Small Business Spotlight: Snow Scholars
Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 8:03AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, photos provided
Do you have a plan in place for fall leaf removal or snow removal? We have just the answer for you – Snow Scholars. Snow Scholars employs students at three local colleges to handle these services for you. It is completely student run – and they are looking to expand their service area. We talked to Founder and CEO, Jake Piekarski, and Campus Operations Manager, Roddy Hood, about their unique business model.
Q: What inspired the creation of Snow Scholars?
A: We wanted to give college students the highest-paying, most flexible job on campus while helping homeowners stay snow-free in the winter. It’s a win-win - students earn well, and customers get meaningful, friendly service.
Q: How does being student-run influence your operations and customer service?
A: We know exactly how to work around class schedules and busy student lives. Our managers are students themselves, so communication is quick, relatable, and focused on making both shovelers and customers happy.
Q: How many students are currently involved, and what roles do they take on?
A: Right now, 110 students at UMN, Saint Thomas, and Normandale Community College work as shovelers, campus managers, and weather trackers - each role is key to keeping operations smooth.
Q: What neighborhoods or areas do you currently serve?
A: We cover all neighborhoods within a 5-mile radius of each campus so our teams can respond quickly and complete more jobs each day.
Q: Do you offer services year-round, or just in the winter?
A: We focus on fall and winter - offering leaf removal before the snow hits, then snow shoveling all season long.
Q: What kind of snow removal equipment do you use?
A: Only shovels and snowblowers - never damaging plows - so driveways and lawns are safe from scrapes and gouges.
Q: How do you prioritize service after a snowfall - by neighborhood, subscription, or urgency?
A: Customers can add a $20 priority upgrade to be first on a student’s route after the snow stops. Otherwise, we schedule by route efficiency to get everyone cleared as quickly as possible.
Q: Do you offer one-time service, or only recurring contracts?
A: We offer two options: A whole-season plan with pay-per-snowfall pricing, or a vacation plan with a flat fee for unlimited snow shoveling during specific dates.
Q: How do you handle customer satisfaction or complaints?
A: Our 5am–8pm customer service team is ready on snow days, and shovelers use our custom app to see feedback and return right away if anything was missed.
Q: How does Snow Scholars benefit students - financially, professionally, personally?
A: Many students earn $3,000+ per month, gain leadership and management experience, and work entirely around their school schedules - something most campus jobs can’t offer.
Q: Do you offer discounts for seniors or people with disabilities?
A: We offer 10% off for seniors, plus 25% off for neighbors who sign up together - terms are flexible, and we try to make it work for everyone.
Q: What’s your biggest need right now as a growing student business?
A: We’re focused on bringing on more shovelers to meet the incredible customer demand we’re seeing - and we already have a solid plan in motion to make sure we’re fully staffed for the season.
Q: What are your goals for the next 1–2 years?
A: We hope to grow from 11 campuses to 20 while keeping our service consistent, our customers happy, and our student teams supported.
Q: How may we follow your news?
A: Visit us at snowscholars.com for updates and campus expansion news. Talk to your neighbors and sign up together for a discounted plan!
