Twenty-eight students enrolled in Smeal College of Business Administration have the opportunity to act as CEOs of an industry during a leadership simulation program today.

The program will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nittany Lion Inn tomorrow. The event, created by students, mostly involves members of The Business Roundtable. The roundtable is made up of the 33 presidents of the Penn State student business clubs.

"We're trying to create programs that reduce the gap between classroom and corporate development programs," said Ryan Newman, chairman of the Business Roundtable and a creator of the simulation program. "We're providing an event that will allow students involved in the program to use what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world situations."

Before the simulation, students are divided into groups according to industry, which they are expected to research in preparation. During the simulation, industry groups will create guiding principles and each CEO will create a strategy for his or her company, which are judged by faculty judges. Those ranked the lowest will be eliminated.

Students will receive scenarios from the judges, including one worldwide event that affects all industries, which require a response based on the guiding principles. Eventually the participants will be whittled down to three "survivors."

Mediating the event will be Erik R. Peterson, senior vice president and director of studies of William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis.

"This program stands in a class by itself," Ben Heller, president of a student interest group said. "The ultimate goal of most business majors is to become a CEO. Participation in this can be used not only to understand what it takes to be a CEO, but I can cite it in job interviews."

Sean Cook, coordinator of student services, also cited the importance of the program.

"The leadership simulation not only encourages students to think on their feet, but also about the broader concepts of the business world," Cook said. "They need to develop long term visions and guiding principles and operationalize that vision. It will challenge them."