Courtesy photo Leiona Deyo, an 8th grader at Manistique Middle & High School and participant in the Learn it. Plan it. Pitch it. (LiPiPi) program, shows off the Northern Lights Plaid Jersey she designed for Tour da Yoop riders who have completed the ride four times.

MANISTIQUE — Leiona Deyo, an 8th grader at Manistique Middle & High School and

participant in the Learn it. Plan it. Pitch it. (LiPiPi) program, recently turned a classroom opportunity into a professional design project. She impressed Michigan entrepreneur and Tour da Yoop, Eh founder, James Studinger, with her creativity, professionalism, and design talent. Deyo was recognized by Studinger for her exceptional work in designing the new Northern Lights Plaid Jersey.

Studinger, a Manistique High School alumnus, has long supported initiatives that enhance educational opportunities for Manistique students. As a judge for the LiPiPi Pitch It event, he witnessed firsthand the potential of local youth — and quickly tapped into that talent by offering Deyo a real-world design challenge following the event.

He commissioned Deyo to design a jersey that had previously stumped several professional designers. The task: create a meaningful jersey that symbolizes a major milestone for Tour da Yoop riders, inspired by the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — specifically the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights Plaid Jersey, now brought to life through Deyo’s design, will be awarded to cyclists who complete the tour four times, totaling 4,800 miles — a true badge of dedication and endurance.

“Leiona nailed it,” said Studinger. “Her eye for detail, professionalism, and overall talent blew me away. The final product required just a few tweaks–it was exactly what we needed. She delivered exactly what I was looking for, and then some.”

Reflecting on the experience, Deyo said, “He was one of the judges, and after the event, he came up to me and asked if I could design a jersey for him. I thought that was really cool. He was wonderful to work with. He told me the colors he wanted, and I had to make a few changes along the way.”

This year marked Deyo’s second time participating in the LiPiPi program. In her first year, she initially planned to pitch a bakery but ultimately pivoted to a tattoo business, as she has strong design skills. This year, she shifted to designing skating costumes.

“Last year, after a few weeks of planning, I realized I didn’t want to do the bakery anymore. I wouldn’t have done well in the pitch contest with that, so I’m really glad I chose tattoos instead. This year, I decided to switch it up and went with designing skating costumes,” she said. “We also used new tools like the Numbers app for budgeting and the iPad Sketchbook app for design work. I’ve gotten so much better at both.”

MSU Extension 4-H Coordinator and Limestone FCU Education

Coordinator Jill Connin reflected on Deyo’s progress.

“Leiona embodies exactly what we envisioned with Learn It. Plan It. Pitch It. — growing from not knowing the difference between income and expenses to delivering a real product to a paying customer. This is what entrepreneurship experiences are all about, and how lucky that Manistique students can experience it as teens,” said Connin.

Jennifer Watson, CEO of Limestone Financial Credit Union, added to Connin’s praise of Deyo.

“Leiona’s success is a powerful example of how LiPiPi prepares students to thrive beyond the classroom. It’s not just about business plans — it’s about unlocking potential, building confidence, and making connections that can change lives.”

Dr. Kristina Hansen, Superintendent of Manistique Area Schools, also praised Deyo’s achievement.

“Leiona is an extremely talented artist with an eye for color and design. Her enthusiasm for LiPiPi has been evident over the past two years. She is right on the precipice of finding just the right entrepreneurial niche for her talents. When Mr. Studinger offered Leiona the opportunity to design the jersey, I was incredibly happy for her and am looking forward to seeing her design. Congratulations to Leiona on a job well-done!”

LiPiPi is an entrepreneurial initiative developed by Limestone Financial Credit Union and Upward Community Youth and delivered to students through a

partnership with MSU Extension. Modeled after NBC’s hit show Shark Tank, the program engages middle and high school students in a series of workshops that guide them through creating a product or service, developing a business plan, and pitching their ideas to a panel of judges made up of community leaders and business owners. The program cultivates real-world skills in marketing, business planning, and public speaking, helping them build critical life and leadership skills.