‘Innovators Challenge’ draws a record 430 students to watch leaders tackle credit union issues

Claremont, CA (July 21, 2026) |

Western Credit Union Management School (WCMS) proudly hosted its annual WCMS Innovators Challenge on July 20 during the school’s 66th annual session. This dynamic event is the latest iteration of the school’s decades-long dedication to fostering groundbreaking leadership within the credit union movement.

Since its inception in 2021, this immersive, full-day event has served as a pivotal capstone of the school’s rigorous two-week credit union leadership curriculum. It has become an indispensable cornerstone of professional development for credit union executives and managers across the Western United States, equipping them with the tools and mindset necessary to drive change in today’s evolving financial landscape.

“This year’s Innovators Challenge topic asked students to see their credit union from the eyes of their members, and to create a new product or service that would help their credit union deliver,” said Dr. Michael Steinberger, President and Dean of WCMS. “Our WCMS leaders developed practical, member-centric solutions designed to protect credit union members and build lasting trust. Each year, we look forward to students creating unique solutions they can use to benefit their credit union’s members. This year’s challenge empowered leaders to pair strategy with our industry’s core mission of serving credit union members safely and effectively.”

Immersing Students in Transformative Principles

In alignment with school’s unwavering commitment to the continuous refinement of its curriculum and support of the credit union movement, the school’s WCMS Innovators Challenge embodies a 66-year-long philosophy of empowering leaders to ascend to new heights in their credit union careers. By immersing students in the breadth and depth of industry thought leadership and instilling transformative principles, WCMS consistently cultivates a robust network of alumni who lead their organizations to sustained success.

This year’s Innovators Challenge was no exception. The collaborative spirit and riveting experience shared across three distinct class cohorts of credit union leaders proved not just inspiring, but absolutely essential. The skills forged among students throughout the day’s challenge will undoubtedly fuel a multitude of new innovative endeavors, enabling them to translate their education into tangible results for their credit unions, their members, and the entire industry.

Students kicked off the day with insightful morning class sessions, then transitioned into intensive afternoon group work, developing innovative solutions to the year’s pressing challenge problem. In Round 1, all student groups presented their solutions to a panel of expert innovation coaches and their peers, who then voted on the top proposals. The excitement culminated in the final Frog Tank Finale, where the top teams pitched their refined ideas to the entire three-year WCMS student body — totaling 430 individuals, WCMS’s largest student body in the history of the school — and the 10 distinguished innovation coaches. Another round of voting ensued, and ultimately, this year’s champion was crowned.

The top prize for the Innovators Challenge is the Diana Dykstra Prize for Credit Union Innovation. The prize name recognizes WCMS’s former President Diana Dykstra’s profound impact on the school and the entire credit union movement. One day, perhaps a winner of this prize will follow in Dykstra’s footsteps and earn a patent for their innovation, and all participants of the challenge will hopefully follow Dykstra’s advice to “look for a problem, and don’t be afraid to fail fast” in seeking a solution.

The innovation coaches for the 2026 challenge were senior leaders from key innovation leaders in the credit union industry, including representatives from Filene Research Institute, TruStage, Origence, Velera, California’s and Nevada’s Credit Unions, and Utah’s Credit Unions. These coaches dedicated their time to each group, providing invaluable mentorship and constructive feedback aimed at refining the groups’ ideas, enhancing their skills as innovative leaders, and perfecting their delivery. The coaches’ guidance was instrumental in preparing students to confidently pitch and implement new, impactful ideas back home at their own credit unions.

Feedback, Knockout, and Frog Tank Finale

The day was a whirlwind of focused activity. Students engaged in dynamic classroom instruction, followed by intense brainstorming and solution development sessions, all under the expert guidance of their coaches.

It culminated in the electrifying Frog Tank Finale, where the top teams presented their polished solutions to their peers and the esteemed panel of innovation coaches. The comprehensive day’s experience included:

• Exposure to innovation strategy frameworks taught by Filene Research Institute/WCMS faculty members.
• Engaging networking and ideation sessions with year-one, two, and three classmates.
• Dedicated class team-time for intensive Innovators Challenge collaboration and pitch development.
• A collaborative dinner and reception with year-one, two, and three classmates, fostering further networking and brainstorming.
• Three rigorous Innovators Challenge rounds designed to decide the Frog Tank Champions and provide students feedback on more effectively pitching and implementing innovative ideas within their respective credit unions.

‘More Than Just a Competition’

To guarantee the Innovators Challenge consistently embodies the school’s legacy of educational excellence, WCMS maintained a robust administrative structure while providing direct assistance to year-one, year-two, and year-three credit union leaders/students throughout their transformative “head and heart” journey. This dedication — manifested annually in the Innovators Challenge and other enriching on-campus activities — has solidified the school’s position as one of the largest nationally recognized organizations in the credit union movement, a testament to its transformative, relevant, and mission-driven approach to credit union leadership development.

“More than just a competition, the WCMS Innovators Challenge reminds every WCMS student of their potential and responsibility to help solve the most pressing issues facing credit unions today,” Steinberger said. “By fostering critical thinking, strategy, collaboration, and a willingness to embrace calculated risks, WCMS consistently strengthens the skills of our students to be transformative leaders for their credit unions. Ultimately, we define the school’s success by every student feeling more confident and ready to drive innovation within their own credit union upon their return.”