- Where University and city connect
Moiz Ali, a senior accounting and management major, serves as rTrail supervisor. 
Max Scuorzo, a senior French and finance major who serves as rTrail operations manager, shows off the inside of Collective Edge store and gallery in downtown Valparaiso. Valpo students bring new life to downtown Valparaiso
When Max Scuorzo came to Valpo four years ago from his hometown of Harpursville, N.Y., he never imagined that he might stay in the Midwest after graduation.
Now, the senior French and finance major plans to live in Valparaiso when he graduates in December 2010, running a business on the main thoroughfare through the city’s downtown area and getting involved in the community where he went to college.
“I never pictured myself staying in Valparaiso after I graduated – never even thought I’d do it,” said Scuorzo. “But I will be here, going to restaurants and the local fitness club and businesses. I’m excited to do that because since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the type of community Valparaiso is, and it’s a great place to live.”
Scuorzo’s immersion into the city has largely come from his involvement with rTrail, a student-led consulting group which works in partnership with local government, and his role as operations manager for rTrail’s new store and art gallery in downtown Valparaiso.
The business, Collective Edge, offers artists a place to work and sell their art and a place for artists and community to come together.
“The goal for our space is not to be just a store, but to serve as a hub for local artists, and a place where the community can embrace them and their work,” said Scuorzo.
The store, and rTrail, were created and are owned by Brenda Magnetti-Erickson, a Valpo alumnawho desired to create a platform from which students could gain valuable real-life business skills.
The store offers art exhibits, art for sale and art classes, scheduled so that community members can attend before or after a meal at a downtown restaurant.
From an academic perspective, Scuorzo said opening the store has been invaluable opportunity to practice the skills he’s gained in his business classes.
“It’s been a great learning experience,” said Scuorzo. “I have basically now been through every step in the process of opening this store that would be needed to start my own business someday.”
rTrail supervisor Moiz Ali, a senior accounting and management major, said the Collective Edge store is a project which aligns with rTrail’s mission to improve the community, while at the same time connecting students to it as well.
“We’re bringing together talent and connecting it with whomever in the community needs help, bridging the gap between the University and the city, and investing our time and talent in projects that make a difference,” said Ali.