A Full Circle Moment: Candle Making Workshop at Stockton University 🕯✨

On Tuesday, April 8th, we had the absolute honor of returning to a place that holds a special place in our hearts — Stockton University — to host a candle making workshop in support of the Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies program.

As a proud Stockton alum (Class of 2020), when I got the email from Professor Naylor, one of my former professors, asking if Homemade NJ Candles would be interested in collaborating on a fundraiser for the students, my answer was an immediate yes.

Professor Naylor is leading an Event Experience class this semester, designed to give Hospitality students real-world, hands-on opportunities in the event world. Throughout the course, students take part in executing live events, learning what really goes into planning, setting up, and running an event from start to finish — not just the highlight reel, but all the behind-the-scenes hustle.

Back in late January, I had the chance to visit the class and speak to the students about Homemade NJ Candles — how we started, what our mission is, and what it's truly like to operate a small business centered around creating experiences. The energy in the room was electric! The students were curious, eager, and full of questions — it was clear they were already thinking like event professionals.

Fast forward to April 8th, and we hosted two back-to-back candle making sessions right on campus, where the students not only got to participate in the class but also helped run it — managing set-up, welcoming guests, guiding them through the process, and of course, making beautiful candles of their own. It was incredible to watch them in action, stepping into roles they may one day lead in their own careers.

For me, it was a surreal, full circle experience. Everything I learned as a Hospitality & Tourism student at Stockton helped shape the business I run today. And to be able to return — not just to visit, but to collaborate with current students and give back to the program that gave me so much — was something truly unforgettable.

Thank you to Professor Naylor, the amazing students of the Event Experience class, and the entire Hospitality & Tourism department for such a meaningful opportunity. This workshop wasn’t just a fundraiser — it was a celebration of growth, learning, and community.

It’s a memory that will forever be a highlight for Homemade NJ Candles, and we’re so grateful to have been a part of it.