Carthage students shine at Innovators Collective Pitch Competition

The Aspire Center proudly hosted the Innovators Collective Pitch Competition on April 11 at the Kenosha Emerging Leaders Academy (KELA) — highlighting student creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and bold, forward-thinking solutions.

The event brought together student innovators from across campus to pitch their original business ideas and social impact ventures to a panel of expert judges and a supportive audience.

This year’s competition featured four dynamic student teams, each presenting well-researched and passionately delivered pitches. From tech-driven solutions and creative services to community-focused initiatives, the ideas showcased the exceptional talent and ambition of Carthage students shaping the future.

Congratulations to our winners!

• 1st Place: Andrew Kirchhoff ’25 and Michael Malyszek ’25 Andrew Kirchhoff ’25 (left) and Michael Malyszek ’25 (right) holding their first-place certificates.
• 2nd Place: Codie Atchison ’25 and Arthur Pisanko ’25
• 3rd Place: Brayan Gamboa Rios ’27
• 4th Place: Janyla Wells ’28

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, supported, and contributed to the success of this event, including our Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala. From faculty mentors and alumni judges to peers, friends, and community partners — your presence made this a truly memorable celebration of innovation.

A special thank you to our outstanding panel of judges:

• Scott Harms, District Manager for the Milwaukee Market
• Lydia Davis, Owner of Living Full Kombucha
• Bethany Larsen, Manager of the Startup Accelerator Program at gener8tor, a Wisconsin-based venture capital firm
• Arlene Martin, Vice President and SBA Business Development Officer at Busey Bank

Janyla Wells ’28 giving a presentation at the Innovators Collective Pitch Competition.Your thoughtful feedback and encouragement helped elevate the experience for each presenter and inspired the next generation of change-makers.

As The Aspire Center celebrates five years of empowering student potential, this event proudly reflects the center’s entrepreneurship pillar. We look forward to continuing the Innovators Collective Pitch Competition and can’t wait to welcome you back for the next round of innovation in 2026!

If you are interested in collaborating in Innovators Collective programming or the Pitch Competition for the 2025-26 school year, please contact Michelle Pas in The Aspire Center.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

The Aspire Center