By Kay Bishop
Boone, N.C.— A group of passionate students from Appalachian State University launched their own canned water company, Sweet Carolina Water, in the spring of 2025. The students were part of the Association of Student Entrepreneurship (ASE), a student-led 501(c)(3) organization with students from various majors across campus. In the 2024–2025 school year, ASE developed a business plan and marketing strategy for a local spring water site in Murphy, N.C. Caleb Sizemore, Graphic Communications Management (GCM) major, was the Lead Designer on the project.
The goal of the Sweet Carolina Water project is to give students an experiential learning opportunity to see how a new business is formed, developed, and operated. ASE previously launched Beans2Brew, a popular coffee shop on campus. The owners and industry partners who fund the project are Bob Wulf and Ed Seckinger, who is an Appalachian State alum. They wanted to include Appalachian students in the venture and allow them to experience the entrepreneurial process. Erich Schlenker, Managing Director for the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, contacted faculty from multiple departments at ASU. The faculty appoints and oversees student representatives from their respective departments. Kay Bishop, GCM faculty, selected Sizemore to represent the program with his graphic arts and printing expertise. He served as the Video/Photography Director in Bishop’s Client Collaboration class. Other faculty members include Justin Kent (Project Management), Brian Hasson (Accounting), Laura Brewer (Supply Chain), and Trish Oxford (Marketing).
Students on the Sweet Carolina Water project formed teams to identify workflow assignments, legal issues, timelines, and a prototype plan. There were a total of 20 students representing Finance, Marketing, HR, Biology, Business, Economics, and Law. A key component for the selection of students was their availability to create a succession plan so that the project could continue when each student graduated. This was the case for Sizemore, who graduated in May 2025 and will be completing his senior internship at Salem One, working closely with Sales and Marketing, with a focus on innovative packaging solutions.
It was important for the student marketing team to use sustainable practices in the product’s packaging since the spring water is never pumped and is untouched by chemicals. They chose to use eco-friendly cans instead of plastic bottles. Once they developed a brand identity, Sizemore designed a logo that represented the blend of nature, purity, and sustainability. He included a clean, modern font with natural curves that reflect both the purity of water and the energy of the Appalachian region. Next, he added the slogan, “Fresh Mountain Spring Water from the Appalachian Mountains,” and created a label that adhered to the legal requirements and product size.
“Going through the design process with the owners was meticulous at times. There was a lot of back and forth when implementing different ideas from the club members. One takeaway I found helpful was presenting multiple design options to the client at one time. This cuts down on some of the decision making process, and it gives the client more to work with. This means getting to a deliverable quicker and more efficiently,“ says Sizemore. “Ultimately, the project was a great experience for me. I got some design exposure and lots of experience with the entrepreneurial process. I’m excited to see where the project goes, and what projects are yet to come.”
Sizemore went on to create a series of prototypes, and the final product was packaged by Battle Copackaging NC, LLC in Mooresville, NC. The cans were printed by CanWorks in Austin, TX. Sizemore also designed a 12-pack case for the canned product and led his team to screenprint the logo onto shirts. In honor of his work, Sizemore was the first recipient of the “Caleb Sizemore Outstanding Contribution Award.” Sweet Carolina Water will soon be available for sale by local distributors in North Carolina.
About Appalachian State University's Department of Art
The Department of Art at Appalachian State University offers comprehensive programs in studio art, graphic design, art education, graphic communication management, photography, art history and art management, emphasizing both technical mastery and conceptual development. For more information, visit art.appstate.edu.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at cfaa.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online.
Sweet Carolina water thumbnail
Sweet Carolina water thumbnail