Wofford is known to have a large number of students with initiative on campus, and this year it came in the form of student businesses. From selling clothing and jewelry to swim lessons, the Terriers are well-versed in business and organization startups.
This February, Zion Sampson ‘26 designed a non-profit organization to distribute dental products to low income residents of the Spartanburg community.
His organization, “Pre-Dent & Prevent Non-Profit,” encourages and supports dental care, one supply box at a time. According to Sampson, participants will “directly receive boxes full of products like toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and other dental care products that a hygienist would use to clean teeth”
Because the non-profit recently gained its first round of financial support, they have not yet distributed boxes, but they have six months worth of supplies.
“By fall, we’re planning to launch around 50-75 boxes and hope to find volunteers through the pre-dental society,” Sampson said.
Just before spring break he pitched his non-profit at the So-Con Entrepreneurship Championship, where he earned $4,000 to invest into his organization.
“I’m figuring out how to allocate my funds. I’ll be here all summer doing undergraduate research, but also working on this,” Sampson said. “Right now, I’m meeting with people in the career center, the launch program director and getting dates planned out.”
Inspired by the 130 hours he spent shadowing at a dentist’s office in high school, Sampson is passionate about beginning a career in the field.
“Being in the Wofford launch program was when I realized I wanted to start a non-profit. I’d like to keep it going even after I graduate from Wofford,” he said.
Carrie Metts ‘23 and Rachel Snyder-Mounts ‘23 use their creativity to positively impact the Wofford community. Metts has sold her artwork since high school, focusing primarily on clothing.
“In high school, I got really into selling it only doing commissions,” Metts said. “People would reach out to me for embroidery or painting denim jackets instead of commissions. Now I sell finished works. I saw other people online doing painted jackets so I started to sell them myself.”
Her work can be purchased through her Instagram, @carriemettsart.
Inspired by the time provided by the COVID-19 pandemic, Snyder-Mounts discovered a passion for creating. Her business sells clothing items, particularly to members of Greek life.
“Last year was my first event with it, in the Greek Week trunk show. (Currently,) I only sell it through Google Forms or Instagram, but my goal is to have an Etsy shop with it,”
Snyder-Mounts said. “I’ve started branching out into other things. It originally just started with the sweatshirts, but now I make scrunchies and press flowers.”
Snyder-Mounts meticulously stitches on the Greek letters at the customer’s request. Her pieces can be found at most sorority events and on her Instagram, @stitched_by_rachel.
Caroline Parker ‘26 runs a more athletic-oriented business. Since she was merely 15 years old, Parker has taught swim lessons to people from just 18 months in age to adults.
“For this summer, I have 35 swimming lessons a week. I mostly do one-on-one private lessons, but it just depends on preference,” Parker said.
Most of her clientele is based on referral. She sends her number out on Facebook and the Nextdoor app, as most of her demographic is parents of young children. This summer, Parker has an opportunity to teach lessons in the Hamptons.
“It could be a good side hustle, especially as I pay for college on my own,” Parker said.
It is no secret that Wofford students are ambitious on and off campus. Whether it’s in the water, a trunk show, an exhibition or a dentist office, the Terriers are sure to conquer and prevail, accomplishing great things.
