Penn State Berks Student Spotlight: Brandon Everett, founder of Bapanada

WYOMISSING, Pa. — Brandon Everett did not take the traditional path to earning a bachelor’s degree by enrolling immediately after high school. Although his life has taken a winding path, with detours serving in the military, working as a professional dancer, and studying at a local community college, he eventually found his way to Penn State Berks, where he found support for his startup, Bapanda, and much more. He will walk in the college’s commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Santander Arena.

Among Everett’s many accomplishments, the most recent was receiving the Startup Spark Award for his company, Bapanada, as part of the Invent Penn State Inc.U Competition. The award was presented to Everett on April 17, when Invent Penn State staff visited Penn State Berks to present him with a check. 

Bapanada is an innovative ghost kitchen that serves Latin vegan and vegetarian cuisine. The Startup Spark Award represents the spark of innovation that fuels bold ideas, inspiring student entrepreneurs across Penn State campuses to take their next big leap. It recognizes one Commonwealth Campus applicant with a $1,000 prize for exceptional innovation and potential. 

Watch Everett’s one-minute pitch video for the Inc.U Competition.

To truly appreciate Everett’s journey, one must go back to the beginning. Born in Queens, New York, he moved to Berks County with his family when he was 10 years old. In high school, he joined the Junior ROTC, which instilled discipline and a sense of civic responsibility, and led him to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. 

After his service, Everett pursued his passion: a career in professional dance, joining professional dance troupes and performing at various events. During this time, he was living with his mother, and she told him that he needed to choose between pursuing a career in dance and going to college. Since Everett felt that dance was not a viable career option, he enrolled at Reading Area Community College (RACC). 

Soon after enrolling at RACC, Everett moved out with one of his younger sisters, who he was supporting at the time. Due to additional responsibilities and financial pressures, he worked multiple jobs including a position as a bank underwriter, side hustles in bookkeeping and resume writing, and giving private dance lessons. Soon his academics suffered to the point that he was put on academic suspension.

After a brief hiatus from his studies, he returned to RACC with renewed determination and turned his academic record around, graduating with honors. It was during the honors ceremony that Everett made his first foray into catering, providing food for the celebration free of charge. 

Then he was approached by the mother of a fellow student, who was so impressed with the vegan cuisine that she asked Everett to cater a family function. He felt that he needed to officially launch his company to do the job. And so, in 2021, Bapanada was born. 

Everett explains that he named his business Bapanda because the word combines first two items that he sold: kebabs and empanadas. He eventually found an opportunity to work with a ghost kitchen to produce his products. 

It was during this time that he became more involved in sustainability, and he served as the student chair of the city of Reading’s Environmental Action Council. From there, he joined the Earth Day Berks Committee, where he served as chair of marketing and public relations, and he also handled registration of food vendors. 

After graduating from RACC, Everett was drawn to Penn State Berks because of the University’s rich history in agriculture. Through his studies at the college, he became more interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in international business, which he is slated to officially complete this summer.

“I’m passionate about building diplomatic relationships between local businesses and government entities,” explained Everett. “I adm to leverage globalization and cultural understanding to foster meaningful connections.”

One way that Everett is accomplishing this goal is through Bapanda. 
 
Combining his passions for cooking and sustainability, as well as his Dominican and Nigerian heritage, Everett explained that he is sharing his culture through cuisine. His business model emphasizes reducing meat consumption and encouraging meat-eaters to try a vegan diet and change their mindset. 

And to date, Bapanda has used its profits to plant 700 trees internationally.

Everett went on to explain that Bapanada aims to expand its reach through a flexible mobile business model, providing nutritious and affordable food to redefine grab-and-go dining while addressing food security and accessibility. 

From savory empanadas filled with plantains and cheese or ‘beef’ empanadas made with plant protein (but taste like real beef), to dessert empanadas featuring bananas and Nutella or cream cheese and guava, to side dishes like tostones and salsa and arroz con grandules, just to name a few, there’s something for everyone’s taste buds at Bapanada.

During the last few years, Bapanda has not only catered events at the college but he has also gained a following in the local community, providing catering to such organizations as Alvernia University, Berks Nature, Centro Hispano, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College and Temple University.
 
At Penn State Berks, Everett has found enthusiastic support for his startup. He credits both the college’s Flemming Creativity Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Center and the Berks LaunchBox for helping him to succeed through various awards, grants and free workshops.

Through the Berks LaunchBox, he won first place in the Summer 2023 Pitch Competition in which participants developed a product pitch to share their startup idea with investors, advisers and others. He also delivered a workshop in both English and Spanish at the Berks LaunchBox. 

He went on to receive the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development (CEED) Center Student Enterprise Award in 2024. The award provides seed money to support enterprising and innovative students on their journey to becoming entrepreneurs.  

In 2025, he received a $2000 grant at the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference, held at University Park, where he presented his business as part of the Student Startup Showcase.

In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, Everett has actively continued his commitment to sustainability at Penn State Berks, serving on the college’s Sustainability Council and working to develop the campus garden. In addition, he has served as an international mentor to his fellow students.
 
“Penn State Berks has provided technical skills and real-world thinking,” Everett said. “The University's extensive network has offered various opportunities for personal and professional development. I feel well-prepared to face personal and professional challenges thanks to the support of professors, peers and the Penn State spirit.”

After graduation, Everett plans to continue to grow Bapanda before taking the next steps in his journey.