Rising to the challenge

HURON TWP. — On March 12, 29 area students presented 14 entrepreneurial pitches to a panel of judges during the RISE Regional Youth Pitch Challenge at BGSU Firelands in Huron. What is it? This is the fourth year of the RISE Regional Youth Pitch Challenge, and it's been exciting to watch the program grow from just one school participating to a four-county-wide program. RISE is short for the Regional Incubator for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. Students are developing real business ideas while building important skills like critical thinking, public speaking and taking initiative that will serve them well in any career path. "This event gives students an opportunity to apply what they're learning in the classroom and think creatively about solving problems through entrepreneurship," said Troy Parks, economic development coordinator for the Huron County Growth Partnership. "We're grateful for the teachers, schools and partners who help make this experience possible for students across our region." The RISE Regional Youth Pitch Challenge encourages entrepreneurial thinking among high school students by giving them the opportunity to develop and present business ideas in a competitive setting. It's organized and produced collaboratively by Huron County Growth Partnership, Greater Sandusky Partnership, Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation and North Point Educational Service Center. The 2026 program was supported by sponsors, Lorain County Community College and BGSU Firelands. How students fared The RISE Youth Pitch Challenge Finals allowed students to present their polished entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of judges in a competitive environment. On March 3, about 35 students from Erie and Huron County schools presented 21 original business ideas during the Erie and Huron counties qualifier of the 2026 RISE Regional Youth Pitch Challenge on March 3 at Norwalk High School. Student finalists built on the feedback received during the regional pitch challenge to strengthen and refine their concepts before delivering their final pitch. The following pitches were presented in the finals: • DJ McKinney and Aaliya Ohm, of Danbury High School, presenting North Coast Cycle Rentals* • Savannah Schaffer, of Margaretta High School, presenting Blueprint Denim* • Keylan Howell, of Sandusky High School, presenting HYBST* * This denotes the winning finalists of this year's competition. Each grouping/pitch received $200 in cash. • Brody McFadden, Chaz Smith and Bryson Wittmer, of Edison High School, presenting Solar Flex • Liliannah Bennett, of Huron High School, presenting Little Listener • Rylee Henney, Huron High School, presenting FurFlow • Angel Limon, of Huron High School, presenting DryVanta • Mason Kromer, of Margaretta High School, presenting Pivot • Isabella Belnden, Emma Rose Johnson, Aubrey Rohrer, and Adriel Venegas, of Port Clinton High School, presenting The Pop Top • Grayson Jones, Charlie Kruse, Grady Northrop, Joseph Schwable and Thaddeus Wierzba, of Port Clinton High School, presenting Rust Bucket • Alivia Adorni, Analiya Alvarez, Johnny Peck, & Mike Wheeler, of Port Clinton High School, presenting Magnico Glasses Co. • Eian Etchill and Mason McCune, of Sandusky Central Catholic School, presenting American Railways United • Rebecca Gallagher and Alexis Langenberg, of Sandusky Central Catholic School, presenting Helping Hands • Elijah Murria, of Sandusky High School, presenting Klean Kicks All students are invited to present their projects at an upcoming Sandusky Farmers Market event. Breakfast for the program was provided by a local business, Trabel's Bagels in Huron. Several local professionals took part on the pitch challenge panel, consisting of: • Joshua Ott of CW Mechanical • Kula Hoty-Lynch of Hoty Enterprises • Matt Maschari of Firelands Auto Group • Elizabeth Clymer of Young Entrepreneurship Institute