PITCH-ER THIS! Celebrates 10 Years!
On February 22, 2025, United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties hosted the 10th Annual PITCH-ER THIS! Youth Venture Competition. This exciting event invites 6th-12th grade students from across Gratiot and Isabella counties to pitch their community improvement ideas to a panel of "celebrity" judges and an engaged audience. United Way funds the top pitches based on judge scores and audience votes. This year, six teams from three schools stepped up to present their innovative ideas!
PITCH-ER THIS! challenges youth to develop creative solutions to local community issues. Each team presents a project aligned with one of United Way’s impact areas: Healthy Lifestyles, Quality Education, or Financial Stability. In addition to a 5-10 minute presentation detailing their idea—including its need, cost, and timeline—students create a table display to engage with judges and community members. Teams brought their ideas to life with creative visuals and interactive elements.
United Way allocates funding from community-invested dollars to provide up to $5,000 for the top three teams each year. This year, a total of $14,475 was awarded to support student-led initiatives.
2025 PITCH-ER THIS! Winners
1st Place 🏆
Ashley Art Express ($4,625)
First place went to Team “Ashley Art Express" for their inspiring plan to create a community art sculpture celebrating their village’s history and annual Country Christmas program. Team members Charlie Zammarron (10th grade), Jazmyne Good (11th grade), Seth Stahr (12th grade), and Elise Drummond (10th grade) will take home the traveling trophy and funding to bring their vision to life.
Why a train sculpture? The team shared:
“Every year the town of Ashley welcomes the Pere Marquette 1225 train into the town in the months of November and December. The train has consistently brought about 20,000 people each year from around the world and surrounding communities to experience all that Ashley and the Country Christmas have to offer. This event is very important for the people of Ashley as it creates revenue for local businesses, provides jobs to community members, and brings together so many different people.”
2nd Place 🏆
Pine River Protectors ($5,000)
The “Pine River Protectors” from Alma Public Schools earned second place in the 2025 PITCH-ER THIS! competition for their impactful environmental outreach project. Led by Raegan Falor, a 12th grader, and Ainsley Falor, an 8th grader, the team also included Allison Sandro (9th grade) and Ella Johnson (6th grade), who provided valuable support. Their project focused on educating the community about the environmental challenges facing the Pine River and the Upper Pine River Watershed, aiming to raise awareness and inspire local action.
Through their well-researched and passionate pitch, the team secured $5,000 in funding to develop curriculum materials and expand their outreach efforts to schools across Gratiot County. Their initiative seeks to engage students, teachers, and community members in conversations about water conservation, pollution prevention, and the importance of protecting local waterways. With this funding, the Pine River Protectors plan to create interactive lesson plans, host educational workshops, and collaborate with environmental experts to further their mission.
3rd Place 🏆
Unclouded Minds ($4,850)
Team “Unclouded Minds" from Mt. Pleasant High School was awarded third place for their initiative to install vape smoke detectors in school bathrooms, creating a safer and healthier environment. Yame Osakue (10th grade) and David Ikekhuah (10th grade) presented compelling data from the 2023 Michigan Youth Tobacco Survey, which found that 13.7% of Michigan high school students use e-cigarettes. Their project will collaborate with school administration to install detectors that instantly alert staff when vape smoke is detected.
Their initiative demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to tackling a nationwide issue and sets an inspiring example for their peers. Through their dedication, Yame and David are making a lasting impact, advocating for student well-being and encouraging positive change within their school community.
Congratulations to all the incredible teams who participated in the 2025 PITCH-ER THIS! competition! Each team showcased creativity, passion, and dedication to making a difference in their communities.
The “Pine River Protectors” from Alma Middle and High School took on an environmental advocacy project focused on raising awareness about the Pine River and the Upper Pine River Watershed. Led by Raegan Falor (12th grade) and Ainsley Falor (8th grade), with support from Alli Sandro (9th grade) and Ella Johnson (6th grade), the team was guided by mentors Sara Miller, a retired educator, and Zoe Palmer, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer from Alma College.
“Shark Attack” from St. Louis TS Nurnberger Middle School featured Kaylea Hamp, Kaylee Spencer, Boston Clarke, and Madilyn Devine, all in 8th grade. Their project, mentored by St. Louis Public Schools teacher Todd Starry, tackled an innovative approach to problem-solving in their community.
The “Ashley Art Express” from Ashley Community Schools was represented by Charlie Zammarron (10th grade), Jazmyne Good (11th grade), Seth Stahr (12th grade), and Elise Drummond (10th grade). Under the mentorship of teacher Evelyn Fleischer, this team brought their artistic vision to life, fostering creative expression in their school and beyond.
“Beautiful Birds for Beautiful People” from St. Louis TS Nurnberger Middle School featured Aaliyah Ivory-Kay Rodriguez (6th grade) and Madelynn Webster (8th grade). With the support of their mentor, Todd Starry, they developed a project centered on the beauty of birds and their positive impact on people’s lives.
“Unclouded Minds” from Mt. Pleasant Senior High School consisted of Yame Osakue and David Ikekhuah, both in 10th grade. Their project addressed mental health awareness and aimed to provide resources to support students facing challenges.
Lastly, the “St. Louis Ballers” from St. Louis TS Nurnberger Middle School included Sarah Ellen Bowerman, Braelyn Rea Post, and Saryn Bryte Leonard, all in 8th grade. With guidance from mentor Todd Starry, they developed a project centered around sports and community engagement.
Thank you to our 2025 PITCH-ER THIS! judges for their time, expertise, and dedication to supporting young innovators. This year's panel included Tyler Barron, Community Affairs Manager at Invenergy; Josh Cromer, Electric Meter Operations Field Leader at Consumers Energy; Curtis Dancer, Finance Director & Treasurer for the City of Alma; Shana Dancer, Owner, Therapist, and Yoga Instructor at ZenLightenment Wellness Center; Katie List, Recruiting Specialist at KMG Prestige; Jared Macha, Branch Manager at Isabella Bank; Dr. Peter Tacia, Doctor of Optometry at Alma Optics; Dr. Shreya Wachob, Pediatrician at MyMichigan Health; and Kasey Zehner, Vice President at Greater Gratiot Development, Inc.
We also extend our appreciation to the 2025 CMED Student Coordinators from CMU’s College of Medicine Class of 2028: Kaitlyn Blotter, Victoria Collins, Evan Ziehl, and Maryam Bishdary. Their leadership and commitment help make this event a success.
We are proud to share that in its ten years of funding youth projects, United Way’s PITCH-ER THIS! Youth Venture Competition has invested over $115,000 in youth-led community improvements!
