Meet Peri Harlan. Peri is a fashion forward, fun and philanthropic senior here at UGA! Peri came to UGA from Clayton, Missouri and although this was a big change, she has fully embraced the Bulldawg spirit. Peri has become involved in many activities throughout her time here at The University of Georgia, each one different from the next.
During her sophomore year, Peri saw the need for distressed and embellished jean shorts among college and high school students but could not find a retailer that sold this hot new item at a decent price. Taking her love of fashion and styling, Peri decided to make her own. After countless complements, Peri began making all different styles and sizes of these jean shorts and selling them through Facebook orders and eventually, through PayPal. What started as a fun hobby turned into a business in Athens, Ga. and St. Louis, Mo. called Pers of Denim. Peri branched out from jean shorts and began making jackets, denim shirts, and t-shirts in all different sizes, cuts, colors and styles. She also has made custom items and each piece is between $12-50.
Aside from being a young entrepreneur, Peri is the Co-President of the UGA chapter of Food2Kids. UGA Food2Kids is a student-run organization that raises money to support the local Athens-area charity, Food2Kids. This organization provides bags of groceries each Friday to elementary school students who are at risk of going hungry over the weekend. Many of these kids are on the free or reduced lunch program, and the only substantial meals they receive are during school. Teachers and counselors were noticing that the children on the free and reduced lunch program would come into school on Mondays complaining of feeling tired, having stomach pains, and feeling faint. They soon realized that these children had not received any substantial nourishment since lunch on Friday. Food2Kids provides these children with the vital food that they need to stay healthy and full. Peri became involved in Food2Kids because she is a dietetics major and is passionate about the importance of a nutritious meal, especially for children. The next big event Food2Kids is hosting will be in April and it is a music event called “Will Rock 4 Food.”
Peri also is a children’s gymnastics coach at the Athens YMCA. Peri began competing in gymnastics as a young child and still has a love for the sport. Instead of continuing to compete, Peri chose to teach kids everything that she knows about gymnastics so they can compete to their fullest potential.
In her free time, Peri enjoys watching Friends, shopping and trying out new recipes. Peri has discovered a vast array of her interests from her time here at UGA and has enjoyed every minute of it. Peri has accomplished a great deal in only 21 years, making this her this week’s campus celeb.