SIGOURNEY, IOWA -- Students at Sigourney High School are learning first-hand what it takes to run a business.  The eSEAL program, which stands for Sigourney Entrepreneurial Academy for Leadership, uses real money for students to start their own business. The program is one of the only types of its kind for high schoolers.

Jessica Magill and Aaron Meiners are students that own their own businesses.  Magill is the owner of WildFire Web Page Design and Meiners owns Aaron’s Shave Ice.

“You have your own office space,” says Magill.  “You have your own little world I guess to sit there and branch out and work on your business.”

Advisor Shannon Svenby says it’s unlike anything she ever had in high school and is a great way to teach students.

“It’s not like they’re playing monopoly and using fake money, says Svenby.  “They’re actually learning how to use a real checking account.”

In order to be qualified to open your business a student must first submit a business plan to the teachers.  If approved, they can go onto the next step.  Meiners says the best part of eSEAL is the hands-on experience.

“I think it definitely prepares you because you’re not sitting in class learning about this stuff, says Meiners.  “You’re actually out doing it.  You’re hands-on.  So you’re getting first-hand experience.”

The program is available to all students in the high school.