Rocket Pitch Competition
The Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) hosted its annual Rocket Pitch and Entrepreneurial Celebration on May 7, 2025, in Monteabaro Recital Hall. This year, applicants from across campus were encouraged to apply, as the competition was open to all currently enrolled HCC students, regardless of discipline. After careful consideration, ten presenters were chosen to share their marketing pitches, granting them the opportunity to win a number of scholarship awards.
We are pleased to celebrate this year's winners:
First Place ($1,800) – Veronica Deriquito – Likha App & Events, a platform dedicated to promoting and celebrating Filipino culture
Second Place ($1,400) – Ubachukwu Odunukwe – Surrounds, offering situational awareness controllers as an alternative solution to standard noise-cancelling headphones
Third Place ($1,000) – Michael Akinyele – Attayn Live, a virtual health coaching platform, which would expand access to preventative and primary care
Fourth Place ($800) – Kehinde Akinsehinwa – Just Wear It, a business dedicated to providing custom tailored suits for everyone, paying particular care to include women and non-binary individuals
People’s Choice Award ($400) – Yosel Cruz – INK-YM, offering realistic, long-lasting temporary tattoos as an alternative to the commitment of a permanent tattoo
The Betty Noble award was created by the Howard Community College Educational Foundation, Inc. to honor former Business Dean and CEBE Director, Betty Noble, and her legacy. This award is bestowed upon students who have demonstrated a passion for entrepreneurship and most embody Betty’s qualities and attributes. The 2025 Betty Noble award winner was Michael Kimack. The CEBE congratulates Michael and wishes him continued success as he continues his business and entrepreneurial journey.
The audience also heard business pitches from students Olusegun Akinnusi, Sophia Bond-Aguilera, Peter Congedo, Rabail Khan, and Leydi Estrada Romero. Congratulations to all presenters and winners!
This celebration would not be possible without generous support from our sponsor, The Rotary Club of Columbia/Patuxent, as well as from the college and surrounding Columbia community. Our panel of six judges was carefully selected for their proven business acumen and entrepreneurial experience. The CEBE gratefully acknowledges the volunteer services and contributions of the 2025 Entrepreneurial Celebration judges: Joan Athen, Community Leader, Entrepreneur, and Former Special Assistant for Community Colleges to the U.S. Dept. of Education; Susanne Caviness, PhD, MSN, Mental Health Nurse Counselor and Industry Leader for National and Local Mental Health; Myra Dorsey, Founder/CEO of MD HR Consulting & La Bodi Massage; Jerry Freishtat, Founder/CEO of The Confidence Factory & Wealth Climbers and former CEO of Heartland Home Foods; Kashonna Marrow, President/CEO of Simply Kashonna, and Author of “7 Days to Simply Shift;” and Lexi Young, Owner of Your Journey Nursery & Preschool, Your Journey Gymnastics & Dance, Your Journey Jump, and Here We Grow Stables & Agricultural Learning Center.
The Center for Entrepreneurial and Business Excellence (CEBE) helps aspiring and existing business owners and students develop themselves and their businesses by utilizing the center’s programs, services, and resources.
For questions or to request mentoring assistance, please contact Helen Rose, Co-Director of the CEBE.
Please click here to view the 2024 Rocket Pitch Competition.
