Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Adam Fried ok

Seniors Corey Laplante and Aaron Frank consider themselves Sherpas - Nepaleseclimbing guides who lug equipment up mountains. But instead of traversing Mount Everest, these students are scaling campus dorms.

Laplante, a philosophy major, and Frank, a physics and math double major, began a business in which they pick up boxes of students' belongings at the end of this semester and either ship them to students' homes or put them in storage during break. The Student Sherpas then move everything back in again for the students when the fall semester starts.

Pick-ups and deliveries will be scheduled for the five days at the start and end of the summer, and the Sherpas will throw in tape and boxes free of charge.

"There was no real service out there at this university," Laplante said. "With 35,000 students, it just doesn't make sense."

Laplante said he used to have a friend drive to the university from New Jersey to help him move his belongings back home. The students said they hope to reduce the carbon footprint moving day leaves behind by allowing parents and friends to stay home while the Sherpas do all the heavy lifting.

The two expect to have around 100 clients this semester.

"We're devoting all of our time to this," Laplante said. "All of our friends are looking for jobs or graduate schools, but all of our time out of the classroom now goes to the business."

The prices range from $20 to pick up, store and deliver a small box, while the "Student Sherpas Signature Box" costs $25. The more pricey options include a $75 charge for a desk or a $75 to $150 charge for a box spring or mattress.

Laplante says the Sherpas can save their clients money by purchasing bulk space in area storage facilities and filling them with the belongings of multiple students.

The Sherpas are a two-man operation as of now, but they may hire some extra help as the client list grows, Frank said.

"If the two of us can do the whole thing, more power to us," Frank said. "[But] we still have exams; we still have finals."

The Student Sherpas say they meet expect to meet much student interest due to the success of similar, national programs, and the two may very well have their hands full when their business gains momentum.

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