LANSING, Mich. — On Nov. 5, 2025, Michigan College Access Network hosted the second Take Flight: Sixty by 30 Pitch Competition. Four finalists presented their ideas during MCAN’s 14th annual conference before an audience of more than 800 attendees, competing for up to $5,000 in cash prizes as determined by live audience voting. Designed to elevate bold ideas from across MCAN’s statewide network, the competition celebrates creativity and innovation in advancing Michigan’s college attainment goals.
FIRST PLACE ($5,000)
Aurora Lemieux-McKissic pitched Career Connect: a career readiness program which equips high school students and recent grads with the tools, mentorship, and real-world experiences they need to succeed in both professional and postsecondary environments, while centering student voice and peer-led support.
“As someone about to graduate with my bachelor’s degree next spring, this experience felt like a full-circle moment and showed me that my lived experience and perspective can help shape how we support future learners. I really appreciate MCAN for opening that door and believing in that potential,” said Lemieux-McKissic.
SECOND PLACE ($2,500)
Karen Ball pitched a redesigned approach to introductory college math courses by creating a framework that updates learning outcomes to focus on persistence and problem-solving skills. The current narrative surrounding introductory college math courses is largely negative among students, and these courses are often barriers to persistence and completion.
THIRD PLACE, TIED ($1,000)
Jennifer Cronkright pitched Engage and Elevate, an interactive learning management system shell that unifies and supports students through fun and engaging videos, quizzes, and campus challenges. Engage and Elevate incentivizes students with earnable points to build community and learn how to access success tools.
Sandy Graber pitched MTA Connect, an app designed to simplify the Michigan Transfer Agreement process. By helping students navigate the process for optimizing transfer credits and fulfilling general education requirements towards certificates or degrees, MTA Connect empowers students to enrich their academic experience and increase their chances of college success.
“The theme of this year’s conference, Standing Firm: College Still Matters, was powerfully reflected in the work of our four finalists. Each championed a unique approach to making postsecondary education more attainable and sustainable for Michigan students,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN executive director. “The return of the pitch competition for a second year underscores our ongoing dedication to highlighting the innovative solutions emerging from our network.”
The 2025 pitch competition session was sponsored by Michigan Virtual, an online learning platform dedicated to advancing K-12 education through digital learning, research, innovation, policy and partnerships. Michigan Virtual worked collaboratively with MCAN to support and coach finalists ahead of the conference and competition.
MCAN's 14th annual conference concluded with Take Flight: Sixty by 30 Pitch Competition, awarding cash prizes to support innovation in college access and completion