Seton Hill pop-up shop to honor memory of 2017 graduate Ashley Kertes

On Saturday, Seton Hill students will honor the memory of a deceased alumna, Ashley Kertes, at a pop-up market filled with handcrafted items made by students at the university.

The SHUdents Sell student-run pop-up shop will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Wick and Wax Studio on Main Street in Greensburg.

“A requirement for every senior seminar class at Seton Hill is a service project,” said senior Jordan Vertacnik, who is pursuing a degree in elementary and special education. “We have a lot of people here who sell their own goods, and we thought about putting together a pop-up shop on Main Street somewhere.”

Vertacnik connected with former high school classmate John Stafford from the Think Greensburg Community Develeopment Corp. (CDC), and Stafford reached out to several local businesses to find a suitable site.

Stafford and Vertacnik both graduated from Greensburg Salem, where Ashley Kertes — wife of county Commissioner Sean Kertes and former executive director for the CDC — also went to high school.

“She was really involved with Greensburg Salem, and also with a lot of small businesses in Greensburg, so we thought it would be something she’s have been passionate about,” Vertacnik said. “We wanted to host it in her honor.”

Seton Hill senior Rebecca Havko, 20, is pursuing a creative writing degree, and put it to work reaching out to local groups about the event.

“It’s been a great way for me to integrate my passion into the project,” Havko said.

The SHUdents Sell pop-up store will feature a variety of jewelry, artwork, handmade crafts and baked goods — all created by Seton Hill students.

Wicks and Wax Studio is at 124 South Main St. in Greensburg.