A Marmaton Valley senior’s idea to address gaps in financial literacy has earned her top honors in an entrepreneurship competition.
Sophia Heim earned first place at the 3rd Annual Allen County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge held March 5 at Allen Community College. Her project, a financial literacy initiative called “Beyond the Gavel,” stood out for its long-term vision.
“I essentially saw a need within my community,” Heim said. “Because that’s basically what every business starts with, is a need.”
That need, she explained, centers on a gap she’s seen firsthand — financial literacy among young people. “I’ve seen kids struggle when it comes to money management,” Heim said. “We’re taught personal finance in school, but sadly that’s only half a semester.”
Heim credits her own experience at Marmaton Valley for giving her a strong foundation, particularly under the guidance of her personal finance teacher.
“Mrs. (Kelci) Botts does an amazing job,” she said. “But while talking with some of my cousins who go to bigger schools, they don’t have that amazing, strong teacher like I do here.”
Those conversations led her to the concept of Beyond the Gavel, a platform focused on helping young people better understand money management.
THE PROJECT targets individuals ages 14 to 25 and will offer a free blog and podcast designed to make financial concepts more accessible. Heim is currently developing both with a goal of launching by mid-May.
In addition to financial literacy, the platform will also aim to provide legal awareness for young people, helping them better understand legal topics that may impact them as they enter adulthood.
Rather than focusing on immediate profits, Heim said the project is something she sees as a long-term investment.
“I feel like it’s going to be more of a passion project,” she said, noting that blogs and podcasts often take years to generate revenue.
As the youngest of three siblings, Heim said she learned early on the value of using what she already had and saving money for what she wanted. From birthday money to collecting recyclable cans, she developed habits that shaped her understanding of financial responsibility.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand Beyond the Gavel by bringing in guests with professional experience, “People who know a lot about financial literacy,” she said.
The idea’s impact impressed judges at the county competition, where students pitched business plans and participated in a tradeshow-style evaluation.
“It felt really good,” Heim said. “I was very excited, obviously, that I won.”
She noted that presenting a concept-based idea rather than a physical product came with challenges, but said preparation played a key role.
