When Chase Risner learned about Tolles' ELITE program (Experiential Learning in Technical Education) during a presentation at London High School last year, it sounded interesting. But as a sophomore, he thought he'd wait until senior year.
"At first, I thought I'd wait until senior year," Risner recalls. "But the more we talked about it, the more interested I became." By junior year, he was all in.
Now a junior, Chase is interning at RE/MAX in London, gaining hands-on experience in real estate, an industry he'd not fully considered before but is quickly falling in love with. And he's doing it all through the Tolles’ ELITE program – without ever stepping foot on Tolles' campus.
The ELITE program serves Tolles' associate school students like Chase who want career exploration without enrolling in on-campus programs. Students gain real-world experience through local business partnerships while completing their high school coursework, with Tolles providing internship coordination, mentorship, and support.
Launched officially in January 2024 as an expansion of the program that began in fall 2018, ELITE connects associate school students with meaningful career experiences in their own communities.During the 2025–26 academic year alone, nearly 50 ELITE students are gaining hands-on experience in career fields across the region.
Chase's placement at RE/MAX came through connections fostered by Betsy Dennis, London High School's college and career readiness counselor, and Steve Cawley, Tolles' Internship Coordinator. The opportunity connected Chase with Todd Boyd, a RE/MAX broker who previously taught science at London High School for 15 years. Boyd's goal in opening his real estate office to student interns was simple: to give students early exposure to professional environments that traditional college programs might not offer until much later.
"A lot of times, college programs don't offer internships until later parts of their educational program," Boyd explains. "I thought it would be something valuable to offer earlier."
Learning the Real Estate Business
At RE/MAX, Chase isn't just shadowing; he's contributing. "I get a chance to do almost everything," he says. "I've been in videos. I've helped with marketing, social media, Facebook posts, flyers. I've been to events. There was a fall fest I went to. I've also gone to job fairs and grand openings."
The experience is already paying dividends beyond the internship. Chase will be presenting about his ELITE experience to the Ohio School Boards Association on behalf of London Schools. And in December, Boyd presented about Chase's internship to RE/MAX's Eastern regional meeting, showcasing the value of investing in high school talent.
Planning for the Future
Chase is already planning his next steps toward licensure. "I'm definitely going to try to get my license," he says, though he's realistic about the work ahead. "It will cost money and also you have to do a bunch of studying." Through his internship, Chase has learned that earning a real estate license requires both a high school diploma and being at least 18 years old. He plans to take real estate classes through Clark State during his senior year, building on the hands-on experience he's gaining now.
Beyond the technical skills, Boyd sees Chase gaining something invaluable: real-world problem-solving experience. "He's seen a lot more of the real world than everybody else," Boyd notes. "When he takes the classes and sits for the exam, a lot of it is scenario-based. They give you a scenario and you have to figure out what the best answer is. He’s getting prepared for that in this internship."
Meanwhile, Chase balances his internship with school and a weekend catering job, the kind of juggling act that's preparing him not just for a career in real estate, but for adult life.
The Power of Local Partnerships
Chase's story exemplifies the ELITE program's mission: preparing students for careers through meaningful partnerships with local businesses, regardless of whether they attend Tolles' campus.
"It is exciting when a student can get actual, professional experience in their future career choice while also earning high school credit,” Betsy Dennis, London City Schools college and career readiness coordinator said. “Without our partnership with Tolles' ELITE Program and RE/MAX Leading Edge, we would not be able to offer this unique learning experience to Chase."
For Chase, the ELITE program opened a door he didn't even know existed. Asked if he would have been working somewhere else without this opportunity, he laughs: "To be honest, I would have no idea."
Now, he knows exactly where he's headed, and he's building the foundation to get there, one showing, one marketing campaign, and one professional connection at a time.
For more information about the ELITE program, contact Internship Coordinator Steve Cawley at scawley@tollestech.com.