Buena Vista University (BVU) students brought their entrepreneurial ideas to life during the annual Degen Pitch Competition, presented by the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. Hosted by the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business, the event celebrated the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that defines the BVU community.

During the competition, five students pitched original business and product ideas to a panel of judges made up of BVU faculty and alumni, including BVU Board of Trustees member Mike Degen ’67, retired chairman, president, and CEO of Nortech Systems, and his wife, Ruth, who sponsor the event.

The Degens have long supported innovation at BVU, having established an endowed scholarship that provides seed funding for student start-ups. Additional judges included BVU Trustee, Joanne Sebby ’97, Chief Risk Officer for Fiserv, and Prof. Lisa Best, Dean of the Harold Walter Siebens School of Business.

“Be involved and develop yourself as a young person beyond what just happens in the classroom. Be involved in the university, be involved with your peers, and make lifelong friendships,” said Mike Degen. “This was one of the greatest experiences of my life in college. It changed me as an individual.”

This year’s competition featured ideas spanning industries from education and home design to sports and sustainability, showcasing the talent and ambition of BVU students. Each participant received a $200 participation award:

• Prudence Vova ’26, accounting and communication studies double-major - Maroots, an all-purpose cleaning product 
• Alyssa Jordan ’26, strategic public relations major - Outskirts Acres, event venue and planning business
• Leah Becker ’29, accounting major - Mind Maze, dyslexia resource kit for teachers
• Conner Johnson ’29, sport business major - Slab City Co., online sports card storefront
• Alexis Kuehl ’27, business management major - Firm Foundation, Christian home design and building company

All five students will advance to the Hopley Family Pitch Competition in November, formerly known as The Citizens 1st Pitch Competition, where they will compete for larger cash prizes and additional support to grow their ventures.

First-year sport business major, Conner Johnson, launched Slab City Co., a sports card storefront on eBay, and saw the pitch competition as the perfect opportunity to grow his business.

“I presented my business idea to [The School of Business] and they wanted to help me out,” said Johnson. “The professors are great, they want to help you succeed, and I’m all here for it.”

Also returning to the event was last year’s winner, Cody Fuller, who shared insights from his own entrepreneurial journey.

“It was really cool to see the difference in not just the competition, from other students and peers that are competing, but also to see how my business has grown over the last year,” remarks Fuller. “I’ve gone from a small start-up idea to being full-fledged and breaking even on my profits. Utilizing the resources at BVU, including the Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Prof. Katherine Cota, Dr. Sam Willson, and BVU Admissions, it’s such a supportive community, and I couldn’t have done it without BVU.”

The Degen Pitch Competition continues to inspire BVU students to turn ideas into action, offering them an opportunity to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life. Both pitch competitions are part of the Lamberti Center’s broader effort to develop entrepreneurial thinkers and problem-solvers. Through hands-on opportunities like these, students gain real-world experience in pitching, business planning, and professional communication, skills that will prepare them for success well beyond graduation.