by Rich Stratton, Assistant Director of Public Relations
A middle school math tool, affordable cybersecurity for churches and a fast-fashion recycling concept took top honors Friday night at The Pitch, Cedarville University’s entrepreneurial competition.
After multiple rounds of coaching and judging, three ventures earned the top prizes. First place received $1,000, second place $500 and third place $250 to help teams continue developing their concepts.
First place: BrightPond Designs
Jenna Stout, a senior industrial and innovative design major from Paw Paw, Michigan, won first place and $1,000 for BrightPond Designs, a product line featuring physical fraction visualization tools designed for middle school students. The concept aims to help students understand abstract math through hands-on learning.
Second place: Twin Sentries Security
Twin brothers John and Josiah Hardaway, senior information technology management majors from Atoka, Tennessee, earned second place and $500 for Twin Sentries Security, a venture focused on providing affordable cybersecurity for churches and nonprofits. The business aims to protect organizations that often lack the budget and staffing to build strong digital security systems.
Third place: Twin World
Rhoda Roby, a senior computer science major from Raleigh, North Carolina, received third place and $250 for Twin World, a recycling solution aimed at reducing fast fashion waste. Her concept targets one of the industry’s most persistent environmental challenges by creating a pathway for recycling and reuse.
With seed funding on the line, the competition offered more than recognition: It gave students an on ramp to test and refine ideas with real-world impact. Organizers framed the night as a showcase of mission-driven entrepreneurship, with prize money helping the winning teams take next steps toward launch.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio’s largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
