FinMango × Kent State University
Tear Down the
Barriers
High school students build real solutions to the systemic forces that keep communities from financial stability. $20,000+ in prizes.
Get Notified for 2027 →
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The Problem
Financial health isn't about knowing more. It's about facing fewer walls.
The barriers are systemic: transportation that costs more than the job pays, rent that eats 60%
of a paycheck, medical debt from a single ER visit. These aren't problems you budget your way
out of. They're problems you have to build your way through.
53%
of Americans living paycheck to paycheck
36%
of US households carry medical debt
50%
of renter households are cost-burdened by housing
$33.63
hourly wage needed to afford a modest 2BR rental
Students solving real problems at Kent State
How It Works
Three steps.
No fluff.
01
Pick a barrier
Choose a track: transportation, housing, healthcare, financial literacy, or
bring your own. Research why it exists and who it hurts most.
02
Build a solution
Policy proposal, app prototype, community tool, financial literacy campaign.
Use AI tools. Prototype fast. Make it real.
03
Present and compete
Demo Day for oral presentations. Innovation Gallery for posters. Knowledge
Track for financial literacy. Everyone who applies competes.
Innovation Tracks
Pick your fight.
Choose one challenge. Research it.
Solve it.
Transportation
Car costs, insurance, and transit gaps blocking stable employment.
Housing Affordability
Rent burden, deposits, and credit barriers to stable housing.
Healthcare Access
Medical debt and high costs devastating young adults.
Literacy & Investment
Limited financial education preventing generational wealth.
Open Track
Any financial barrier. Childcare, food insecurity, student debt, or
your own idea.
March 20, 2026
The Day In Pictures
Barrier Breakers 2026 at Kent State University. Students showed up, showed out, and broke through.
23
photos from the event
Rewards
Sponsored
by
$20,000+
In cash prizes, scholarships, and school grants.
🚀 Demo Day
Top team per track. 5-min pitch + 2-min Q&A. Cash +
scholarships + school grants.
1st Place$7,500($4k cash +
$2.5k scholarship + $1k school)
2nd Place$4,650($2.5k cash
+ $1.5k scholarship + $650 school)
3rd Place$2,750($1.25k cash
+ $1k scholarship + $500 school)
4th Place$1,850($750 cash +
$750 scholarship + $350 school)
5th Place$1,250($500 cash +
$500 scholarship + $250 school)
Cash & scholarships split among team members. Scholarships require attending KSU & selecting ACCBE major/minor. School grants go directly to the school.
📊 Innovation Gallery
Poster presentations. 1-on-1 with judges.
1st Place$1,250
2nd Place$750
3rd Place$250
🧠 Knowledge Track
20-30 min financial literacy test. Open to all.
1st Place$250
2nd Place$150
3rd Place$100
Prepare to Win
Resources & Scoring
How Projects Are Scored
100 pts total · Each criterion 1-5Problem
25 pts
Solution
25 pts
Presentation
25 pts
Impact
25 pts
The Judges
Who's watching.
Demo Day Judges
Cass Lacey
Early Talent Program Mgr
Valmark
Mia Fawls
Associate Financial Planner
Valmark
Drew Mallott
SVP, Platform Strategy
Bank of America
Peyton Zachrich
Owner, Evolve Egress
Entrepreneur & Real Estate Investor
Ryan Bayonnet, CFP®
Founder
Hyland Wealth Management
Ashley Wasielewski
VP, Community Relations
Bank of America
Steven Dennis, PhD
Professor of Finance
Kent State University
Poster Presentation Judges
Davonta Milbry
Outreach Coordinator
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Bradley Smith
KSU Alumnus
Class of '25
Nick Widmer
KSU Senior
Computer Science
Anthony Dalayanis
KSU Senior
Business
Frank Slemc
Retired Finance Professional
Part-time Real Estate Agent
Past Champions
They broke through.
2025
1st Place🥇
Dylan Quinones
Polaris Career Center
2nd Place🥈
Rogan Allen
Stow-Munroe Falls High
3rd Place🥉
Katherine Rosner
Chagrin Falls High School
2024
1st Place🥇
Brianna Johnson
Stow-Munroe Falls High
2nd Place🥈
Samuel Denys
Westlake High School
3rd Place🥉
Cullen Rooney
Normandy High School
×
In Collaboration With Kent State University
FinMango's
mission of financial health equity meets KSU's commitment to transformative education and community
impact.
2026 Sponsors
Made possible by.
💎 Platinum Sponsor
$25,000 Commitment
🥈 Silver Sponsor
$2,500 Commitment
🥈 Silver Sponsor
Bob Gillingham
Executive Board Member & Lead Instructor
$2,500 Commitment
Ready to Break
Some Barriers?
The 2026 competition has wrapped. Applications for 2027 open soon.
Questions? competition@finmango.org