Support Increases for Student Start Ups

The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) has helped launch countless businesses and careers in its almost 25 years of existence. Now that support is coming full circle.

JPEC received significant financial donations in 2020, the largest being a $100,000 gift from Eric (Finance and International Business ’91) and Kelli Schafer, to support services for UNI student entrepreneurs and assist them in launching new ventures. MidAmerican Energy donated $50,000 for a collaboration suite for student entrepreneurs and Rod Duroe, CEO and president of Farmers State Bank, named a suite in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator with a $30,000 donation from the Duroe Family Foundation.

“I’m so excited to see the support we are receiving,” said Laurie Watje, JPEC associate director. “I’m starting to see students that were here when I started [in 2007] financially supporting the program because they realize the importance of it and the assistance they received. It’s fulfilling to see that come full circle.”

Entrepreneurship has expanded at UNI. To reflect long-held entrepreneurial values that have surged in popularity for current and prospective students, the marketing department has been renamed the department of marketing and entrepreneurship.

At the forefront of this success is JPEC, created in 1996 thanks to a donation from Des Moines venture capitalist John Pappajohn. The center serves students interested in entrepreneurship through its established applied and academic programs. The applied program offers three levels of service: networking, business support and physical incubation.

“We are so grateful for the contributions from successful entrepreneurs and our community,” Watje said. “What’s really important is that individuals donate funds, but they also donate their expertise. Connect with students, mentor them, that’s the important part. They end up being role models for them.”