Turning “Impossible” Into Impact

When Saints alums, Brett Doherty, '24 and McClain Schieltz, '24 arrived as freshmen at the University of Mississippi, aka "Ole Miss", they were not planning to launch a business. Like most college students, they were focused on classes, friendships, and navigating campus life. But sometimes the best ideas come from the most ordinary frustrations.

Late nights in Oxford, Mississippi often ended the same way. Hungry students would find themselves going off campus to find something to satisfy their hunger. Many stood in long fast food lines. And the food options were limited. Why? Because after 8 p.m., there was nothing available on campus. Instead of accepting it as part of college life, Brett and McClain began asking questions. What if they could bring food directly to students? Better yet, what if students could use their meal swipes to purchase it? 

The idea felt bold and maybe even unrealistic. But when they reached out to Ole Miss Dining and realized the concept might actually work, curiosity turned into conviction.

Ironically, the push they needed did not come from overwhelming encouragement. It came from doubt. The first two people they shared their idea with said it would be extremely challenging, if not impossible, to start. Those words could have ended the dream before it began. Instead, it created motivation. Brett and McClain leaned into the idea, committed to proving that it could be done. In a full circle moment, once the boys secured their first contract with the university, those same skeptics became two of their biggest supporters.

When their food truck, Munchies Chicken and Waffles officially opened on August 25, 2025, reality hit quickly. No business class, business plan, or class lecture on entrepreneurship could have prepared them for the chaos of opening week. Hundreds of orders poured in. The two worked five straight days their first week and were exhausted. They admitted they were not prepared to handle so many orders at once.

At the rate they were going, the work would not be sustainable. So they adapted and hired additional help. They created systems. They learned to delegate. Most importantly, they figured out how to balance academics, business responsibilities, and personal life.

Those exhausting first few weeks became their greatest teacher. While entrepreneurship courses provided helpful, their most important lessons came from their job experience while in high school and has shaped how they lead today.

Both Brett and McClain worked jobs in high school. Now as "owners" of a business, they knew first-hand that taking care of employees is essential. Many people start companies without ever having worked as an employee themselves. Brett and McClain understood what it felt like to be on the other side, and that understanding influences how they run their business.

They remain present at the truck. They check in with employees. They answer phone calls. They stay involved. Leadership for them is personal and active.

What began as a single truck solving a late night problem is now becoming something much larger.

Conversations with mentors at the Ole Miss Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship encouraged them to think beyond one location. Could this grow? Could it expand into multiple company stores? Could franchising become a reality?

Earlier this year, they received an Aramark award which has helped build momentum and brought attention from outside investors. The idea that once felt impossible is now gaining serious traction.
Through it all, success has not changed who they are. It has strengthened it.

They enjoy seeing familiar faces around the city and meeting students and adults who recognize the business. Some of the most meaningful moments are simple conversations at the window with regular customers. At its core, their business is about serving people.

If they could offer advice to current Saints sitting on an idea of their own, it would be clear and direct. An idea is just an idea until you act on it. Too many great ideas never move forward because someone says it will not work or because the process feels overwhelming. Brett and McClain understand that feeling. They had the idea in November 2024 but did not officially form the business until April 2025. They took time to develop a plan. They worked through challenges one problem at a time. They did not rush the process.

From the halls of Saint Thomas Aquinas to the campus of Ole Miss, Brett Doherty and McClain Schieltz are proof that being told something is impossible can be the very thing that pushes you forward. For these two Saints, doubt did not stop the dream. It strengthened their resolve and helped turn an idea into something real.