Peru, Nebraska – Peru, Nebraska – Randee (Witt) Castillo, a Peru State College senior, is also a multi-location business owner. She, her husband, and her family own Happy Life Nutrition locations in Auburn and Plattsmouth, Nebraska.
Castillo is a 2019 Falls City Sacred Heart High School graduate. She came to Peru State on a volleyball scholarship. During the Covid pandemic in early 2020, she returned home to continue online classes in Salem, Nebraska. Castillo began working at Brillows Nutrition in Falls City. She loves helping others live their best life. In July 2020, she opened Happy Life Nutrition in Auburn with the financial support from her family. The name was appropriate.
“At the time, everyone and everything was down,” said Castillo, “I wanted the name ‘Happy Life’ to represent a place where anyone could walk in, see a friendly face, do something that would improve their life, and leave with a smile.”
Castillo stopped playing volleyball after her sophomore year to focus more on her schoolwork and business. In January 2022, she and her family bought a building at 1900 O Street in Auburn and moved Happy Life Nutrition to its new location. Castillo and her fiancée Daniel, a former Peru State baseball player, then opened Plattsmouth Nutrition in March of 2022. The addition of the new store made life even more hectic.
“I have learned a lot about time management, that’s for sure,” said Castillo, “but I love what I do. I also love college at Peru State, and I have learned a lot from all the different classes within my major and minors. Fortunately, I have also been able to apply real-life experience to my in-class education.”
Randee and Daniel were married in August 2022.
“I say that Covid is what led to my business and Daniel,” said Castillo, laughing. “He and I knew each other from athletics, but after he was granted an extra year of Covid eligibility he invited me to a baseball game. We began dating and ended up getting married.”
Castillo stressed that she has continued her studies thanks to Daniel and her brother Wade, who is a full-time employee.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without Daniel and Wade taking care of the stores while I finish my degree,” said Castillo. “Their support, as well as my family’s, our other employees, the community, and our customers make this possible. As for our customers, we view every single one of them as family, too.”
Castillo will graduate in May 2023 with a Psychology major and minors in Marketing and Drug and Alcohol Counseling. She will continue managing the Nutrition Stores with Daniel, coach other nutrition store owners, and explore additional ways to support the community and college that have supported her.
“Auburn, Peru State, and the surrounding community have been great to us,” said Castillo, “and our customers are amazing. I ask myself everyday how we can continue to help the community in return.”
Nestled in the hills of historic southeast Nebraska, Peru State College offers a mix of innovative online and traditional classroom undergraduate and graduate programs, including online graduate degrees in education and organizational management.
Established in 1867 as Nebraska’s first college, Peru State has transformed over the past century and a half into a state-of-the-art institution offering diverse, multifaceted educational programs annually to nearly 2,000 students.