Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

Ellen Thomasson Malecek Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

At Viz, entrepreneurship is more than a class—it’s a hands-on experience. Through the Ellen Thomasson Malecek Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and real-world leadership skills through a progressive, hands-on curriculum. Students identify challenges, generate innovative solutions, and develop comprehensive business plans. Along the way, they gain experience in strategic thinking, communication, financial planning, and problem-solving before pitching their projects to business and community leaders. The program culminates in regional competitions where students showcase their ideas alongside peers from other area schools, building confidence and preparing them to lead with creativity and purpose.

Since launching in 2015, the program has empowered students to turn ideas into action—including a student-created business that actively operates on campus today. Crescent Coffee, founded by Viz students, serves the school community each week while giving students firsthand business management experience.

Distinctly Viz, ETMELP gives students the confidence and experience to lead, innovate, and create long before college.

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Ellen’s Legacy

Ellen's Story

The Ellen Thomasson Malecek Entrepreneurial Leadership Program was created to honor the life, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of Viz alumna Ellen Thomasson Malecek ‘89. Inspired by Ellen’s love for Visitation Academy and passion for innovation, the program gives students hands-on business experience, leadership opportunities, and the confidence to turn ideas into action. Through the generosity of Ellen’s family and friends, her legacy continues to inspire future generations of Viz students. If you would like to support this program, visit our Giving Page.

Crescent Coffee

The idea for Crescent Coffee came from two enterprising students, Elizabeth Isaak and Bailey McGartland, who are both part of Visitation’s Ellen Thomasson Malecek Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, a program of study that combines a project-based, experiential learning curriculum with professional mentorship to help students develop the critical skills necessary to be a successful entrepreneur.

Follow Crescent Coffee on Instagram @vizcrescentcoffee

Hours: Mondays, 7:15-8:55 a.m.

3020 N. Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63131 314-625-9100

Visitation Academy is an independent, private Catholic school offering a coeducational Montessori preschool and Kindergarten program, the area's only all-girl elementary program for Grades 1-5, and an all-girl middle school and all-girl high school.