By Zach Spicer
The results of the 2025 Maverick Challenge Jackson County are in!
The winners are Isaiah Sitterding and Jack Pace of Brownstown Central High School. They were among the top 10 finalists who delivered oral presentations March 5 at the Community Foundation of Jackson County in Seymour.
Their business is S & P Outdoor Productions, which makes insulated hunting blinds. They were awarded $3,000 for winning the high school business planning competition.
Next was Seymour High School’s Olivia Wilp with Rock and Roll Rink, a roller skating rink designed to help with mental health and those with disabilities. She received $2,500.
Seymour High School’s Michael Brooks was given $450 for his business plan for Infinity Lead, a lead attachment for mechanical pencils, and Brownstown Central High School’s Presley Hampton also received $450 for her business plan for Next Level Stylist, a fashion app to search for formal wear.
Participation awards of $100 were given to the other finalists:
-Bryan Jaime, Seymour High School, Pal’ Mundo Entero, a food truck that serves Puerto Rican sandwiches and more
-Andrea Heideman, Seymour High School, Easy Life, an adaptive device to help with everyday activities
-Mikayla McCory, Medora High School, Vest Friends, a vest with an adjustable harness for dogs
-Jayda Clodfelder, Brownstown Central High School, Jay’s Designs, an interior design service
-Caleb Walton, Brownstown Central High School, Caleb’s Cases, a personalized cellphone case business
-Mallory Applegate, Seymour High School, Uniquely Me Pottery, a pottery business
JCIDC, Jackson County Chamber, Brownstown Ewing Main Street and Seymour Main Street are the sponsors of the competition along with funding partner JCBank. A total of $7,000 was up for grabs for the top 10 finalists.
There were 25 teams from Brownstown Central, Crothersville, Medora and Seymour high schools who participated in the competition. Ten local business volunteers served as mentors: Eric Stam, Ryan Kemp, Ryon Wheeler, Stephanie Strothmann, Brittany Percival, Kendra Zumhingst, Solomon Rust, Michelle Schaefer, Karen Dringenburg and Pete Ellery. The judges of the oral presentations were Brett Bevers, Doug Prather and Fayeann Hauer.
New this year, the winner will be one of the finalists in the SPARK Tank competition, giving them the chance to win up to $10,000. That’s set for March 27 at Jackson Live & Event Center in Seymour.
Students also could enter the state’s Innovate WithIN competition, which has a regional competition in the spring and finals in June with the ultimate winner receiving $25,000. Heideman entered that competition and was chosen as a regional finalist. She will present April 22 at Maker13 in Jeffersonville.
Maverick Challenge began in 2008 in Bartholomew County, and Jackson County joined the program in 2011. Two years ago, Bartholomew County ended the program, but Jackson County leaders kept it going in the county with a partnership between the four sponsors and the funding partner.
