2025 Competition

The Big Pitch Final took place on February 28, 2025, from 12 to 1 p.m. Congratulations to all of our finalists!

1st Place: Lori Denning, “The Women of Samson”

2nd Place: Christina Schwartz, “From Strength to Purpose: Exploring the Relationships Between Character Strengths and Purpose in Life”

3rd Place (tie): Michelle Blaya-Burgo, “Giving It All–To Heal or Harm: A Deeper Look into Self-Sacrifice”

3rd Place (tie): Maneesha Sarda, “Dante’s Bodily Fatigue: A Text of Cosmic Angst in Dante’s The Divine Comedy”

Audience’s Winner: Ashley Watterson, “Identity as a Resource: The Role of Multiracial Identity Integration in Developing Leader Adaptability”

Finalist: Emily Zavala, “STRESS ON THE LINE: How Secondary Traumatic Stress Shapes Risk Perception in 9-1-1 Calls”