State College student wins Dream-Learn-Pitch grand prize

Clara Kraft, a State College Area High School student, shows a prototype for her “Diabedic” business concept, which earned first place – and the grand prize of a $10,000 scholarship to Penn College – in the 2025-26 Dream-Learn-Pitch competition, administered by nonprofit Brighter Financial Futures.

A student from State College Area High School was recently named the winner of Brighter Financial Futures’ Dream-Learn-Pitch Rising Stars Challenge. As the first-place winner in the entrepreneurship competition, Clara Kraft was offered a $10,000 Penn College scholarship.

Dream-Learn-Pitch provides high school and middle school students with an opportunity to innovate and gain exposure to the world of entrepreneurship and small business. Participants research, write and present their business ideas through a video “pitch.” Several participating schools attended an event at Penn College in October to help their students begin developing their business plans.

"Dream-Learn-Pitch is about helping students realize that their ideas have value and that they can become creators, problem-solvers and future leaders," said Alan Dakey, president of Brighter Financial Futures. "Clara's achievement demonstrates what can happen when students are encouraged to dream boldly and apply their creativity toward solving real-world challenges."

Brighter Financial Futures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students build financial literacy, entrepreneurship and life skills through engaging educational experiences and partnerships with schools and communities.