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2025 Awardees

Jump to: Hayhurst Invitational Finalists | Undergraduate Finalists | Graduate Finalists | Brick and Mortar Finalists | Veterans Finalists | Women's Finalists

Morris L. Hayhurst Invitational

Buddy N Beast logo.
Buddy N Beast – 1st Place, $100K
Andy Henthorn
Charleston, WV


Nikola Landscape Lighting LLC logo.
Nikola Landscape Lighting LLC – 2nd Place, $50K
Luke McConnell
Morgantown, WV


YNST eye logo.
YNST Magazine – 3rd Place, $25K
Adam Payne
Wheeling, WV


Christy Hayhurst Davis Undergraduate Pitch Competition

Goldrenrod Kitchen logo.
Goldenrod Kitchen – 1st Place, $10K
Nola Todd
WVU, Morgantown, WV



Simply Smoothies logo.
Simply Smoothies – 2nd Place, $5K
Mckenna Valasek and Logan Moiles
Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV



Blue lightbulb icon with a mountain scape inside the bulb.
GreenMatter – 3rd Place, $2.5K
Kassidy Blatt
WVU, Morgantown, WV



James Davis Graduate Student Pitch Competition

FarmerzTool Logo. FarmerzTool Technologies – 1st Place, $10K
Tafara Ushendibaba
WVU, Morgantown, WV


Stud-IA logo. Stud-IA – 2nd Place, $5K
Juan Marino
WVU, Morgantown, WV


Market Leader Technologies logo. Market Leader Technologies/BotHQ-AI – 3rd Place, $2.5K
Daniel Fournier 
WVU, Morgantown, WV


Ronald Hayhurst Brick-and-Mortar Pitch Competition

Withrow Supply logo.
Withrow Sharpening and Sales – 1st Place, $10K
Alexis Campbell
Huntington, WV 

Cryptid Mountain Mini Golf logo.
Cryptid Mountain Miniature Golf – 2nd Place, $5K
Colton Metzger and Matthew Tolliver
Morgantown, WV

Natives Fly Fishing and Catch Cam Nets logo.
Natives Fly Fishing and Catch Cam Nets – 3rd Place, $2.5K
Beau Robinson
White Hall, WV


Robert Hayhurst Veterans Pitch Competition

Blue Thistle Fibers logo. Blue Thistle Fibers – 1st Place, $10K
Clare Loftus
Gauley Bridge, WV


The Gorge Wood Company logo. The Gorge Wood Company – 2nd Place, $5K
Jack Taggart
Danese, WV

UA Feeders logo. UAFeeders – 3rd Place, $2.5K
Orland M. Underwood Jr.
Kingwood, WV



Beulah Hayhurst Women’s Pitch Competition

Mountains to Water Woodshop logo.
Mountains to Water Woodshop – 1st Place, $10K
Kate Preston
Davis, WV


Old School Christmas Farm logo.
Old School Christmas Farm – 2nd Place, $5K
Maggie Blankenship
Red House, WV


Blue lightbulb icon with a mountain scape inside the bulb.
Mayfield Mountain Kennels – 3rd Place, $2.5K
Savanna Patterson
Morgantown, WV



Betty Davis Middle School Pitch Competition

My Hometown Is Cool Mini-Grants
1st Place – Moundsville Middle School (Marshall County) – Graffiti Wall, $3,500
2nd Place – Harts PK-8 (Lincoln County) – Harts River Access Area and Beautification Project, $3,000
3rd Place – Braxton County Middle School (Braxton County) – Building Blessings, $2,500

Promising Projects

Guyan Valley Middle School (Lincoln County) – Wildcat Recreation, $500
South Middle School (Monongalia County) – Stallion Time, $500

Robin Hayhurst High School Pitch Competition

1st Place Tie – Brooke High School (Brooke County) – Saw Armor and Straight Shot, $2,500
2nd Place – Braxton County High School (Braxton County) – SolSeat, $1,500
3rd Place – Wetzel County Technical Education Center (Wetzel County) – Safe Chat, $1,000

Promising Projects

Ben Franklin Career Center (Kanawha County) – BFCC Tourism Corner Coffee, $500
John Marshall High School (Marshall County) – AI Smart Garbage, $500
Lincoln County High School (Lincoln County) – Lincoln County Mentor Program, $500
Mingo Central High School (Mingo County) – Mingo County Tourism App, $500
Ripley High School (Jackson County) – WV Farmer’s Marketplace, $500