Grove City College students raised more than $3,400 for area charities as part of an Entrepreneurship class that teaches students how to create, market and sell products online.
The donations are the proceeds of businesses that students started in the eCommerce course taught by Yvonne J. English ’97, professor and executive director of the College’s Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I). Students learned about the essential components of a successful online enterprise, in part, through working in teams to design and operate their own digital businesses during the semester.
“Just like all entrepreneurs and businesses in this moment in time, the students faced many challenges as they navigated the economic landscape due to the pandemic,” English said. “They actively learned what it is like to have a business during unpredictable times and how to be flexible and pivot. The fact that they could do some good in our community while they were learning these important lessons is a blessing to all involved.”
In all, the students raised $3,447.75 for four good causes they partnered up with:
- The Pittsburgh Project received $1,161.31 from Dane Designs – Liv Nitzsche ‘22, Michael Crowley ’25, and Erin Venus ’25. They sold modern, unique prints intentionally designed for Pennsylvania natives.
- Summer’s Best Two Weeks received $1,225.48 from Geodesy— Shaylin Duren ’22, Todd Hangliter ’24, Rachel Goetz ’24, and Caleb Warrick ’24. They sold custom designed stamped metal bracelets.
- Family House, Pittsburgh, received $580.29 from Love Leather Co. — Joe Gray ’23, Gavin Wilson ’24, Aly Mapes ’24, and Nate Hamel ’24. They sold high quality leather keychains.
- Veterans Leadership Program received $480.67 from Hume — Luke Gilligan ’24, Liz Hasse ’24, and Mark Wilhelm ’23. They offered durable paracord products created from eco-friendly materials from veteran-owned companies.
The student businesses were featured at Venture Village at this year’s Homecoming celebration. The Entrepreneurship pop-up shop, which also highlighted alumni businesses, augmented the teams’ online sales.
Over the last five years, eCommerce class businesses have generated $32,126 in total revenue and $17,059 in donations to charity.
Grove City College’s Entrepreneurship program, which includes both the academic Department of Entrepreneurship and the Center for E+I, which serves students of all majors, is recognized as a national model for other colleges and universities by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. For more, visit gccentrepreneurship.com.