Grizzlies gain business confidence through quick pitch contest at UNL

December 23, 2025

Standing Bear High School students learned how to turn their public speaking skills into profitable business ideas during a college visit this winter.
 
Fifty-three future business leaders polished their entrepreneurial talents in a quick pitch contest at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. UNL College of Business faculty and staff listened to three-minute proposals about a wide range of products and services. The activity gave students a chance to increase their personal confidence, improve their communication techniques and develop critical thinking strategies.
 
Harper was one of the first Grizzlies to pitch her idea to judges in the contest’s opening round. She said it was fun to learn more about the business world in a firsthand way.
 
“I think that it’s really important,” Harper said. “This is a great opportunity to be able to come here and get feedback from people who actually have really good experience in this topic.”

 
Harper developed an idea for battery-powered jewelry that tracks the health status of wearers. Her invention would run for six months on a battery that would be inserted in the watch, ring or other jewelry piece. She offered several price points for the items and informed the judges that her devices were designed for women aged 15-45.
 
“I think that I did pretty good,” Harper said. “I think the people in there listening had a positive attitude. It was really comforting, so I felt like I could stay really calm and just focus on my topic.”
 
Mallory Krenk, the student engagement and recruitment coordinator at the UNL College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship, and Kendra Ritchie, director of recruitment for the UNL College of Business, oversaw the contest at Hawks Hall. Krenk visited Standing Bear twice this fall to work on ideas with students in a World of Business class. She said it was important for them to learn speaking and persuasion skills from their conversations with judges.
 
“Helping them effectively communicate is a huge thing as well, and that’s something we want students to have when they come here to the College of Business or the Center for Entrepreneurship or UNL in general,” Krenk said. “It’s a great way for students to grow their confidence and ideas.”

 
The trip to UNL gave the Grizzlies a preview of what they can look forward to at the Nebraska Business Focus Program. The focus program launched at Standing Bear in 2023 and features many courses about accounting, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. Business concepts are integrated into all classes for ninth and tenth graders in a pre-pathway, and juniors and seniors have an opportunity to pursue additional business knowledge in the focus program.
 
Ritchie provided instructions in a Hawks Hall auditorium before each student met judges in nearby conference rooms for their solo presentations. Rose Hull and Dylan Anderson talked with Harper and other Grizzlies during the morning in Room 021. Hull, an associate director of teaching and learning at the College of Business, said she was encouraged by the pitches she heard.
 
“I thought it went really well,” Hull said. “For high school freshmen, they did a great job. They made a lot of eye contact and stayed calm the whole time, so I was impressed with what they did.”
 
In Room 017, judges Kasey Linde and Ava Turk smiled as they watched Chase deliver a pitch about a product that would help golfers keep a firmer grip on their clubs. Linde, the director of teaching, learning and accreditation in the College of Business Teaching and Learning Center, said she was pleased with the creativity she witnessed during the morning.
 
“They really think of everything,” Linde said. “It’s been fun to hear what they’ve come up with.”

 
Judges had two minutes to ask follow-up questions after students delivered their proposals. Hull said that part of the process provided just as many life lessons as the business pitch itself.
 
“I loved the question-and-answer portion of it,” Hull said. “It gave them a lot of good experience in thinking on their feet. They had to figure out how best to answer the questions on the spot.”
 
After the first round concluded, the group went to a larger classroom to learn about the Clifton Strengths Institute at the College of Business. Former UNL professor Don Clifton created the CliftonStrengths assessment to help people learn about their personality traits and how they can use them to be successful. Jase said it was interesting to unpack information about the themes of strategic thinking, relationship building, influencing and executing.
 
“I learned that you can have different skills, and those skills can help you to grow in your future and have a better life,” Jase said.
 
Krenk felt the trip to UNL was a good way for the Grizzlies to learn how to polish their entrepreneurial talents for many years to come.
 
“We’re always pushing students to do things that make them uncomfortable, do things scared and do it anyway,” Krenk said. “I hope this experience kind of gives them the confidence to go do the things they might be scared of and go pursue these side hustles or businesses or ideas, no matter if they become a founder in ten years or even if it’s just an idea that they have that they can apply during their high school career, during their college career or even their career after college.”
 
Want to learn more about the Nebraska Business Focus Program at Standing Bear? Visit its website at business.lps.org to see how you can customize your high school experience. 
 
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