CEO Challenge
Work Hard. Play Harder.
It’s time to put play in your workday.
The CEO Challenge brings together regional CEOs and business leaders for an afternoon that feels refreshingly different. Created as an alternative to traditional fundraising events, the Challenge combines friendly competition with meaningful scholarship support for Rock Valley College students.
This year’s Challenge will feature a mix of returning favorites from last year alongside new activities designed to keep things fresh. Familiar challenges make a comeback for a little friendly rematch energy, while new additions bring unexpected twists that keep participants on their toes and the competition lively.
No athletic background required. If your last competitive moment involved gym class, a company softball team that lasted one season, or proudly holding down the bench, you’re in good company. The CEO Challenge is built around teamwork, creativity, and quick thinking, not necessarily speed or strength. Show up ready to play, laugh at yourself a little, and enjoy the day. While a trophy and bragging rights are part of the experience, the lasting impact comes from the scholarships made possible through each sponsorship.
Contact Us
For questions or additional information, please contact:
- Brittany Freiberg
-
Chief Development Officer,
Rock Valley College Foundation - (815) 921-4502
- B.Freiberg@rockvalleycollege.edu
Are you up for the challenge?
Event Details
Date: April 30, 2026
Location: Rock Valley College, Main Campus, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL
Lunch and registration begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by afternoon activities and an awards ceremony. Parking is available throughout campus, and volunteers will be on hand to help with directions.
The event will be held rain or shine. Activities may be adjusted as needed to ensure safety.
Why Participate?
While galas, formal dinners, and luncheons absolutely have their place, the CEO Challenge was created with intention. The CEO Challenge is meant to feel fun without being over-the-top. It offers a break from the usual workday and creates space to enjoy some friendly competition in a setting that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Participants shared that they rarely get uninterrupted time like this with their peers, and the Challenge created space for real conversation, connection, and shared experience in a way few events do.
And, by keeping overhead low, we’re able to direct sponsorship dollars where participants want them to go: straight to students through scholarships. Many of last year’s participants had the chance to meet the scholarship recipients their support helped make possible, putting faces and stories to the impact of the day.
How the Event Works
Local CEOs, presidents, owners, and business leaders are invited to participate. If you are unable to attend in person, you may designate a proxy from your organization to compete on your behalf.
The day begins with lunch and registration, followed by both individual and team-based activities held across campus. An awards ceremony closes out the event. A detailed itinerary is shared with participants in advance so everyone knows what to expect.
Each sponsorship directly funds a scholarship administered through the Rock Valley College Foundation. Sponsors may choose to support an existing scholarship, contribute to the Foundation’s annual scholarship fund, or create a named scholarship in honor of their company. Scholarships are awarded through the College’s established process, and sponsors will later have the opportunity to meet their scholarship recipient at the Foundation’s scholarship luncheon.
Sponsorship & Participation
Participation in the CEO Challenge is available through sponsorship. Sponsorship funds are invested directly in student success, supporting both a named scholarship in your company’s honor and the Rock Valley College Fund for Immediate Impact, which provides flexible support to address students’ most urgent needs and advance the overall mission of the Foundation.
Scholarship Designation Options
- Sponsorship funds may be directed to an existing scholarship at Rock Valley College, the CEO Challenge Annual Scholarship, or a new named scholarship created in honor of your company.
- No matter which option you choose, all funds support scholarships for Rock Valley College students.
Sponsorship Levels
Gold Sponsorship ($10,000)
- Participation in CEO Challenge and day-of activities (1 participant per sponsorship)
- Creation of a scholarship named in honor of your company
- Company logo recognition in the Bridge, Rock Valley College’s widely distributed community magazine mailed to approximately 150,000 households, acknowledging your organization’s investment in local students and the future workforce
- Prominent logo placement on event marketing materials and day-of materials, including the CEO Challenge landing page
- Exclusive recognition as a Gold Sponsor during the event opening and closing remarks
- Recognition in post-event communications, press releases, and social media posts
Silver Sponsorship ($5,000)
- Participation in CEO Challenge and day-of activities (1 participant per sponsorship)
- Creation of a scholarship named in honor of your company
- Logo placement on event marketing materials and day-of materials, including the CEO Challenge landing page
- Exclusive recognition as a Silver Sponsor during the event opening and closing remarks
- Company name recognition in the Bridge, Rock Valley College’s widely distributed community magazine mailed to approximately 150,000 households, acknowledging your organization’s investment in local students and the future workforce
- Recognition in post-event communications, press releases, and social media posts.
Bronze Sponsorship ($2,500)
- Participation in CEO Challenge and day-of activities (1 participant per sponsorship)
- Creation of a scholarship named in honor of your company
- Company name placement on event marketing materials and day-of materials, including the CEO Challenge landing page
- Recognition as a Bronze Sponsor during the event opening and closing remarks
- Company name recognition in the Bridge, Rock Valley College’s widely distributed community magazine mailed to approximately 150,000 households, acknowledging your organization’s investment in local students and the future workforce
- Recognition in post-event communications and social media posts
2025 Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
- BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
- Bodycraft Wellness & Massage Center
- Coleman CPA & Consulting, Inc.
- Comcast
- Mercyhealth
- Midland States Bank
- Olson Aluminum Castings
- OSF Healthcare
- Project First Rate
- Savant Wealth Management
- Sjostrom & Sons, Inc.
- Bob Trojan
Frequently Asked Questions
Local CEOs, presidents, and business leaders are invited to participate. If you are unable to attend, you may designate one proxy from your organization to participate on your behalf for the duration of the event. To keep the experience fair and fun for everyone, participants are not able to rotate or substitute additional individuals throughout the day.
You can still support the event by selecting a sponsorship level and choosing a scholarship to direct your contribution to. We will recognize your contribution and commitment to the event, even if you’re unable to attend.
Yes! You can sponsor multiple participants; however, each sponsorship includes one participant, so if you'd like to sponsor additional participants, please select additional sponsorship levels.
Spectators are welcome, and encouraged, to stop by during select activities to cheer participants on.
We will provide rain accommodations and may need to adjust activities to remain safe for all participants, but we will host the event rain or shine!
The event is held at Rock Valley College - Main Campus, located at 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL. Parking is available throughout the campus, and participants will be provided a map prior to the day of the event.
Scholarships are one of the most direct ways to support Rock Valley College students. For many, the barrier isn’t motivation or ability. It’s cost. Scholarship support helps students stay enrolled, reduce financial stress, and focus on learning instead of worrying about how they’ll make their next payment.
Funds raised through the CEO Challenge go straight to scholarships because that’s where the impact is clearest. These dollars help students persist semester to semester, complete their programs, and move closer to the goals that brought them to Rock Valley College in the first place.
By supporting scholarships, CEO Challenge participants are investing in access and opportunity. They’re helping ensure that education at Rock Valley College is not a privilege for a few, but an opportunity for anyone willing to put in the work. The result is a stronger campus, a stronger workforce, and a stronger community shaped by students who were given the chance to succeed.