Waynesburg University celebrated the grand opening of its Entrepreneurial Hub for Innovative Ventures and Endeavors’ (eHIVE) new location on Friday, February 16.
The day-long celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony, demonstrations, competitions and activities as well as a nod to the University’s milestone 175th anniversary, which is being celebrated throughout the year.
President Lee; and Greg Halvatzis cut the ribbon!
Now located on the first floor of Stover Campus Center, the eHIVE’s new space continues the work of the University’s award-winning Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, established in 2018.
To our donors, we are so incredibly grateful. I want you to know that you are changing lives through this gift.”
The new innovation hub houses equipment that supports student entrepreneurs in their prototyping efforts and enables them to make products to sell for their own small businesses. The renovations and purchase of the equipment were made possible by generous donors.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, remarks were offered by Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee; Gregory Halvatzis, Chair of the Waynesburg University Board of Trustees; and Mindy Walls, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, Chairperson for the Business Administration Department and Associate Professor of Business Administration.
“To our donors, we are so incredibly grateful,” said Walls. “I want you to know that you are changing lives through this gift.”
Equipped with a laser engraver, 3-D printers, large format printer, CNC machine, heat press and more, the eHIVE has already supported student entrepreneurs as they work on apparel startups or use the machines to create stickers, clings, etc.
Students can enroll in classes to learn how to operate the new makerspace equipment or prototype. Andrew Heisey, Associate Professor of Art, is currently teaching “Makerspace Lab,” which allows students to learn the programming of the machines so they can utilize the equipment themselves.
Walls and Heisey are also teaching the award-winning “Plastics to Progress” course in the new space. This class turns recycled plastic waste from campus into a product with social cause and supports recycling on campus.
The eHIVE also supports the University’s retail learning lab and official campus spirit store, The Nest, with products created in the makerspace currently for sale in the store. In addition, staff and student workers have filled orders for custom products from across campus, providing an additional revenue stream to support the center and its programming.
An Award-Winning Program
Committed to developing an entrepreneurial mindset within all students, Waynesburg University continues to receive accolades for its Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.
In October 2023, the eHIVE was named the “Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center” by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) during its annual conference at the Perot Museum of Nature in Science in Dallas, Texas.
In 2022, the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program was presented with the Rising Star Award for Excellence in Curriculum Innovation in Entrepreneurship at the 11th Annual Deshpande Symposium at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.
Last month, the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) selected Mindy Walls as a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow.
Selection as a USASBE Justin G. Longenecker Fellow is the highest recognition that USASBE gives to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the development, furtherance and benefit of small and medium businesses. The Longenecker Fellow designation recognizes the achievements of men and women whose passion and burning desire for small business and entrepreneurship is reflected in their teaching, writing, training and public service.
A glimpse inside the eHIVE
About the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
The vision of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Program is to create a culture of proactive, innovative, ethical problem solving which will provide Waynesburg University students with the skills, abilities, experiences, and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The program includes the following components:
- The eHIVE: The University’s co-curricular innovation hub focused on the practice of entrepreneurial leadership in a variety of ways, including: individual coaching, workshops, competitions and speakers. The eHIVE’s services are available to all students of any major at any time.
- The Nest: The University’s student learning lab and official apparel spirit store.
- Curriculum: The Entrepreneurial Leadership Program focuses on the study and practice of entrepreneurship in an academic setting through a major in the Department of Business Administration and a cross-campus minor.
The following is a comprehensive list of the technology outfitting the eHIVE:
- Stratasys F170 Printer
- Fusion Epilog Pro Laser
- 218252-E-Pro Ultimaker s5 Pro Bundle
- Wazer Waterjet
- Roland TrueVIS SG3-300
- STX20 Hotronix Heat Press
- Roland Direct to Garment Printer
- GrizzlyT31566 Bear Crawl All Swivel HD Mobile
- Grizzly T28347 - Extension Kit
- Grizzly T31563 - Bear Crawl Build Your Own Mobile Base
- Grizzly T28000 - Bear Crawl Heavy Duty Mobile Base
- 12" Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw
- G0817 Super HD 14" Resaw Bandsaw
- GO784 Heavy-Duty Floor Drill Press
- G1183 Sander 6/12" Super Duty
- G1021Z 15'' Planer
- G0733 Heavy Duty Wood Lathe
- G0697X Ext Tablesaw- 3PH, Reg Rails
- G0583Z 1HP Canister Dust Collector (Multi box)
- BXG0583Z02 Box for G0583Z
- FABBOTATC CNC Router
- iPad Pro with Pencil
- PC & Monitors
About Waynesburg University
The year 2024 marks Waynesburg University’s 175th Anniversary. The theme of the year-long celebration, “175 Years of Light,” focuses on honoring the University’s mission as well as its motto, “fiat lux,” or “let there be light.” This milestone year is a time for reflection, but also a time for great anticipation as the WU community together looks forward to the next 175 years while celebrating generations of students, faculty and staff pursuing lives of leadership and purpose for the glory of God.
Consistently ranked a best value school, Waynesburg University’s Strategy for the 21st Century affirms its commitment to developing an entrepreneurial mindset and ethical leadership skills for all students. Rooted in its mission of faith, learning and service, the private, Christian university is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with an additional site for graduate and professional programs in Southpointe.
