Nathan Rosario: Student Entrepreneur Defines Near & Ready
As senior Nathan A. Rosario prepares for graduation from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, it’s clear that he is “near and ready” for the next chapter in his life. He’s shown a desire to succeed since high school, taking dual enrollment classes and graduating with a diploma and an associate’s degree. He’s maintained an average 3.9 GPA and has been a part of the “4.0 club” at Cheyney for most of his college career while also playing guard for Cheyney’s men’s basketball team. And he joined a group of teammates to the NBA All-Star Weekend this past winter in Salt Lake City.
“Student-athlete” may be how most would describe Rosario, 20, but “student-entrepreneur” is also fitting. Using his initials, Rosario started Near and Ready Co., a vending machine business that creates passive income.
“My goal is to use this current small business to help fund my next projects that will ultimately get me to being an apartment complex owner and property owner,” he said.
Rosario currently has a snack machine and a beverage machine but is looking to sign a contract with his former high school.
“My high school has also requested an ice cream machine, so after I put my other machines in their building, I will be acquiring an ice cream machine to add,” he said.
He credits his education at Cheyney with giving him more skills to grow his business. An accounting course taught him proper budgeting and financing. A course on business and law showed him how legislation can impact the bottom line. Rosario plans to get his MBA next and wants to focus on marketing, all with a goal of combing his two passions: basketball and entrepreneurship.
“I would love to partner or be a part of the NBA because it has been a lifelong dream to be a player within the Association,” he said. “But if I cannot play, I would still love to participate in one way or another to have an experience for the sport that has been pivotal in my life.”
One way he’s already parlayed his playing career into a unique opportunity is in broadcasting. Attending Cheyney gave Rosario the chance to call an NBA game on a special livestream featuring HBCU students. He was able to share his analysis on the game, which was in March between the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, but also tell other HBCU students more about Cheyney and how it has shaped his life.
“It was a very fun experience, and I am so grateful for being offered this opportunity,” he said. “I made new friends from this event and had contact with the NBA which has always been a dream of mine.”
When Rosario walks across the stage in May to receive his bachelor’s degree in business administration, it’ll be the culmination of him always being “ready.” And as that date draws “near,” he’s reflecting on how far Cheyney has taken him.
“This program brought me so many opportunities to not only showcase my skills, but also bring me many business opportunities,” he said. “Coach [Terrell] Stokes has been vital for my progression in both basketball and education, and I am grateful.”
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