MAKING THE GRADE WHILE MAKING THE MONEY; STUDENTS GET A JUMP ON CAREERS WHILE STILL IN COLLEGE

For some, college is a four-year detour along the path to adulthood and that first "real job." For others, it's the beginning of a career.

Gary Kellmann isn't waiting until after graduation to make his mark on the world. The 22-year-old college senior says his biggest thrill in life isn't making the grade, it's working on his next invention.

"In high school I always told people I wanted to invent something, and that's really the biggest thrill, completing the product," he said.

Armed with drive and determination he said was instilled in him by his parents, and a more-than-average amount of creativity, Kellmann has created T-shirt designs, key chains, a unique alarm clock and numerous other "inventions."

He comes up with 50 new ideas a day, he said, but added most of them don't make it past the drawing board.

One of them that did make it was a T-shirt commemorating the 1990 earthquake centered in New Hamburg. The shirt reads, "I'm leaving but I don't know where. I'm staying but I don't know why."

But once a product has been developed, the challenge, he said, is following through with the marketing and sales of it. Once he finishes a product, he often loses interest in it and wants to move on to the next one. As a result, the latter part of the cycle sometimes gets overlooked, he said.

For example, his Missouri Lottery key chains have been a year and a half in the making. What makes them unique is that one can use the "Bootheel" to scratch off the material that hides the numbers on the lottery card.

"I make prototypes of my products and give them to my friends. That's how I test them," he said. When friends come back with complaints that the product breaks easily or doesn't perform up to standards, Kellmann uses the information to improve his products.

"I always talk to the consumer to see if they like it or not, because I'm biased," he said.

Kellmann said he'll keep inventing until he creates the next hula-hoop or pet rock.

"It's going to be a fad product, something that doesn't cost much, like the Wacky Wall Walker," he said. "I'm always mad when I see a product like that because I wish I would have invented it."

A native of Owensville, Kellmann will graduate from Southeast Missouri State University in December. He says throughout high school and college, his parents, brother and sister thought he was "goofy" because he was constantly in his room, working on his next invention.

"I was always working on something, but they finally got tired of yelling at me," he said.

Now, they're proud. Kellmann's successes have helped him pay for college expenses and a car, and he often talks to high school students about creativity and business. He works part time at the Small Business Development Center on campus and volunteers one day a week at the Inventors Association of St. Louis.

"I've always been an average student, but I'm proud of that. I've always been real active and had a lot of things going on, so that affects my grades," he said. "But not too many people think I'm goofy anymore."

For another former Southeast student, starting a business in his junior year inadvertently interrupted his college career.

James Waller (his friends call him Clay), is the owner of Waller Auto Care, a business in Cape Girardeau that specializes in cleaning and detailing cars. Waller, now 21, already has one full-time employee.

"I was in school studying computer science, but I didn't enjoy sitting behind a computer," said Waller. "It was tedious at times."

That was more than a year ago. Since then, what started as a "job on the side" has turned into a six-day-a-week, year-round business. He's recently expanded to include pressure washing, and says he loves being his own boss.

"I love this job," said Waller, a native of Cape Girardeau. "Most people live their whole life trying to get in this position."

Waller said the growth of his business isn't due to his own expertise. He said he's made mistakes that have cost him money, but that's okay. "It's a real learning experience. I don't think I could get that in a classroom," he said.

Part of the reason his business has been successful is that he concentrates on getting repeat business, he said. He charges $35 per car.

"I would rather charge a little and do a good job and earn their repeat business than charge a higher price," he said. "Some clients bring me their car every month, and that's what I like."

And he said he doesn't advertise. "I think word-of-mouth advertising is the best kind there is."

Waller said he plans on completing college someday. He said that since he dropped out to work on his business, "things have really changed."

"Everyone I know wants a job," he said. "It's tough. I've lost some friends."

But for now, Waller is concentrating on learning by doing.

"I haven't learned everything yet, but I sure do love it," he said. "I'd do it for free if I could."