Wilson Furniture and the Sherman family make it an anniversary to remember for UOIT students
September 30, 2009
Announce plans to increase endowment fund to $50,000
(Jory Sherman,
left, and Darryl Sherman, right, accept a framed print from UOIT President Dr. Ronald Bordessa.)
OSHAWA, ON. - Wilson Furniture furthered its legacy of giving and support for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) today, when the downtown Oshawa business helped mark its 75th anniversary by announcing it will be supporting even more UOIT students in need.
Darryl Sherman, who is a third-generation owner of the downtown Oshawa family business, announced the Sherman family has now met a previous commitment to establish a $30,000 endowment for students in honour of his parents', Helen and Bob Sherman, golden wedding anniversary and is increasing its commitment to $50,000. Each year the endowment benefits one student studying in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology.
"We are very grateful for the ongoing generosity towards UOIT from Wilson Furniture and the Sherman family," said UOIT President Dr. Ronald Bordessa, who visited the store today to present the family with a framed photo in recognition of their ongoing support. "Wilson Furniture is a venerable business institution in Oshawa and has been an important supporter of the university since before we even opened our doors. Their gifts have had a remarkable impact for a number of our students and through their endowment, will continue to do so well into the future."
One of the first-ever donors to establish an endowment at UOIT, the Shermans reached the $30,000 goal two years earlier than anticipated. The total includes matching funds from the provincial government's Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) program.
Sherman said setting up the endowment for his parents' 50th anniversary captured the importance the family has always placed on post-secondary education. In particular, he pointed to how beneficial it is for Oshawa youth to now have a nationally recognized university so close to home. He recalled that during his own high school days, a number of classmates were not able to pursue a university education as they could not afford to travel and live outside of the region for their studies.
"We are very proud to support UOIT and are tremendously pleased that our endowment will provide financial relief for students so they can focus their attention on their studies and go on to graduate and fulfil their professional dreams," said Sherman. "As small business owners, we hope our gift will serve as an example for others in Durham Region so they realize this type of gift is an investment in our students and ultimately a stronger community for us all."
The Shermans were also visited today by UOIT Graduate Elana Jackson, one of the first students to receive assistance through the endowment.
"I'm very grateful to Wilson Furniture for establishing this endowment and for the support it provided during my studies," said Jackson, a Bachelor of Commerce graduate in 2008. "I can assure you from my experiences on campus that financial assistance is greatly appreciated by students and makes a big difference when working towards graduating and finding a rewarding career."
Each year new donors join longtime UOIT partners and benefactors such as the Shermans to create scholarships and bursaries that provide new opportunities for students; deliver state-of-the-art equipment and other technology that ensures graduates have the very latest in skills; donate towards construction of award-winning academic buildings; and give in other ways that are essential to the university's continued success. This growing group of valued partners ensures UOIT graduates have the real-world and high-tech skills required to meet the demands of the knowledge-based economy and ensure Ontario's place as a global leader.
About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's more than 5,500 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit
www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.
