The Pitch: Winners reflect a passionate heart for the community

By Rachel Schuck

On Friday, February 6, students and visitors alike poured into the Jeremiah Chapel in the Dixon Ministry Center, rushing to fill the seats. In a frenzy, they revealed their excitement for the night through loud conversations and flashing cameras. 

At exactly 7 p.m., the auditorium lights dimmed, and a suspenseful melody rang out across the room. Two shadowy figures stepped onto stage, eliciting cheers from the audience. 

Emily Tuttle, a junior Broadcasting, Digital Media and Journalism major, and George Merritt, a junior Biblical Studies major, kickstarted The Pitch by asking, “Who’s ready for a great evening?”

The Pitch provides Cedarville students the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas to a panel of professional businessmen. In a Shark Tank-style competition, the young entrepreneurs contend for a grand prize of $1,000, which goes toward their innovative idea.

Tuttle and Merritt invited three esteemed judges to the stage: Rod Reason, the CEO of Daniel Defense; DJ Code, a partner at Level Up Entertainment; and Scott Moffatt, co-founder of Ideal Strategic Partners. 

In the span of an hour, five unique pitches fought for the spotlight. From fresh fruit smoothies to cyberattack protection, all contestants presented their business ideas with ease, confidence and passion.

While contestants presented varying ideas to the judges, one theme arose throughout the evening: serving the community stands at the center of Christian entrepreneurship. 

Coming in third place, Rhoda Roby, a senior Computer Science major, advocated for local tailors and thrift shops through her website, Twin World. Twin World, which implements AI to recreate clothing items, supports hands-on fashion over wasteful consumerism. Roby communicated her passion for individual creativity and healthier societies.

“My brother always states that ‘a business becomes a thing when you find a problem in the community and find a solution to that problem,’” Roby said. “As a Christian, I needed to find a solution to this [problem], and that’s my inspiration.”

Twins John and Josiah Hardaway, senior IT Management majors, came in second place with their website Twin Sentries, a tool designed to safeguard churches, nonprofits and small businesses against cyberattacks. 

“We believe that [their] mission matters most and [their] people matter most,” said one Hardaway. “By guarding them, we are being faithful stewards of what God has entrusted us with.”

Winning first with Bright Pond Designs, Jenna Stout, a senior Industrial Design major, presented the audience with a solution to difficult mathematics. Supporting local schools and co-ops through hands-on math tools, Stout expressed her concern for the young learners of this generation.

“Teachers believe that student engagement is one of the hardest things to get in the classroom, and that fractions are the hardest concept to teach,” Stout said. “But through tactile tools and unique experiences, we can make math relevant to our students today.” 

Taylor Minor, a former Shark Tank contestant and owner of Third Wave Water, commended the winners for their heartfelt pitches. Recognizing their hard work, he offered them advice for future endeavors.

“Don’t be afraid to fail,” Minor said. “Be who you are. Keep that Christ-centered moral compass that you have and it will serve you well.”

Rachel Schuck is a freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student. She loves to play the piano, get coffee with friends and take walks in the sunshine.