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Think Big, Think New: Entrepreneur Scholars Program Turns 20

Alumni

Portland Magazine

Franz Center

June 21, 2019

University of Portland’s nationally recognized Entrepreneur Scholars Program has been training students to bring extraordinary ideas to life for two decades. Started by visionary investors Bob Franz and Elsie Franz Finley and led by Robin Anderson, dean of the business school, the program encourages students of every academic discipline to create new business ventures, do vigorous research, take risks, expand their professional network nationally and globally, and seek ways to think big and think new.

More than 300 graduates of this program have created products, tackled social problems, and explored new businesses. (Also of note: some 60 graduates have returned to UP as mentors.)

Some ideas are still going strong; some have lived a full life; some flopped and inspired the next idea. The array of projects is staggeringly diverse. We had the chance to speak with five graduates of this program—two from the program’s early days and three more recent graduates. Even in this small sample, the program’s strength is clear: entrepreneurial skills translate to leadership skills in our world today.

fatima-ruiz-villatoro-thumbnail.jpgFatima Ruiz Villatoro '15 - Engineering Management & Spanish

Fatima partnered with a classmate to create a nonprofit that decorated room for terminally ill children. Today, she is an assistant project manager working in medical facilities construction.

More about Fatima >

Vail Horton Vail Horton '02 - Interdisciplinary (Business, Philosophy, Spanish)

Vail started Keen, an innovate underarm crutch company. Today he still owns Keen, but works full-time day-to-day at his nonprofit company that "unlocks the potential of people." 

More about Vail >

Thomas Iwasaki Thomas Iwasaki '14 - Finance

Thomas' Entrepreneur Scholar project was a customizable Bluetooth speaker. Following graduation, he worked at a technology start-up and then at Nike. He's now the co-creator of Usonia, a business data company.

More about Thomas >

Molly Gowan Molly (Sexton) Gowan '00 - Organizational Communication

Molly created an executive management seminar for parish priest and followed that up founding her own media company. She has since worked in corporate sales and says the entrepreneurial spirit is alive in every career path.

More about Molly >

Davin AjimineDevin Ajimine '19 - Computer Science

Devin created a "magic" wallet for his Entrepreneur Scholar project. The most satisfying part of the project was collaborating with friends and colleagues, he says. Devin has recently started a job in product management at T-Mobile and is working toward a master's degree in human centered design and engineering at University of Washington. 

More about Devin >