By Jenah Schwabel

Stephanie Cartonia began at Hilbert in the fall of 2016 as a sophomore transfer student. Right away, she said, she wanted to get involved in an activity that could help make a difference in peoples’ lives.

She learned about the Love Your Melon Campus Crew program, and decided that’s what she wanted to bring here to Hilbert.

“I have always loved the mission and the story of Love Your Melon even before I came to Hilbert.  I love helping and volunteering with children and giving back.  I bought a LYM hat to support them and the cause,” Cartonia said.

Love Your Melon is a trendy beanie company helping children fight pediatric cancer.  The brand was created by two college students from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.  What started out as a college entrepreneurial project quickly became much more.  Their starting mission was to give half of their profits to pediatric cancer charities such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, and many others.  The students set up a Love Your Melon lemonade stand with a box full of beanies on their campus.  Within two days they sold out.  Soon, Love Your Melon’s name spread across the country and many people became supporters.

These comfortable beanies are starting to be seen everywhere, as people love the story behind them.  The beanie is sold in many different styles and colors.  They are made of 100% cotton and designed to be soft enough for the sensitive skin of those undergoing cancer treatments.  The company has donated over $2.5 million to cancer research and have seen a 600 percent growth year to year since its founding in 2012.  A company co-founder said in an interview with the Twin Cities Pioneer Press that part of Love Your Melon’s success was that it has been embraced by professional athletes and musicians, whose support helps raise awareness of their brand.

The Love Your Melon Campus Crew Program is responsible for promoting the beanies at their campuses and in their local communities.  It is designed for students that are determined to improve the lives of children battling cancer, and raise awareness.  The program enlists over 12,000 college students across the U.S.  As the crew completes different challenges new credit levels will be opened and the crew can earn exclusive gear, as well as visiting local pediatric cancer patients to donate hats.

If you want to get involved in the new Hilbert LYM crew, you should contact Stephanie Cartonia.  After being accepted by the company to start a campus crew here, she is now in the final stages of Hilbert making this an official club for our campus.  The club is expected to be up and running within the next month.