Building Bright Futures

Each student in the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship walked away with at least $10,000 in scholarships this fall during the program’s annual Donor Appreciation Night. A total of $311,000 was awarded to the class of 2026 cohort at the event held in September.

At the event, Wolff Center students received scholarship checks in front of their friends and family and had the opportunity to meet with the generous donors who helped fund their education and the program. Wolff Center Executive Director David Cook said by allowing the student recipients and the donors to meet, their connection is strengthened.

“Donor Appreciation Night is an opportunity for the spirit of donation and the spirit of receiving to come to life personally between the donor and the students,” Cook said. “It's also a chance for the students' families to come and get to see their students being recognized and getting financial help that'll help them through school.”

To earn a BBA in entrepreneurship, students in the prestigious and No. 1 ranked Wolff Center cohort dedicate long hours to the program. With the help of scholarship funding, students have more time to focus on their academic commitments.

Dave Cook is the Executive Director of the No. 1 ranked Wolff Center.

Dave Cook is the Executive Director of the No. 1 ranked Wolff Center.

“In the past, we've had students working two jobs, and I spent half my life talking to store managers trying to get students off to go to our retreat or to stay up and work on an IP project,” Cook said. “With the $10,000, it affords us the luxury of saying to people, ‘This is a program that you now can commit yourself fully to because we're financially vested in you being successful and not having to work two other jobs to get through.’”

The largest recipient of the year was entrepreneurship and finance senior Valeria Serenil, who received the Raymond N. Plank Foundation Scholarship.

“Entrepreneurship has completely changed my life and given me the platform and the resources to go try anything,” Serenil said. “I had a little bit left over after it paid all my tuition, so I'm using that to find a new venture. I'm doing fine jewelry bracelets now. Having the extra funds helps to not only keep pursuing my education but also to try new things and test the market. It's the most experimental learning I'll ever have.”

Entrepreneurship junior Isis Craig was one of 10 students to receive the Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Excellence Scholarship. These recipients will be invited to a special dinner at the program namesake’s home.

“We got blessed with this huge amount of money, and it really gives us the opportunity to focus on the program and all that it has to offer,” Craig said. “It helps us breathe and go at the program with a lighter heart.”

“My favorite part is being with the students and getting to meet their parents,” program benefactor and donor Cyvia Wolff said. “It’s so inspirational to hear their stories and feel the gratitude and love in the room.”

Eight students were recipients of the Wayne Duddlesten Foundation Scholarship. This year the foundation awarded more than $76,000 to students.

“It's exciting to see the students’ bright futures and what can be created,” Executive Director of the Wayne Duddlesten Foundation Charlene Slack said. “It's so rewarding being around the students and seeing their enthusiasm. It makes a difference to know that we're supporting that.”

In addition to financial support, several mentors donate hours of their time to providing students with professional guidance. US LED, Ltd. CEO and mentor Ron Farmer has worked with the entrepreneurship program since the beginning and helped shape the Wolff Center in its early days. Farmer is still an active mentor with the program, this year supporting entrepreneurship student Landen Bennett.

“A mentor is going to be a better mentor if they feel like the contribution is both directions,” Farmer said. “I walk away from my time with Landon just in a state of joy that I've got the privilege of helping him at a level that I can, and that he's as receptive as he is. It’s pretty special.”