Student Entrepreneurs Showcased at Student Business Market
The road to creating a showcase for student entrepreneurs at Seton Hill started as students were coming back to school in the fall of 2024.
Director of Student Leadership & Involvement Evan Ditty and AJ Bove, Graduate Assistant for Student Leadership & Involvement, started to notice that many of the students were running their own businesses in addition to their studies.
After chatting with Lyzona Marshall, Assistant Professor of Business and Director of the Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities, they sensed there was an opportunity to showcase Seton Hill’s young entrepreneurs.
“It seemed like there were so many students doing creative and entrepreneurial work, sometimes without even realizing how valuable it was,” said Bove. “Whether it was a student designing clothes, creating art, reselling thrift finds or launching a business idea, we wanted to provide them an opportunity to be recognized and also to recognize the power of what they are doing – organizing their ideas to develop something that can have a positive impact on a customer.”
With assistance from Ditty, Marshall and Vice President for Student Affairs, Planning & Athletics Rosalie Carpenter, Bove pulled together the first Seton Hill Student Business Market in January.
The event was held in Cecilian Hall the week that classes resumed for the spring semester. Vendors included thrift clothing resellers, an independent clothing designer, student artists, a barber cutting hair live on stage, and a student in the early stages of a business idea gathering market research.
"The Student Business Market really made me feel more in tune with the community and gave me so much more inspiration to continue to get my business involved with the community here at Seton Hill," said sophomore Amarr Barrie, the owner of D.O.L.O., a clothing company that aspires to inspire change.
Even with the early semester date, students, faculty and staff, and a full night class stopped by during the 4 to 7 p.m. time slot.
Sophomore Tationna Pack, who was conducting market research, was amazed at how many people took the time to give her survey very thoughtful responses.
After the event, Bove received additional interest from other student entrepreneurs who were not part of the initial event asking about the next showcase. He feels like the event struck a chord with the Seton Hill community and is excited to keep showcasing student entrepreneurs in the future opportunities.
Later this semester, Bove has made arrangements to host more student business booths in Lowe Dining Hall during lunch in March and April. A pitch competition in conjunction with Greensburg’s Director of Planning and Development Alec Italiano and the City of Greensburg is also planned and will be open to all students on campus.
Director of Student Leadership & Involvement Evan Ditty and AJ Bove, Graduate Assistant for Student Leadership & Involvement, started to notice that many of the students were running their own businesses in addition to their studies.
After chatting with Lyzona Marshall, Assistant Professor of Business and Director of the Wukich Center for Entrepreneurial Opportunities, they sensed there was an opportunity to showcase Seton Hill’s young entrepreneurs.
“It seemed like there were so many students doing creative and entrepreneurial work, sometimes without even realizing how valuable it was,” said Bove. “Whether it was a student designing clothes, creating art, reselling thrift finds or launching a business idea, we wanted to provide them an opportunity to be recognized and also to recognize the power of what they are doing – organizing their ideas to develop something that can have a positive impact on a customer.”
With assistance from Ditty, Marshall and Vice President for Student Affairs, Planning & Athletics Rosalie Carpenter, Bove pulled together the first Seton Hill Student Business Market in January.
The event was held in Cecilian Hall the week that classes resumed for the spring semester. Vendors included thrift clothing resellers, an independent clothing designer, student artists, a barber cutting hair live on stage, and a student in the early stages of a business idea gathering market research.
"The Student Business Market really made me feel more in tune with the community and gave me so much more inspiration to continue to get my business involved with the community here at Seton Hill," said sophomore Amarr Barrie, the owner of D.O.L.O., a clothing company that aspires to inspire change.
Even with the early semester date, students, faculty and staff, and a full night class stopped by during the 4 to 7 p.m. time slot.
Sophomore Tationna Pack, who was conducting market research, was amazed at how many people took the time to give her survey very thoughtful responses.
After the event, Bove received additional interest from other student entrepreneurs who were not part of the initial event asking about the next showcase. He feels like the event struck a chord with the Seton Hill community and is excited to keep showcasing student entrepreneurs in the future opportunities.
Later this semester, Bove has made arrangements to host more student business booths in Lowe Dining Hall during lunch in March and April. A pitch competition in conjunction with Greensburg’s Director of Planning and Development Alec Italiano and the City of Greensburg is also planned and will be open to all students on campus.