Baldwin High School student launches her own sewing business
Brianna Rodgers, a junior at Baldwin High School, has had 48 surgeries since she was born with spina bifida.
But that hasn’t stopped the 17-year-old from taking part in competitive dance, competitive cheer (and sideline cheer), adaptive color guard, Unified Bocce and Mini-THON, an offshoot of Penn State University’s THON. Instead of dancing, high school students raise money to fight pediatric cancer in a 12-hour, no-sitting event.
Now Brianna, who uses a power wheelchair, is also a business owner.
She launched Bee’s Boutique by Brianna after her sewing teacher, Virginia Pfatteicher, introduced Brianna to an adaptive sewing machine.While most sewing machines work with foot pedals, this one has buttons that can be operated by hand.
So, like everything else that Brianna does, she made the most of the opportunity.
“I love crafting and making customized gifts. I also enjoy the fact that I can make my own money while doing something I enjoy,”for she said.
Items for sale on the Facebook page include tote bags, specialty water bottles and dog bandanas. That last item was inspired by the family’s dogs.
“It’s just something that Brianna thought of,” said her mother, Michelle Rodgers. “We had two dogs and she wanted to make them bandanas for the holidays and other occasions.”
With the addition of Brianna’s service dog, Sterling, thefamily now has three models her colorful bandanas.
Eric Jankoski, a special education teacher at Baldwin High School, is not surprised by Brianna’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“She has always been an inspiration and a true model of how to persevere in the face of difficulties,” he said.
“She never lets anyone tell her she can’t find a way to do something.”
Jankoski also works with Brianna on many different projects, including the school coffee shop, The Baldwin Bean. Her mother says she has so many interests that it’s hard to predict where she’ll shine next.
“She loves fashion, she loves coffee and shopping, so in the future, that may mean doing something in retail,” said Rodgers.
“She has always had an eye for trendy fashion, so I wasn’t at all surprised that she started her own boutique,” said Jankoski, her teacher.
“She is just a genuinely sweet person who is caring and fun and considerate.”