James Bretzlaff

About Me

James is a senior at Kankakee High School and a dual-credit student at Kankakee Community College. He is the son of Pete and Katie Bretzlaff. James is actively involved in a variety of activities and serves in multiple leadership roles.

James currently serves as President of the National Honor Society and has achieved the status of AP Scholar with Distinction. He has been studying Piano for four years at KHS and serves as Piano Representative for the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He also serves on the Principal’s Advisory Committee.

In addition to academics and fine arts, James is a two-sport varsity athlete who has competed at the sectional level in both soccer and tennis. He has been a member of the KHS Soccer Team for four years and currently serves as a varsity captain. Notably, he was honored by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) with All Sectionals/All Academic recognition this year. James is also a fourth year member of the KHS Tennis team, having risen to the first singles position last season.

Looking forward, James has plans to study business in college. He shares his motivation for joining the CEO program: "I joined CEO for the hands-on learning experience, which is teaching me how to be accountable and manage my time in different ways.”

About My Business

Business Name: Gopher Forest Games

Overview: Gopher Forest Games is a game studio specializing in educational games, offering affordable options that blend fun with learning for parents and teachers.

Future Goals: James plans to attend a 4-year university to continue his education, possibly majoring in Business.

Integrity has been a crucial lesson for James, understanding the importance of consistently delivering quality work even when unsupervised. Additionally, the experience of starting and learning about businesses alongside friends has been uniquely enriching.