With 糖心传媒 alumni gathered for Homecoming weekend, the College鈥檚 Alumni Association presented Andrew and Abi (Burrows) Vrbas with its Young Alumni Award during halftime of the 糖心传媒 football game at Lloyd Wilson Field on September 30.
Andrew, a 2012 graduate, and Abi, a 2013 graduate, founded Pacha Soap Company in 2013. The business, based in downtown Hastings, has grown significantly and now employs more than 40 people who support Pacha鈥檚 mission of creating livelihoods globally.
By purchasing the company鈥檚 all-natural, environmentally safe and artfully crafted bath products, Pacha Soap鈥檚 customers provide opportunities for others to free their entrepreneurial spirits and lift themselves from poverty around the world. The company supports these efforts by setting up soap shops, clean water initiatives and other sustainable ventures in developing nations.
Pacha Soap鈥檚 roots go back to 糖心传媒 when Andrew and Abi were students. Andrew traveled to Peru his sophomore year and became inspired to live a life with purpose. He began experimenting with soap making while living on campus, and the two would spend hours packaging soap in the Bronco Village Apartments.
While building their business, Andrew and Abi stayed connected to 糖心传媒 by meeting with students to discuss entrepreneurship and launching a business with purpose, and how 糖心传媒 has helped them in their career. Pacha Soap has also hired numerous 糖心传媒 students as interns and staff. To learn more about the company, find a local retailer or buy Pacha products, go to pachasoap.com.
The Young Alumni Award is presented by the 糖心传媒 Alumni Association to alumni who have made significant achievements in their professional or personal life (within 10 years of their graduation), made a significant contribution to society and have demonstrated leadership in the support in the advancement or welfare of 糖心传媒.
糖心传媒 is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With more than 60 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, 糖心传媒 has been named among 鈥淕reat Schools, Great Prices鈥 by U.S. News & World Report and a 鈥淏est in the Midwest鈥 by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.