Champlain Weekend Marketplace Highlights Entrepreneurial Spirit

Did you know that Champlain alumni have launched over 1,000 businesses throughout Vermont? Champlain is proud of the entrepreneurial spirit of our students, alumni, and faculty.     

To celebrate these business owners, we launched the Champlain Weekend Marketplace in 2023, and are excited to announce its return! Registration is now open for 2024 vendors, and we can’t wait to welcome our creative and innovative business owners to campus. Champlain Weekend is our annual alumni and family weekend; save the date for October 25-27, 2024!

Last year, 15 vendors including current Champlain students, alumni, faculty, and staff, gathered to sell their wares, including jewelry, crochet items, prints, graphics, glasswork, and other handmade goods. The event was a chance to celebrate small businesses within the Champlain community, such as Pure Energy Apothecary, a family run, plant-based, natural body care and aromatherapy shop run by mother-daughter team, Dawn Lancaster ’89 and Sarah Lancaster ’22, both Stiller School of Business alums. Another alumni-owned business was Carol’s Sunshine Cards, run by Carol Ann Wooster ’94, who turns her photography into prints, cards, magnets, stickers, and more.

Champlain College Online alum Shannon Blake ’13, who earned his graduate degree in Digital Forensics, was there to spread the word about his non-profit organization Warriors Soar, which he founded to help wounded veterans heal and reintegrate. Likewise, alums Ongyel Sherpa ’05 and Jessica Sherpa ’05, were also there to represent US Sherpa, an outdoor lifestyle brand they own and run featuring high-quality products made in Nepal. 

Current students also took advantage of the opportunity to put their business chops to work. Business Administration student Grace Berry ’27, who runs Grace’s Creations, sold crochet goods such as plushies, jewelry, and magnets. Graphic Design & Visual Communication student Alisa Kokorovic ’26 showcased items from her handmade jewelry business, Alisa’s Signature Kreations. 

Applied Mathematics and Creative Media double major Ellie Newman ’25 and her friends Mariela Minino ’25, a Game Art major, and Maile Roberts ’25, a Graphic Design & Visual Communication major, held a pop-up called Peas in a Pod. All three are Creative Studio students who enjoy creating and making things. After learning about the marketplace on Champlain’s Instagram account, they decided to apply. Newman said, “We had never sold our art before, so we thought this would be a fun opportunity to try it out together.” They sold a variety of handmade crafts, including needle-felted creatures, paper flowers, crocheted stuffed animals, and mushroom trinket holders. 

Gearing up for the event, Newman and her friends spent a lot of time making items to sell, knowing more than 1,000 people would be on campus for the big weekend. After preparing a logo and making a big product spreadsheet, the Peas in a Pod were ready. “It went really well, and people were interested in our products,” Newman said. Minino even started needle felting during the event to restock items that sold out.

“Everyone was super excited to be there and see what others had made,” Newman said about the vendors, all of whom contributed to a unique sense of community at the event.

“I got to talk to people about their crafts and even purchased a couple of items,” said Professional Writing major Madeleine Minks ’24, including a small crochet corn from fellow Professional Writing student Hannah Ferris ’24, who runs Puddle Duck Goods and sells crochet plushies and clothes. Seeing the variety of art presented at the marketplace was the highlight of the event for Madeleine.  

The marketplace was a great way to showcase and celebrate the Champlain community and those who run their own businesses or have a side hustle. Meagan Downey ’16, who received her MBA from Champlain, started Shiki Wrap in 2020, a sustainable and eco-friendly business selling reusable gift wraps made from recycled plastic. Luna Stone Art is run by Montse Guerra-Solano ’19, who sells apparel, art, and jewelry.

The various majors and disciplines represented at the marketplace speaks to the strength of not only Champlain’s Stiller School of Business—the oldest business school in Vermont—but also to the college’s mindset that entrepreneurship has no boundaries. No matter the major, students and alumni are set to build, create, and innovate in new ways.

“The Marketplace gives students good exposure to see the businesses they could create on the side or turn into a career,” said Shaylea Scribner ’10, G’17 of the Office of Institutional Advancement, which runs Champlain Weekend. “It was a great way to bring our community together in a new way.”

Not a business owner but interested in attending Champlain Weekend? Guest registration will open up in late July/early August. Stay tuned to our website!