The Tigers were Among the Top 6 Teams Invited to the Experian Headquarters from 31 Entries Representing 22 HBCUs
Featured photo: Benedict College CFA Scholars attend the 2026 #IYKYK Pitch Competition in Experian North America Headquarters, Costa Mesa, California. From left to right, Monelle Sherwood, Professor Raquel Thomas, Shi Asia Moore, Nala Uter, Jacob Holmes, and Dr. Chantil Wright Galloway.
Columbia, S.C., March 13, 2026, 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, 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.
###
Benedict College Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Awardgiven by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and voted the number one Gold Winner in The States’ BEST College or University in 2025.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.