College is a place where students pursue careers through studies and education. However, some students also use college as an opportunity to start businesses of their own.
The Princeton Review ranks Rowan University’s undergraduate entrepreneurship in the top 50 in the nation. And through the Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE), whether they are entrepreneurship majors or not, students can use the many resources the center offers.
Raegan Fernandez, a freshman with a dual major in art and education, and owner of Moonlit Market US, sells homemade jewelry from seashells, vintage jewelry, and other metals. According to Fernandez, a lot of artists create, but few have the entrepreneurship mindset that got her a spot at the Rowan Roots Market in November 2025.
“But I think, like, I don’t know. Like, in my department, obviously, there are a lot of people that create stuff, there’s not a lot of people with that same entrepreneurship mindset,” said Fernandez. “So that’s a little bit different, as opposed to like being a business major.”
Fernandez works for herself, selling on Etsy, at the Surf Mall in Ocean City, N.J., craft shows, and band venues in Glassboro. Because of this, Fernandez is able to make jewelry when she wants, removing stress and the demand that comes with other businesses.
To Fernandez, jewelry is a way for her to express herself and give joy to others.
“Part of the reason I started making, like, jewelry is because I struggled with self-confidence and I was like, I need something to express myself,” said Fernandez. “Joy was a big thing for me, obviously. So I think being able to give that to other people, like through these, like very specific, design pieces, that’s very rewarding for me.”
Like Fernandez, Braeden Twomey, a fifth-year senior exercise science major and co-founder of Plus Pouch, is not an entrepreneurship major, but uses the RCIE’s resources and guidance.
Plus Pouch is an oral electrolyte pouch, which Twomey had the idea to make after his sister, who has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), was not satisfied with other forms of obtaining electrolytes. POTS is a chronic disorder that can raise your heart rate, and an increased intake of water and electrolytes can help.
Because of the many uses of electrolytes, Twomey said deciding which use of the product to market was difficult.
“In entrepreneurship, we’re supposed to find a problem and then solve it,” Twomey said. “We found a solution and then tried to figure out what problem we could solve with the solution because we knew there was something there.”
Despite this, Twomey and his co-founders, Ryan Wilkinson, a senior exercise science major, and Zac Carcanague, a senior economics major, decided to use the niche market of POTS to advertise their product, while still exploring athletic and other uses.
“I don’t think there’s anyone else that’s going to go after POTS specifically, just because it’s such a niche thing,” said Twomey. “It’s more so a fear of someone like capturing the athletic market before we’re able to capture both.”
Plus Pouch launches in the summer, but pre-orders are available on their website.
Other students like Giada DeVito, a sophomore entrepreneurship major, are part of the entrepreneurship program. DeVito is the owner of Simply Serene Scents, a solo-owned natural candle company.
“I offer completely non-toxic candles, free of phthalates and paraffins, so they’re free from all the toxic chemicals that you see in Bath and Body Works candles and Yankee candles,” said DeVito.
DeVito started Simply Serene Scents in her senior year of high school after getting migraines from the strong scents of certain candles. Her candles are made with soy wax, which holds less scent, which, according to DeVito, prevents migraines.
DeVito stopped selling candles when she started college; however, after talking to someone at Mentor Monday, she applied and was accepted to sell her candles at the Rowan Roots Market.
Like Twomey, DeVito also had a hard time marketing her candles.
“Marketing a candle is so difficult. Because, like, no one just wants it to be like, oh, that’s a cool looking candle, I’m gonna buy it,” said DeVito.
Along with Simply Serene Scents, DeVito started an ocean-based natural skin-care company called Ocean Glow.
While balancing school, work, and her two businesses, DeVito struggles with stress, yet has found people who support her.
“It really helps having people around you that support you,” said DeVito. “That’s one of the most important things I would say. As someone that struggles with stress, I need people to help me.”
While running a business is not for everyone, students like Fernandez, Twomey, and DeVito find enjoyment in working for themselves.
“I’m going to work 100 times harder for myself than I will if you tell me what to do,” said Twomey.
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