UOIT receives generous gift from Lenbrook Corp.

Donation in memory of company founder David S. Simmonds to recognize top Faculty of Business and Information Technology students 

Oshawa, ON - The entrepreneurial spirit of David S. Simmonds will live on at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), thanks to a donation from Lenbrook Corp., a Pickering, Ontario-based company he founded. The donation will establish the David S. Simmonds Entrepreneurship Award, which will recognize the Faculty of Business and Information Technology's (FBIT) winning Capstone program student team each year with a $5,000 grant.

"On behalf of UOIT and most importantly our students, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Lenbrook for their generous commitment to our students," said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president, UOIT. "We continue to attract the interest and support of organizations like Lenbrook because of the market-driven programs and technology-rich learning environment we offer our students. As a result our students graduate with the skills and hands-on experience necessary to become successful next-generation professionals."

David S. Simmonds spent more than 50 years in the electronics, telecommunications and consumer electronics industry, specializing in marketing, management and business. He began his career in 1946 working at his father's company A.C. Simmonds and Sons. In 1978 he founded his own company, Lenbrook Corp. along with several partners. He was recognized often for his leadership and entrepreneurship in the Canadian business community and served on a variety of industry committees and associations, such as the Electronics and Electrical Manufacturers Association of Canada. In 1996, he received the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association's Award of Excellence and in 2009 was inducted posthumously into the Canadian Telecom Hall of Fame in Ottawa, Ontario, along with his three sons. Simmonds' success in business can be attributed to his unique ability to keep pace with the rapid changes in the various industries he was involved in and his ability to anticipate and capitalize on emerging markets.

"Our company was looking for an appropriate way to honour the entrepreneurial spirit that our founder, David S. Simmonds, built our company on" commented Gord Simmonds, president and chief executive officer of Lenbrook Corp. "To recognize the top achievers in the Capstone Program, with an entrepreneurship award in his name, fits that objective well. For this to be awarded at UOIT, in the Durham Region where he lived and worked, is especially appropriate. We are thrilled to be partnered with UOIT in helping students gain such valuable business experience."

FBIT's Capstone program focuses on solving business problems through no-cost consulting. UOIT's fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Game Development and Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Information Technology students work in custom teams of four to five members to study an actual organization. Students complete a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the organization and develop appropriate recommendations for improved performance with the solution of a particular problem or group of problems. The Capstone project provides students with opportunities to develop a thorough understanding of the technology, environment, markets and operations of a real organization by applying the theory and knowledge they have learned.

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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 7,400 undergraduate and graduate 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; Education; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; Science; and Social Science and Humanities. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including seven Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About Lenbrook Corp.

The Lenbrook Group of Companies is a privately owned Canadian corporation focused on business development. Formed in 1978, Lenbrook was a national distributor of electronics components and two-way radio products. Since then, the company diversified further, with involvement in retail, technology and specialty brand development. Now a mid-sized company, Lenbrook delivers a sustained sales revenue growth through its primary activities of Distribution Channel Management and the international brand development of NAD Electronics and PSB Loudspeakers.www.lenbrook.com

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
289.928.0268
melissa.levy@uoit.ca