CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Parkland College has named Shoshana Cronin its 2025 Student Entrepreneur of the Year, honoring her at the CobraVenture Pitch Showcase on May 19. Cronin, who operates the online shop Shoshi35, was awarded $3,000 to help grow her second-hand and vintage retail business.
Shoshi35 curates handpicked items sourced from local thrift stores, garage, and estate sales, with Cronin repairing and cleaning each piece herself. Her mission: offer a more ethical fashion experience that reduces waste.
“I want to give people the opportunity to indulge in fashion and expression while exploring options that lift our community and planet up,” said Cronin. “There is a growing market for more ethical ways to shop.”
Cronin competed against seven other student entrepreneurs from the CobraVenture accelerator program, a semester-long experience offering mentorship, workshops, and funding for student-run businesses.
Parkland’s CobraVenture initiative is overseen by Stephanie Stuart, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation, and supported by Parkland Community Education and a network of business mentors and local leaders. All eight participating students took home monetary awards totaling $8,500.
Judges for the event included leaders from the Illinois Small Business Development Center, University of Illinois Foundation, and Champaign County Economic Development Corporation.