UIW officially dedicates new Center for Entrepreneurship <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beckendorf Family Center to help find and guide next generation of business leaders<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ribbon-cutting and official dedication of the Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word took place on October 14 and featured remarks from UIW President Dr. Thomas M. Evans; Scott Beckendorf; Dean of the UIW H-E-B School of Business and Administration Dr. Jeannie Scott; and Sister Walter Maher, CCVI, vice president for Mission and Ministry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the Development Board to the Board of Trustees, Beckendorf has been serving and supporting the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) for almost three decades. His family ties to the university, however, stretch back much farther. In the 1940\u2019s, Jeanette Hermann Longoria and Ayleen Hermann Radke, the aunts of Scott\u2019s wife Karin, graduated from then-Incarnate Word College. More recently, the Beckendorf\u2019s daughter, Sophie Rose Beckendorf, graduated from UIW in 2018. Over that time, the family has seen the once small college transform into the dynamic, global university that it is today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany great things have happened during my time volunteering for the university,\u201d says Beckendorf. \u201cBuildings have been built and professional schools opened. The acquisition of Founder\u2019s Hall across Hildebrand from the main campus was a huge improvement for UIW\u2019s future growth. I\u2019m excited about the direction Dr. Evans is currently taking UIW, it\u2019s administrators, faculty and students while adhering to the mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Beckendorf family is helping accelerate that growth through their biggest commitment to the university yet. UIW has announced that, thanks to the generosity of the Beckendorfs, it has established The Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship. The Center will work with the H-E-B School of Business and Administration (HEBSBA) to find and develop the business leaders of tomorrow at UIW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKarin and I felt that there was a need at the university for students to learn the immense possibilities our amazing country offers through it\u2019s free market system of capitalism,\u201d says Beckendorf. \u201cThe Center will be a place for students to learn how to create a product or service and take it to market. Students will learn that, by investing time, energy and resources into a well thought out plan, almost anything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mission of the Beckendorf Center is \u201cto promote entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and action.\u201d That means incorporating educational programs, experiential activities and networking and outreach opportunities to both internal and external stakeholders. The vision is \u201cto be the hub of all efforts related to entrepreneurship at the University of the Incarnate Word and the home of all UIW entrepreneurial thinkers.\u201d The entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship-related courses are open to everyone campus-wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe beauty of the Beckendorf Family Center is that it fits perfectly with the UIW mission,\u201d says Dr. Teresa Harrison, UIW associate professor of Management. \u201cUIW was established by three nuns making a difference in the community. They were entrepreneurial in spirit — they had to be entrepreneurial to survive, thrive and evolve into all that the UIW-system encompasses. The Beckendorf Family Center will offer programming available to all students in all majors so that they, too, can go out into the community and give back as business leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adds Beckendorf, \u201cBeing Catholic and having been involved with the university for many years and personally knowing the members of the congregation, the university\u2019s leaders and its mission, we felt UIW would be the perfect fit to steward our wishes to help young students evolve into successful business people with endless opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Beckendorf Family Center will help the students and faculty of the HEBSBA connect to the San Antonio business community by providing opportunities for mentorship, internships and partnerships. This Center invests in the entrepreneurial aspirations of students, allowing them to develop successful business ideas and be part of a mentoring program that is supported by business owners, local and international entrepreneurs and professional start-up advisors. Currently, the Center will be home to the HEBSBA Pitch Competition, the Entrepreneurship Coffee Club and the popular HEBSBA Start-Up Challenge Competition. These types of events and offerings include having speakers and leaders in the community discuss their journey and explain the entrepreneurial mindset to the students. In the future, the Center will include curriculum for undergraduate students and a certificate program that can be offered to students and business professionals. It will be led by three co-directors: Harrison, Dr. Segun Oyedele, associate professor of International Business and Dr. Jose Moreno, professor of Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Beckendorf Family Center will bridge the San Antonio business community with the HEBSBA,\u201d says Dr. Scott. \u201cThis will bring opportunities to our students and faculty and allow us to bring opportunities to the business communities. I just want to say thank you. This will change the lives of our students!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thank the Beckendorf family for their generosity and their entrepreneurial spirit in establishing this center,\u201d says Harrison. \u201cTheir gift creates a central place for entrepreneurial activities that was missing before. Thanks to their contribution, the launch of the center will create a legacy for future generations of business owners and entrepreneurs who will make a difference in the world and will impact others in San Antonio and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Beckendorfs, the Center will continue to build on a legacy that students will benefit from for decades to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur message or desire is that a student will learn at the Center, from professors and mentors, that in a free market society, to always work hard for those things they truly believe in,\u201d concludes Beckendorf. \u201cWhether it be a new product or a better product, a service or a better way of servicing or something no one has ever conceived. To follow those beliefs and find others with the same beliefs as an investor, partner or associate to help execute their plan and fulfill their dream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship started its work in the Fall of 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UIW officially dedicates new Center for Entrepreneurship Beckendorf Family Center to help find and guide next generation of business leaders The ribbon-cutting and official dedication of the Beckendorf Family Center for Innovation and Global Entrepreneurship in the H-E-B School of Business and Administration at the University of the Incarnate Word took place on October 14 and featured remarks from UIW President Dr. Thomas M. Evans; Scott Beckendorf; Dean of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":18840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[165,188],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n