Coles College Entrepreneurship Center Dedicated in Honor of Long-Time Supporters

In September, the Kennesaw State University – Michael J. Coles College of Business honored Robin and Doug Shore, long-time supporters of the university, through the dedication of the Robin and Doug Shore Entrepreneurship Center.

The Shores have been involved with Coles College since 1999, when Doug began his service on the school’s advisory board. Since then, the Shores have made indelible financial contributions to the college, including a donation eight years ago that allowed for the establishment of the Business Press Educational Foundation (BPEF)/Joseph Shore Scholarship Fund. The BPEF, an annual scholarship for deserving students in sales and marketing, was established as a 90th birthday gift for Doug’s father, whose work in business inspired his son’s work in entrepreneurship.

After the first of three visits to KSU’s educational site in Montepulciano, Italy, Doug joined the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board of Trustees. The same trip led to Robin Shore’s establishment of a scholarship for students hoping to travel to Montepulciano for summer programs.

“We don’t have children of our own, and I felt compelled to leave a legacy of some kind,” Robin said in a statement. Having studied abroad herself while in college, Robin understood the kind of opportunities and experiences a student can have while living in another country. “I was able to set it up so someone else could do what I did, which was a life-changing experience,” she said.

The naming of the entrepreneurship center comes as the result of a significant financial contribution from the Shores this fall. Dean of Coles College Kathy Schwaig commented on how the university has benefited from years of support from the Shores: “We are fortunate that these well-known entrepreneurs have taken a significant amount of their resources and invested in the passion and the mission that we have in the center,” she said in a statement.

regions: Atlanta

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