Kelsey McGovern, Staff Writer

La Salle students have partnered with Kiki Vodka to make a La Salle-themed drink, unaffiliated with La Salle University. The students collaborated with a local distillery to create Olney Tea, a vodka-based iced tea lemonade. A four-pack costs $8, and a case (24-pack) is priced at $45. If you are 21 or older, buying Olney Tea is a great way to support La Salle students and their hard work. With Homecoming approaching, Olney Tea is a perfect way to immerse yourself in school spirit.

I interviewed Katie McGovern, 21-year-old junior and co-creator of Olney Tea, to learn more about the process of her work. 

How did you get involved with this project?

“Steve Melick, a professor in the School of Business, came to my financial accounting class and asked if anyone was interested in working with him on a few projects. He sparked my interest when he spoke about a student-run organization to make a La Salle-themed drink. I had heard about LaSeltzers, the previous drink created by students, and I knew I wanted to make my own. I reached out to Steve and worked with other students to make it happen.”

How did you choose Kiki Vodka as your partner?

“Steve Melick works for Kiki Vodka, a local distillery. They partnered with us to help create Olney Tea. We were able to design the label and select the flavors for the drink, and Kiki Vodka handled the manufacturing. We sell the product to La Salle alumni and students who are 21 and older.”

What skills were needed to make this project successful?

“My team and I had to be ambitious in order for this to be a successful project. We were determined to make this drink that everyone could enjoy. We worked on prices to make these drinks affordable and spoke to numerous beer distributors to get the product into stores. Despite having trouble with getting our product in stores, we persevered and are still able to sell and deliver Olney Teas!” 

How was advertisement incorporated in making Olney Tea successful?

“We wanted to make a drink that was distinctly La Salle-themed, meaning that if La Salle students and alumni saw it in stores, they would immediately know that it was related to 20th and Olney Ave. We learned the importance of copyright and used colors and other notions that represented our school. We used teamwork to make the design, ensuring all the relevant information needed on the can was included, while also making it visually appealing.” 

Support your fellow La Salle students by following @olneytea on Instagram and purchasing the drink if you are 21 or older!