Community News
Century of Heritage: Celebrating 100 Years of Family in Westfield
Igniting Ideas: Westfield High School’s Innovation Competition Showcases the Future of Entrepreneurship
On any given school day, the halls of Westfield High School are full of movement and ideas—but one evening each spring, those ideas take center stage. The annual Innovation Competition, spearheaded by Entrepreneurship Teacher John Moore, has grown into a highly anticipated showcase of creativity, grit, and business savvy. This year’s event featured a record-breaking 81 teams comprised of 163 students—each pitching original products and services they’ve spent months developing.
Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded dramatically since Moore first launched it with just three teams. The competition is part of a broader entrepreneurship curriculum, which includes three classes: Principles of Entrepreneurship, New Ventures, and Small Business Operations. The goal? To transform students from problem-identifiers into problem-solvers and from dreamers into doers.
“We’re not playing school—we’re creating something real,” Moore said. “Our goal is to develop students who think critically and, instead of whining about problems, go out and solve them.”
That mindset was on full display as students presented business concepts ranging from handmade products to scalable tech platforms. Some notable ventures included Pretty Pinchers, which launched on Etsy after winning last year’s competition, and new tech ideas like WeServe, Teen Freelance, and Streamline. Products like Comfort Buddy and EverFresh stood out for their simplicity and consumer appeal.
But the competition is about more than prize money—though there’s plenty of that, with $12,000 in seed funding up for grabs. For Moore, the biggest win is the opportunity for students to connect with real-world mentors, business professionals, and community leaders.
“The networking aspect is the most important part,” he emphasized. “Our students meet city leaders, college professors, and professionals from across central Indiana. They leave with more confidence and connections than most adults have.”
Thanks to the support of community sponsors—including the City of Westfield, Ball State University, Community First Bank, the law firm of Webster & Garino, and EdgeRock Development—the competition continues to grow in scale and impact. It’s also made possible by a dedicated team of educators and mentors behind the scenes, including Innovation Specialist Sarah Gibbs, assistant Whitney Moore, marketing teacher Tracy Miller, and community champions Curt Whitesell and Birch Dalton.
The competition follows a three-round format. After the initial showcase, 15 teams were selected by public vote to advance to the next round at the Westfield Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on April 17. From there, five finalists will compete in the grand finale on May 15 for a share of $10,000 in additional seed funding.
For the students, the experience is eye-opening. They quickly discover that building a business isn’t easy—it involves extensive market research, product development, financial planning, and countless pivots. But they also discover something else: they’re capable of far more than they imagined.
“I love reflecting with the students after the event,” Moore said. “So many of them didn’t think they could do everything they’ve done. It’s stressful, but they come out proud and ready for more.”
And as the program continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Westfield’s young entrepreneurs aren’t just preparing for the future—they’re building it.
Five Finalists:
Doo Dissolver (Drew Miller and Anderson Schaaf)
Everfresh (Xander Cavalcanti and Charlie Head)
Lock & Leaf (Maggie Pasztor and Garrett Tucker)
Play Away (Amaya Buckley, Anna Loane, and Maya Menard)
Smilo (Ritvik Bhatia and Rayan Elbanhawy)
Westfield Education Foundation Awards $107,400 in Scholarships to Sixty-Nine Outstanding Graduates
Community Partners and Legacy Donors Make Dreams Possible
On May 20, the Westfield Education Foundation awarded $107,400 scholarships to 69 graduates, representing 10% of the WHS Class of 2025—thanks to generous community partners and legacy donors.
“These awards reflect our shared belief in the potential of every Westfield student,” said Dr. John Atha, Associate Superintendent. “They are a testament to what it means to be ‘Life Ready Rocks.’”
Scholarship recipients were celebrated at the WHS Awards Night and with surprise yard signs, thanks to Michelle Lyons (WHS PTO) and Amy Pictor (WEF Board).
This year’s recipients included future scientists, teachers, artists, and entrepreneurs. Major scholarships included the Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm Bray Science Scholarships, Dylan McGinnis Memorial Scholarship, Kim Simons Future Educator Scholarship, and the Shirley A. Gibbs Scholarship. Local businesses like CORE Construction, CSO Architects, and The Farmers Bank also invested in students aligned with their industries.
New in 2026, a scholarship from R.E. Dimond will support students pursuing mechanical and electrical engineering.
“We welcome new partners to help us fill scholarship gaps,” said Ashley Knott. “Our students are talented and deserve to be recognized.”
To establish or contribute to a scholarship, contact the Westfield Education Foundation.
“When we invest in students, we invest in our community’s future,” Knott added.
2025 Westfield Education Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Caitie Wood Music Scholarship
• Marcus J. McQueary
Carl M Steele Memorial Scholarship
• Lucas A. Bland
CORE Construction Scholarship
• Austin Jeffrey Celleghin
Craig Wood Agricultural Science Scholarship
• Matthew Spencer
CSO Architects, Inc. Scholarship for Architects and Interior Design
• Ava A. Stewart
Dr. & Mrs. Malcolm Bray Science Scholarship
• Ava Q. Britton-Heitz
• Jason T Armstrong
• Henry D. Pham
• Parker T. Gibbs
• Ethan M. Altizer
The Duane Lutz Family Scholarship
• Jack B. Harris
Dylan McGinnis Memorial Scholarship
• Hayden Buck
• Caleb Brannies
Garmong Construction: Building Your Future Scholarship
• Julia M Kolodziejczyk
Grand Junction Brewery Company Scholarship
• Morgan O. Squires
• Anthony Derbique
Horizon Scholarship
• Anna C McKeown
Ivy Tech Hamilton Co. Campus Scholarship
• Henry Janak
James W “Bill” Wood Scholarship
• Paige M. Lemieux
The Jay Wood Athletic Student Manager Scholarship
• Drew A. O’Hara
The Kim Simons Future Educator Scholarship
• Brenna I. Billington
• Mia K. Crask
Megan Beatty Art Scholarship
• Leandro Melgar-Alas
Meyer Najem Construction Scholarship
• Harrison Gilbert
Performance Services Scholarship
• Jay Hostetter
Ralph & Mildred Wilfong Scholarship
• Kailyn L. Mercer
• Maija Gabrielle Pastran-Pacheco
Rebecca Sturdevant Scholarship
• Arabella M. King
• Bridget S. Mick
• Megan M. Krueckeberg
• Aubrey O. Frohardt
• Isabel B. Galan
Richard H. Crosser Memorial Scholarship
• John Paul O. Mears
Robert J. Denari Science Scholarship
• Joseph Owen Mohler
Schmidt Associates Building Better Futures Scholarship
• Nicholas W. Gerow
Shirley A. Gibbs Scholarship
• Cruzy Isabela Pixcar
• Evan T. Homan
• Ava M. Whiteman
• Allison N. Gorecki
• Asha Adhikari
• Fletcher Farrar
• Elizabeth A. Hirschfeld
The Student Impact Basketball Coach/Player Scholarship
• Mason Esslinger
The Student Impact Scholarship
• Bentley Summitt
The Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling Construction Scholarship
• Caleb Eugene Montgomery
Susan Hobson Scholarship
• Lauren Pickett
The Farmers Bank Business and Finance Studies Scholarship
• Ava J. Mehling
The Linda & Mark Keen Scholarship
• Charles P. Naas
The Sharon Hoffman Memorial Scholarship Hosted by WestMed
• Audrey T. Wright
Vicki Thomas Scholarship (WCTA)
• Parker Knott
Westfield Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship
• Madison A. Samreta
Westfield Living Magazine Scholarship
• Maryn G. Babb
William and Barbara Sampson Family Scholarship
• Audrey Elizabeth Six
Xavier John McDonald Memorial Fund
• Addison R. Miller
• Kylie C. Amos
Zipparo Family B.E.C.I.S. Scholarship
• William J. Harvey
David L. Adams Academic Award
• Bailey McClure
Ray Huser Foundation Athletic Award
• Rylan T. Rauch
Tommie Moore Athletic Award
• Kaleb I. Francisco
WHS Mentorship Awards
• Eliana G. Hill
• Avalyn M. Kainrath
• John L. Ewing
• Addison M. Stoughton
• Joaquin M. Pizana
• Claire A. Comer
• Ella Nicole McGrath
• Rylan Elizabeth Wheeler
• Noah F. Shull
• John M. Alberta