By Cole Hatcher/OWU
Think of it as an OWU Etsy. Ohio Wesleyan University’s new Student-Made OWU website just launched, enabling Bishops with small businesses to sell their products online to anyone, anywhere.
Student-Made OWU, part of the national Student-Made Program, debuted with products ranging from playing cards and paintings to crocheted creations and jewelry, and more.
The playing cards, created by Olivia Maldre ’29, feature Maldre’s hand-painted designs printed on casino-quality cardstock. In her Student-Made story, the Studio Art major shares: “My goal is to bring more joy, curiosity, and imagination into everyday life. I create products that encourage people to stay playful, explore their sense of wonder, and enjoy a little more whimsy. The world can never have enough of it.”
In addition to helping Ohio Wesleyan students create the online platform, the national Student-Made organization provides marketing and branding assistance and access to a supportive network of student-creators across the United States.
Student-Made OWU is operated on campus by six student-managers who are gaining hands-on e-commerce experience: Nassos Papasarafianos ’29, campus manager; Aj Jalloh ’27, community engagement manager; Nia Barjayta ’27, website manager; Stefaniia Minakova ’28, events and partnerships manager; Jera Hoy ’28, finance and strategy manager; and Morgan Langa ’29, marketing manager.
Hoy, an Accounting major and Entrepreneurship minor, also is helping her sister sell items on the Student-Made OWU site. Kateri Hoy ’29, an English (creative writing) major and Spanish minor, created Prettier Than Piercings, a line of handmade, invisible clip-on charm earrings for those who can’t or don’t wish to pierce their ears.
“We hope to spread confidence through our business and offer people a new method of self-expression outside of traditional earrings,” the Radnor, Ohio, siblings state.
Cliff Hurst, Ph.D., assistant professor of Economics & Business, is the faculty adviser for Student-Made OWU, and the initiative is supported financially by The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship.
Hurst says the value of being part of the national initiative is simple: “Student-Made creates learning about entrepreneurship by doing entrepreneurship.”
To learn more, visit the Student-Made OWU website, follow the initiative on Instagram at @studentmade_owu, or contact any of the campus managers.
Source: OWU Press Release; Photo: Ohio Wesleyan has joined the national Student-Made initiative, launching Student-Made OWU to help Bishop student-entrepreneurs sell their products online. Nearly 25 colleges are now part of Student-Made, created for higher education.
