Students raise more than $5K for charities through class

Grove City College students raised more than $5,000 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 Professor Yvonne J. English ’97, 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.

“It is a special experience for the students to be able to serve our community as they are actively learning about e-commerce. I’m proud of the work that they’ve done inside and outside of the classroom,” English said.

In all, five student businesses raised $5,106.09 for charities selected by the teams. It was the highest total raised by eCommerce students in the last eight years. The teams included:

• Next Era Apparel – Isaac Lipton '26 (COO), Keifer Lengacher '25 (CDO), Caroline Marshall '25 (CMO), Luke Owen '24 (CEO), Jack Henne '25 (CFO). Offering fashion with a purpose, Next Era sells high quality apparel to support education and empower change. Partnered with Teach Her, an organization dedicated to making quality education accessible to every child.
• Cups of Courage – Lauren Williams '25 (CFO), Zach Warrick '26 (CEO), Arami Hillebrand '25 (CMO), Julia Bauer '25 (COO). With the tagline “Spreading courage one cup at a time,” the business sells trendy glass cups with handcrafted designs. Partnered with Light of Life Rescue Missions--provides food, shelter, and hope to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction.
• Steeped in Love – Karis Mall '25 (CEO), Eleni Kasianides '26 (COO), Isabella Baginski '25 (CMO), Jonathan French '25 (CFO). Selling different high-quality teas, Steeped in Love seeks to promote the culture, customs, community, and love that tea ceremonies bring. Partnered with Mosaic Community Development Center, a place of safety and growth for Jeannette (Pa.) School District students.
• Covenant Clay – Molly Gleason '25 (CEO), Aliyah Shelatz '25 (COO), Abby Mason '25 (CMO), Elliott Stratton '24 (CFO). Covenant Clay crafts inspirational “Jewelry with a Mission!” Partnered with Harvest Bridge, which collaborates with missionaries in South Asia to empower communities through education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Radiate Truth – Alex Anderson '26 (CEO), Cayden Testa '26 (CFO), Ella Douglass '26 (CMO), Brendan Stull '26 (COO). A Christian hat company that encourages customers to "Share the Gospel through what you wear!" Partnered with Family Guidance, which provides mentor relationships and camping experiences that spark faith in Jesus Christ.

The student businesses were featured at Venture Village (during last year’s Homecoming celebration), a tent that showcases student and alumni businesses.

Over the last eight classes, eCommerce businesses have generated $45,106.25 in revenue with $26,445.86 going to local charities.

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. The Department of Entrepreneurship is part of Grove City College’s School of Business.

For more, visit gccentrepreneurship.com.

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