By Natalie Hrubos

Arica Rudnick's summer internship at a small New York City design company escalated into a Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon fund-raising opportunity when she returned to Penn State sporting unusual handbags.

Rudnick, who interned at Loop Design last summer, decided to sell the company's purses when her personal collection caught the eyes of friends and classmates.

She now donates 20 percent of all orders to Thon.

Organizations that purchase 20 bags or more can make the donation in their name.

Otherwise, Rudnick donates the money through her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha.

She said she has raised about $700 for the philanthropy by selling the "unique" handbags.

"I don't want to spend my whole career in a business that's cutthroat," Rudnick (senior-marketing) said. "Business is not just about people making money. I basically turned a big profit organization into marketing for a non-profit organization."

Jennifer Romano, field hockey club coach, said she thought it was great that Rudnick decided to give something back to the school where she got started by donating to Thon. The field hockey club purchased 34 bags.

"She was so professional about it," Romano said. "I didn't even know she was a student at first."

Rudnick said she plans to continue making donations to other philanthropic events on campus and at other universities.

"Although I started out donating just to Thon, now that I'm trying other marketing strategies and going to other schools, obviously there are other worthwhile causes," Rudnick said.

She said the next step is to develop an internship program for students interested in marketing.

Her Web site, www.psubaglady.com, will feature interns at different universities and contain information about the philanthropies that receive donations. Rudnick said Avon, a cosmetic company, recently contacted her about selling their new product line, The Mark.

Avon offered to donate gift baskets for Rudnick to raffle off at philanthropic events where she sells her products. The raffle money would be donated to the charity, Rudnick said.

Rudnick, who speaks fluent Spanish, said she also plans to utilize the business contacts she made in Spain during a semester abroad.

"I am hoping they will help spread the word and, hopefully, I can get some business there as well," Rudnick said.

She said she plans to bring the bags to Spain over spring break.

Rudnick said she derived her inspiration from a book called Bags to Riches: 7 Success Secrets for Women in Business by Linda Hollander.

Rudnick's father, Mark, said he is very proud of his daughter's motivation and success.

"Arica has really gone out of her way to try different things," he said. "While she was in Europe, she went and parachuted out of a helicopter over the Swiss Alps."

He added that her personality traits will help her achieve her future goals.

"It's that willingness to expose herself to new ventures. She's willing to go beyond the comfort zone, and that's the key to her success," he said.