By Erin Timmerman
Two undergraduate students have been named the 2024-25 Vandervarro Scholars by the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
This year’s recipients, Gavin Green (Broad College of Business, ’26) and Linda Komis (College of Engineering, ‘26) are recognized for their academic excellence, innovative mindset and drive for success as founders of startups participating in the Burgess Institute’s Launch program.
Established in 2022 by Alexandra Clark ‘10 and Kyle Welch ‘09, the Vandervarro Student Scholarship recognizes exemplary student venturers focusing on startups within the food, agricultural, and hospitality industries at Michigan State University.
As accomplished food entrepreneurs, launching successful companies at a relatively young age; Clark is the founder & president of Bon Bon Bon, the world-renowned chocolate business started in Hamtramck and has since expanded to multiple other locations and Welch is co-founder of Chicago Scoops, a franchise group owning and operating Cold Stone Creameries.
The Foundation of the Entrepreneurial Spirit
For Green, his entrepreneurial influence was driven by the people around him growing up. Throughout his upbringing, he worked for his parents, who owned their own companies, and was exposed to the rewards of being an entrepreneur. Green naturally knew he wanted to pursue becoming an entrepreneur himself.
“It’s the freedom I love. You have the freedom and flexibility to choose the direction you want your business to go in,” Green said.
As co-owner of Bros 'n Dough, a company specializing in savory and sweet stuffed bagels, Green sees entrepreneurship as a means to be with his family, giving him the unique opportunity to work with them daily on excelling a company they all founded and believe in together.
A Drive for New Opportunities
Komis took her first step in creating her venture by becoming a campus manager at Student-Made Michigan State through the Burgess Institute, shortly after joining the minor. The position expanded her network to include like-minded creators who were growing and starting their ventures.
“Realizing the full potential of what Student-Made had to offer, I decided to step into a creator role,” Komis said.
Her venture, TropicalPillow LLC, emerged from her willingness to take risks and explore new possibilities. It began when a fellow student, Lia Moore, proposed turning an innovative product idea into a business. Komis jumped on this opportunity, working diligently to integrate the new venture into the Burgess Launch Program.
Guided by her entrepreneurial spirit, Komis successfully joined the Launch Program and has since grown TropicalPillow LLC, securing trademarks and patents and hiring employees and interns. Through this journey, Komis has learned to recognize opportunities, take calculated risks, and pursue innovative ideas that drive personal growth and are at the core of the entrepreneurial mindset.
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Thinking
Entrepreneurship extends beyond simply running a business; it embodies a mindset. Both Green and Komis have experienced the advantages of cultivating and applying this entrepreneurial mindset firsthand.
For Komis, this means creating her path into the unknown — customized to her many interests and her constant thirst for learning. Balancing the demands of both academics and her business, she steps into her role as an entrepreneur each day, with her ventures reflecting her capabilities and success.
Green emphasizes that the entrepreneurial mindset extends beyond business, touching every aspect of life, including personal relationships and decision-making.
“Working alongside my brother and mother in our family-owned company is an opportunity I cherish,” Green said. “We may have our disagreements, but it’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. The freedom and flexibility that come with entrepreneurship can be both thrilling and daunting, but it allows me to shape my path and adapt as needed.”
A Community for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Both Green and Komis's journeys took a pivotal turn when they became involved with the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Before taking on her role as a Student-Made manager, Komis discovered the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor within the Burgess Institute. She initially thought the program would just give her a 'taste' of business, but she soon found herself fully engrossed in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“After taking an ESHP course and hearing about the Launch Program, I decided right then and there that I wanted to start my own venture and become a founder,” Komis said.
For Green, the Burgess Institute’s determination to provide endless possibilities for individuals has had a meaningful impact on his entrepreneurship journey saying, “The mentors I have met like Kyle Welch, Paul Jaques, and one of my professors – Desiree Melfi Bozzo, have been great resources to rely on.” Green also gives praise to the Burgess community as a whole adding, “other students with passions and companies have been great to get to know.”
It’s Just the Beginning
The Vandervarro Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship empowers Green and Komis to continue their entrepreneurial journeys.
For Komis, receiving the Vandervarro Scholarship reinforces her confidence that she is on the right path as an entrepreneur and with her venture.
“As an entrepreneur, there is always some doubt about whether you are on the right track, but having others believe in your product and help it go one step further clears up all worry and doubt,” she said.
Her next step is to make advancements with a manufacturer to have a product produced and secured. In the production of her product, she is especially focused on establishing merchandise that TropicalPillow LLC would be proud to present.
Green’s vision is primarily focused on what the future of the company will do for his family. Beyond that, Bros 'n Dough hopes to have distribution in all 50 states and to sign an agreement with chain stores like Kroger. Another priority for the future is streamlining and expanding the production process by finding a co-packer or starting their own manufacturing facility.
Green and Komis’s stories serve to inspire all aspiring entrepreneurs at Michigan State University — a reminder that dreams can turn into reality with the right mindset and community.