LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida Gulf Coast University is helping students turn their passion into a product. One student, Alexandria Quillen, has created a company called Sunny Q Sunscreen. Through her 100% natural product, Quillen is saving not only the environment, but also our skin.
“You don’t have to worry about all these chemicals entering your body,” said Alexandria Quillen, Economics Major, Florida Gulf Coast University.
One of the main ingredients is non-nano zinc, “the zinc is what creates that barrier between the suns harsh rays and our skin, and that’s what I try to focus on when I’m educating the consumer,” said Quillen.
Sunny Q protects from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays with a SPF ranging from 20 to 35. Quillen currently has two different whipped butters and two lotions.
“The ingredients I use that are most beneficial and will set me a part from everything else on the market,” said Quillen.
Quillen is just one of the 182 students taking part of the Runway Program at FGCU for the 2018-19 school year. The program launched in 2016 and there have been about 80 student run businesses created.
“I didn’t have that type of support when I was going to college, and it is something I’ve always wanted to have, to see our students have that kind of support, so to watch this thing grow and develop and our students be successful really makes a difference,” said Dr. Sandra Kauani, Director of FGCU's School of Entrepreneurship.
Students have a mentor to help guide them through the process, “it’s our job to figure out what their passions are and help them figure out what are and help them figure out what are some of the problems or concerns that exist within that passion,” said Scott Kelly, Director of FGCU Runway Program, Student and Alumni Business Incubator.
“I’m just really passionate and I’m just an average girl who decided to go for it, I’m hoping that it’s only up from here, ” said Quillen.
Alexandria plans to pitch her sunscreen to investors this December. You can check out Sunny Q Sunscreen on Instagram @SunnyQSunscreen.
