Future accountants, financiers, entrepreneurs, marketers, and computer and networking experts will now be trained by St. Clair’s Zekelman School of Business and Information Technology.
The college’s School took on the new name on August 8, in recognition of a donation of $5 million from the Barry and Stephanie Zekelman Foundation.
Barry Zekelman, a Windsor native, is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zekelman Industries, a multinational (Canada and United States) steel product supplier and manufacturer.
This is the largest single corporate/philanthropic donation in the college’s half-century long history.
In addition to the designation of all of the academic programs in the School, the re-naming will also be reflected in signage on the new Business and I.T. Campus at One Riverside Drive in Windsor’s downtown (operational this fall) and on the new Academic Tower at the South Windsor Campus (construction on that should commence this year).
A portion of the donation will also be applied to the college’s new Sports Park at the South Windsor Campus, where the tennis complex will bear the Zekelman name.
The donation and renaming were the subject of a news conference at the new One Riverside Drive campus on August 8.
During that event, St. Clair President Patti France observed, “Zekelman Industries is now a multinational, steel manufacturing company with a number of subsidiaries; but most Windsor and Essex County citizens probably identify both it and the Zekelman family with the locally based company, Atlas Tube in Harrow.
“And the Atlas name is very fitting in this scenario, because the need to expand accommodations for our Business and I.T. programs has, in part, been caused by St. Clair's unprecedented growth in enrolment during the past three years. A half-dozen years ago, our international enrolment totalled approximately 350 students. When the 2018-19 academic year gets underway within just a few weeks, there will be ten times that number of global scholars in our halls – the largest number of which have enrolled in our Business and I.T. programs. Flip through an atlas, and on almost each and every page you will spot the over 60 home-lands of our international students.
“Canadian students, as well, continue to enter our Business and I.T. programs in significant numbers,” France continued. “Many of them exhibit a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit, as they seek opportunities in the new global economy that is exemplified by Zekelman Industries’ continent-wide success.”
The college President added, “As both business and community leaders, the Zekelmans are, with this donation, emphasizing that fostering educational opportunities is the best way to help young adults achieve their full potential – as both professionals and citizens.
“I believe, also, that having the name of this innovative and highly successful family and company attached to our School of Business and Information Technology will serve to attach a bolstered level of prestige – and employability – to our graduates' diplomas, degrees and resumes.”
“The Zekelman family welcomes the opportunity to influence the leaders of tomorrow by doing our part in supporting St. Clair College,” said Barry Zekelman. “There is no better way to secure the future than ensuring quality postsecondary education that prepares the next generation for leadership.”
Calling St. Clair a “cornerstone institution” of the community, he added that it provides the knowledge, tools and skills to help students realize their professional, academic and vocational dreams.
The Zekelmans have created jobs and economic growth, as well as supported countless charities and causes.
In 2007, the Stephanie and Barry Zekelman Foundation was established, which contributes to many organizations and community initiatives. In 2010, it was awarded with the AFP Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation Award for its contributions to many charities. In 2015, the Foundation was honoured with the Believe Windsor-Essex Award at the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. It recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to positive business development in spite of global market trends.
Barry and Stephanie Zekelman have chaired numerous fundraisers on both sides of the border.
“The Zekelman family endorsement, and support for the School of Business and Information Technology, will be recognized at both the main campus in South Windsor and our Downtown campus. Our new downtown campus will be an extension of the advanced programs,” said Zekelman School Chair Jim Marsh.
He added that the School has approximately 200 professors, and is forecast to have an enrolment of about 4,300 students in the 2018-19 academic year.
Marsh announced, also, that Barry Zekelman would be “regularly interacting and speaking with students” on business development and management topics.
The Zekelman School of Business and Information Technology moves forward with vision and a plan to take its place as a first choice and premier institution with world-class education and advanced offerings, including a Data Analytics Graduate Certificate, Revised International Business Management, and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration–Information Communication Technology.
The August 8th announcement served, also, as the first “roll-out” of the college’s new re-branding – with new gryphon-logo graphics, and a new marketing motto of “Take Flight – Rise Above The Ordinary”.
