Students Show Entrepreneurial Spirit at Penguin Pitch

Students present business ideas to industry experts at Penguin Pitch — Clark’s twist on Shark Tank.

By Levi Nelson

Students standing in a line

Pictured: (L to R) Ted Tecino, Francisco Holdman, Megan Williams, Kayden Dees, Lauryn Forsythe, and Reeco Kuhnke — students who presented at this year's Penguin Pitch event.

Clark College students brought creativity, strategy, and heart to the stage at the 2026 Penguin Pitch entrepreneurship competition hosted by Clark College professor and Foundation Board member Joe Cha. 

Six student contestants presented their business concepts before a panel of three judges and an audience of fellow students. They offered a vast range of ideas, including: 

“The main goal of this year's competition was to showcase the talent and initiative of our students and highlight the community's support of entrepreneurship not only at Clark College but also in the larger Clark County community,” said Joe. 

This year’s contestants included Ted Tecino, Lauryn Forsythe, Kayden Dees, Francisco Holdman, Megan Williams, and Reeco Kuhnke. Each student brought unique perspectives to the competition.  

Ted took first place for TIMTEC Creations, a veteran-focused woodworking business that creates meaningful, affordable products that bring people together. Td also earned the Students’ Choice Award. 

Lauryn placed second for Cascadia Cruise Co., a mobile hospitality and support service designed to help individuals with tasks such as grooming, mobility, laundry, hygiene, and errands.  

Kayden placed third for Beeline Gardens, a biodegradable roll-out seed mat designed to support pollinators in the Pacific Northwest. 

Other concepts included By Crows For Crows, Reeco’s idea for educational video games exploring topics such as history, business, and time management; Your Dogs, Francisco’s affordable hot-dog cart concept for local markets; and Bubble, Megan’s whimsical footwear brand designed for people seeking wider shoe options. 

Judges sitting at a table in a classroom

The students pitched their ideas to judges Valerie Striplin, a Clark College alumna and executive director of the Oregon Public Health Association; Divya Kashyap, a higher education and EdTech leader with more than 20 years of experience; and Chris “C3” Croteau, a technology executive and innovation leader with experience launching products and expanding into new markets (pictured above).

The event highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of Clark College students and the role of community support in fostering the growth of early-stage ideas. Through Penguin Pitch, students gained experience presenting their ideas, receiving feedback, and seeing how their creativity can connect with real-world needs across Clark County. 

 

 

Photos: Clark College Foundation/Levi Nelson 

Story by Levi Nelson, Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing, Clark College Foundation