Donation to honour the memory of farming entrepreneur

(Windsor, Ontario, Monday, March 23, 2015) ­­– The University of Windsor’s EPICentre has received a donation from the Roy Verstraete family to honour the entrepreneurial spirit of their mother and farming businesswoman, Juliana Verstraete.

The donation will support one position annually in the University’s EPIC Founders’ program in Mrs. Verstraete’s memory.

The EPIC Founders Program is a 12-week intensive curriculum which takes place through the summer months for students and recent alumni entrepreneurs. Participants learn to form their ideas into businesses, with various business and legal mentors from the community. Participants are paid $6000 during the program period, while working 35 hours a week to fulfill program requirements.

The Verstraete family gift will support a female participant who demonstrates Mrs. Verstraete’s hard work and dedication to forming their own business.

Following her emigration from Belgium as child, Juliana Verstraete was an equal partner with her husband in a successful family farming operation located near Blenheim, ON. She is survived by five children, including previous EPICentre Executive Leader, Roy Verstraete, who will act as a special mentor to the recipient during the course of the program.

More information on the Epic Founders Program can be found at: www.epicentreuwindsor.ca/applications-for-the-2015-epic-founders-now-open.

CONTACT: Nicole Anderson (Sleiman), MBA

Instructor & Program Director

Entrepreneurship Practice & Innovation Centre, Odette School of Business, Room 118

University of Windsor

519-253-3000 Ext. 4913  nsleiman@uwindsor.ca