March 5, 2026
The scholars received for his or her social media-led “FinCheck” advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
4 college students at Fisk College have acquired a $40K scholarship after profitable Experian and HomeFree-USA’s 2026 #IYKYK pitch competitors.
The competitors served to include student-driven advertising and marketing concepts into Experian’s Huge Monetary Buddy (BFF) marketing campaign. The profitable Workforce F2, comprised of scholars Hannah Daniel, Habeebah Dawodu, Remi Adeshina, and Kanchan Thapa, secured a second consecutive win for the HBCU.
Their acclaimed technique, “FinCheck,” takes inspiration from a each day development that has already made waves on social media. As a substitute of the favored “match test,” the social-first marketing campaign encourages Gen-Z to faucet into their “FinCheck.” These movies will “normalize discussions round monetary well being, making it as routine and shareable as private type,” as detailed in a press launch shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The concept may even carry scholar and influencer-led activations to campuses nationwide. Nonetheless, it primarily goals to introduce monetary well being practices similar to credit score locking and subscription providers. The scholars expressed their very own pleasure at profitable once more for Fisk, as they hope to shed extra gentle on this initiative towards monetary literacy.
“We got here into this competitors and stated we’re going to place our greatest foot ahead, we’re going to stand up right here, have enjoyable, and we’re going to depart an enduring influence. That is simply past phrases,” stated Fisk biology main and Workforce F2 captain, Hannah Daniel.
The pitch competitors has expanded the mission set by the Experian Credit score Academy and the overarching Middle for Monetary Development. Its partnership with the Nationwide City League additionally introduced a number of hundred college students from a number of HBCUs and Minority Serving Establishments. These students participated in credit score schooling periods and workshops, whereas providing monetary consciousness and providers to this demographic.
With an ingrained function to make monetary wellness accessible and empowering for the subsequent era, the Credit score Academy has additionally leaned into methods to higher join with co-eds, leaning on student-led methods to create impactful campaigns. The #IYKYK Pitch competitors allowed college students to use their classes to real-life technique, whereas making them the Huge Monetary Buddies in their very own collegiate circles and various communities.
“Experian’s Credit score Academy and #IYKYK Pitch Competitors goals to modernize and normalize the dialog round cash and credit score in a enjoyable and culturally related approach for younger adults. Our partnerships with HomeFree-USA, CFA, and the Nationwide City League are important in serving to us attain and empower the subsequent era of leaders. We had been impressed to see how these students lean into the training and proactively share their information as BFFs for his or her friends and communities,” stated Raudy Perez, senior director of Exterior Inclusion and Belonging Partnerships for Experian North America.
Because the Experian Credit score Academy continues its funding within the monetary savviness of Gen-Z, these HBCU students are doing their half to steer this motion.
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