Benedict College proudly announces that Center for Financial Advancement® (CFA) Scholars represented the institution at Experian’s 2026 #IYKYK (If You Know, You Know) Pitch Competition, held at Experian’s North America headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. The national competition, sponsored by Experian and HomeFree-USA, brought together more than 120 students organized into 31 teams from 22 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions to develop bold, creative campaigns promoting financial literacy among Gen Z audiences.
“Benedict College is deeply committed to ensuring our students have access to transformative experiences that prepare them to lead and compete at the highest levels,” said Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “The #IYKYK Pitch Competition exemplifies the kind of opportunity that builds confidence, sharpens skills, and opens doors for our scholars.”
Benedict’s CFA team,
Members of Benedict College’s Center for Financial Advancement Team pose for a photo.
Nala Uter, Monelle Sherwood, Shi Asia Moore, and a fellow CFA Scholar, was named one of the top six semifinalist teams from 31 original entries, earning an invitation to compete at Experian’s North America headquarters in Costa Mesa, California. The team competed as part of the Experian Credit Academy, a multi-month program that prepared students through live credit education sessions with Experian experts and self-paced learning modules. This year’s competition challenged student teams to design a campaign to amplify Experian’s Big Financial Friend
initiative. From the six semifinalist teams, three advanced to the final pitch round, with the grand prize totaling $40,000 in scholarship funding awarded to the winning team from Fisk University.
The experience provided Benedict students with direct exposure to Fortune 500 corporate strategy, professional pitch development, and networking with peers from HBCUs across the nation. Students connected with Experian professionals and HomeFree-USA leaders while developing real-world skills in marketing, financial literacy advocacy, and entrepreneurial thinking.
