event is Amber Moen, a W-DC junior. She said the group of seven students in the class agreed on a 5K as a simple event to plan and promote in the community. It's been a bit more complex than they imagined.

The class requires students to attend class from 7:30-9 a.m. And in order to join, students have to apply. The application process requires students to get a recommendation from the school counselor, from a business owner and a personal recommendation.

"I'm learning more than I would have in a traditional class," Moen said last week. "I would recommend the class to any high school student."

Rather than just listening to a lecture, Moen and the other students from Wadena, Verndale and Staples make contact with many business leaders in the communities. They learn about the ups and downs of business and they see them performing their work at their business. They also get tips they can use in their own businesses. Aside from the 5K, students will be creating their own businesses.

Moen said so far the group has only received seven registration forms for the race, they had a goal of 35-50.

"I'm hoping it goes well," Moen said.

Registered runners and walkers can compete to win. Top male and female runners will receive a champion T-Shirt. All registered runners receive a Frosty 5K T-Shirt. Aside from running, a silent auction will also be open during the race inside the community center. Cocoa and cookies await those who compete.