Meliora Weekend 2018
We gathered to laud the history of entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester during the 2018 Meliora Weekend (a sort of homecoming and reunion celebration). Entrepreneurship has been around U of R for 40 (40!!) years. From a panel discussion to the Board of Trustees dinner, innovation was front and center throughout the weekend.
Meliora Weekend 2018
“It’s incredible – the amount of human capital in the University, and all of the research. As an entrepreneur, your job is to bring it together creatively,” says UR student entrepreneur Daphne Pariser. During the 2018 Meliora Weekend, we celebrated 40 years of entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester.
On Thursday, October 4, the Ain Center was invited to present at the University’s Board of Trustees dinner. Two doctoral students, Daphne Pariser ‘17M (MS) and Joseph VanderStel ‘16E (MA), presented their ventures and shared their stories with members of the University community. Hailing from URMC and Eastman School of Music respectively, these two students have utilized the various resources that UR has to offer. We are proud to be a part of their entrepreneurial journeys.
The Ain Center – in partnership with Alumni Relations, the Simon School of Business, and the Barbara J. Burger iZone – hosted a student panel and entrepreneurship expo on Saturday, October 6. The panel, moderated by alumna and co-founder of Health Care Originals Inc., Sharon Samjitsingh ’13 (MS), featured:
- Mike Alcazaren ’19S (MBA), co-founder of Canary Drones
- Vlad Cazacu ’20, co-founder and CEO of BarterOut
- Shelley Chen ’19, co-founder and CEO of Una Business Cards
- Ian Manzi ’18, co-founder of Critical Thinking for PEACE
- Daphne Pariser ’17M (MS), president and founder of Humans for Education
Each student contributed their own unique perspective, including how to balance their curricular programs and pursue their entrepreneurial passions.
Eastman doctoral student Joseph VanderStel, Mark Ain ‘67S, Board of Trustees Chairman Danny Wegman, URMC doctoral student Daphne Pariser, University President Richard Feldman, and Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship Duncan Moore.
Saturday’s entrepreneurship panel featuring moderator Sharon Samjitsingh and panelists Daphne Pariser, Ian Manzi, Mike Alcazaren, Shelley Chen, and Vlad Cazacu.
Members of the University community during the Saturday panel.
A representative from Simon Entrepreneurs Association and visiting professor Lidia Alexa during the entrepreneurship expo.
Panelists Daphne Pariser and Mike Alcazaren with Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship Duncan Moore during the poster session.
We would like to thank the University’s Board of Trustees for inviting our students to speak and share their entrepreneurial journeys at UR. We would also like to thank our student panelists, moderator, and departmental partners for our Saturday event. Cheers to another 40 years of entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester!
