Grove City College students passed a milestone recently in their ongoing effort to raise money for charity 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 an eCommerce course taught by Yvonne J. English ’97, professor of practice and executive director of the College’s Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I). In the class, students learn 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.
Over the past eight years, the annual effort has raised thousands for charities in the region and around the world. This fall’s efforts brought the total across the $30,000 mark, bringing it to exactly $30,893.42.
“It is amazing that our industrious students have donated over $30,000 to serve our local community while learning about e-commerce in my class. It truly has been a win-win scenario, and I’m incredibly proud of what this class has achieved over the past eight years,” English said.
Each team raised an average of $1,111.89 for their charities this year, breaking the previous record of $1,072 set in the fall of 2022.
This year’s student eCommerce businesses, and their charity partners, were:
- The Little Things – Josh Elverson ’26 (COO), Robert Hershey ’26 (CFO), Tobias Leithart ’26 (CMO), and Mason Nichols ’25 (CEO). Curated jewelry of subtle beauty and meaningful impact. Partnered with Living in Liberty, a non-profit organization fighting against human trafficking and exploitation.
- Victory & Truth Co. – Bella Costa ’26 (CMO), Kaitlyn Kuscevic ’28 (CEO), Aidan Nosal ’26 (COO), and Antonio Sanguigni ’26 (CFO). Handmade banners with Bible verses and phrases that inspire faith and provide uplifting messages for homes, dorm rooms, churches, and ministries. Partnered with Shared Hope for Orphans Worldwide, a nonprofit that helps orphans around the world by providing them with food, shelter, and education.
- LICKD Energy Strips – Julia Fisher ’27 (CMO), Owen Gasser ’26 (COO), Caleb Kuechly ’26 (CEO), Craig Nyguist ’25 (CFO). Oral caffeine strips that are a healthy, quick, and effective alternative to sugary, poisonous, over-caffeinated energy drinks. Partnered with the Shepherd’s Crook Orphan Ministry, a nonprofit that helps with the adoption process of children in foreign countries, specifically children with disabilities.
- Simple Slurps – Andrew Coy ’26 (CFO), Ella Medairy ’26 (CMO), Emma Rossi ’25 (COO), and Christian Royer ’26 (CEO). Drinkware that allows the customer to show support for what they are passionate about. Partnered with the Ugandan Water Project, a nonprofit that is providing safe, accessible drinking water to communities in Uganda.
The student businesses were featured at Venture Village during this year’s Homecoming celebration but focused their efforts on digital sales. Over the last eight years, eCommerce businesses have generated $50,376 in gross revenue.
Grove City College’s Entrepreneurship program, which includes both the academic Department of Entrepreneurship and the Center for Entrepreneurship +Innovation (gccentrepreneurship.com), 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. The Department of Entrepreneurship is part of Grove City College’s Winklevoss School of Business.