Pitch Fest 2025: Drumroll, Please! Announcing the Winners of the Second Annual Pitch Fest at Cal Poly Humboldt! 🎉

The California College Corps Pitch Fest at Cal Poly Humboldt is a game-changer for students and nonprofits alike. This dynamic event equips College Corps Fellows with real-world experience, portfolio-building opportunities, and an expanded professional network, all while creating tangible solutions for local community organizations.

This year’s Second Annual Pitch Fest showcased the power of student-driven impact as teams of Fellows presented their proposals to a distinguished panel of judges, all of whom have dedicated their careers to making a societal impact. With 120 fellows participating, the competition was fierce, the ideas were innovative, and the impact will be lasting.

And now, without further ado, we are thrilled to announce the winners of Pitch Fest 2025!

🏆 Congratulations to the Winning Teams!

The following teams secured funding for their non-profit organizations after successfully pitching their project proposals:

Award winning ideas at Pitch Fest 2025

✅ Brunner Family Farm: Outhouse facilities for student field trips
✅ Bureau of Land Management: Bark Rangers Campaign for environmental impact
✅ Coastal Grove Charter School: Revitalized music program
✅ Open Door Community Health Center: Greenhouse for community engagement and support 
✅ Trinidad Coastal Land Trust: Storage shed for beach wheelchair

In addition, two teams received additional funding through Cal Poly Humboldt’s Sponsored Programs Foundation:

🌱 Humboldt Botanical Garden: Updated signage and garden navigation map
🌊 Trinidad Coastal Land Trust (TCLC received additional partial funding)

How Pitch Fest Transforms College Corps Fellows

Each of these winning teams worked closely with their site leaders to develop outcome-based projects that addressed critical needs within their community. The funding they secured will go directly toward implementing these solutions—meaning real, on-the-ground change for Humboldt County.

Beyond the funding, every College Corps Fellow walked away from this experience with:

✨ A Professional Portfolio Project – A market-ready asset to showcase to future employers and graduate programs.
✨ Expanded Networking Opportunities – Connections with non-profit leaders, funding organizations, and impact-driven professionals.
✨ Real-World Problem-Solving Skills – Experience in developing, refining, and pitching actionable solutions to community challenges.

A Huge Thank You to Our Judges & Supporters!

This event would not be possible without the support of our incredible partners and judges, whose dedication to social impact work helps bring these ideas to life.

🌟 Special Thanks To:
🔹 Cal Poly Humboldt College Corps
🔹 Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation
🔹 Our Esteemed Guest Judges:
     👏 Betty Yee
     👏 Mark Walker
     👏 Eric Chagala

Pitch Fest 2025 Judges

Your expertise, guidance, and unwavering commitment to making a difference have empowered the next generation of changemakers and community leaders.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Pitch Fest

The California College Corps Pitch Fest at Cal Poly Humboldt is more than an event—it’s a launchpad for innovation, leadership, and sustainable community impact.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all of our Community Partner organizations who worked with Fellows to develop these proposals. The time and mentorship you invested have made a lasting impact, not only on your organizations but on the students who now have the skills and confidence to lead future social impact initiatives.

We are immensely proud of ALL of our Fellows for the dedication they put into preparing for this event. Whether they secured funding or not, every participant has taken a critical step toward building a career rooted in problem-solving, leadership, and community engagement.

Want to get involved? Stay connected for updates on next year’s Pitch Fest and opportunities to support these innovative student-led projects.

#CollegeCorps #CaliforniansForAll #CommunityImpact #HumboldtPitchFest #SocialInnovation