(The Beacon)
By Kathryn Walters, Staff Writer -- walters14@up.edu
The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship named UP's Center for Entrepreneurship's "E-Scholars" program the 2012 "Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program."
The award distinguishes UP as a university that provides an exceptional program for students to learn entrepreneurial skills and gain experience in the field.
"It helps our role as an attractor of entrepreneurial activity," Jon Down, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, said. "By winning the award, it adds visibility to what we are doing."
UP also won the award in 2001 and has beat out other finalists such as the University of Notre Dame and the University of Maryland.
Peter Rachor, the Center for Entrepreneurship's Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Program Manager, said the long gap between 2001 and 2012 was due to the Center's commitment to improve the program.
The Center for Entrepreneurship has received recognition within the Portland community, according to Rachor.
"What's nice is everyone has put a ton of work and themselves into this program," Rachor said. "It's good to know that not only did we start something cool, but we've improved it."
