Posted: October 15, 2018

Recent PSU grad Callie Rojewski — who started her first business as a student — tells her story at an Ag Springboard Open House Oct. 22, 5-6:30, 6 Armsby.

Callie Rojewski, founder of Callie & Co., is a brand and business growth strategist who started her first graphic design business while studying advertising, business and entrepreneurship at Penn State.

She discovered that small business owners and startups face common challenges in reaching and communicating their offerings to their target audiences. This realization, plus Rojewski's passion for empowering women through entrepreneurship and innovation, inspired her to create "no-fluff" resources for entrepreneurs and a supportive community to help them keep going.

She'll tell her story Monday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. in 6 Armsby.

Watch Callie's video on the entrepreneurial mindset and how she figured out how to build a career from what she loves.

Students can meet Rojewski, hear her story, ask questions -- and learn how entrepreneurship can prepare them for a bright future during the open house, 5-6:30 p.m.

Combined Ag Spring & MIH logos for email, from 2017, designed by Callie Rojewski.

As a Penn State student, Rojewski was a champion for entrepreneurship and supported many entrepreneurship initiatives at Penn State, including the E&I Program, at the College of Agricultural Sciences.

She designed the graphics for two big E&I initiatives: the Ag Springboard business pitch contest and for the Make It Happen student outreach campaign.

As Ag Springboard 2019 approaches, ag sciences students will see more of Rojewski's creations.

At Ag Springboard, student teams pitch their business and non-profit concepts to win the $7,500 Ag Springboard grand prize to "Make It Happen."

Competing helps students to learn to pitch their ideas -- an essential skill that helps students in any future career.

Ag Springboard deadlines:

• Form a team by Feb. 15

• Submit team video pitch by March 15

• Finalist notification by March 22

• Finalist teams present live to judges, and winners will be announced at an awards banquet April 3

Students can start by brainstorming ideas for a new business or nonprofit to pitch, and looking for teammates.

Questions? Email Dr. Mark Gagnon, mag199@psu.edu or message E&I on Facebook: @makeithappenpennstate or @psuaginnovation.