WORCESTER, MA – September 3, 2026 – The Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship at Quinsigamond Community College is concluding its first year dedicated to fostering student success and strengthening QCC's role in the region's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Since opening in the fall of 2025, the Center has delivered four entrepreneurship workshops, provided more than 60 one-on-one consultations and created new opportunities for students to develop business ideas, connect with mentors and gain hands-on experience pitching their ventures.
QCC hosted its first WooTank Qualifying Pitch Competition, where nine student entrepreneurs competed for funding and the chance to represent the College on a regional stage. QCC student entrepreneur Mallory Callahan, founder of Float Lab Worcester, went on to earn a $1,500 investment at the WooTank Intercollegiate Pitch Competition during Worcester Startup Week.
“Through mentorship, experiential learning, strategic partnerships and direct student support, the Auxilium Center has quickly become a valuable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Director of the Auxilium Center for Entrepreneurship Rocky Knight. “As it enters its second year, the Center is well-positioned to expand its impact, helping even more students transform ambition and creativity into opportunity.”
The Center also aims to elevate student entrepreneurs beyond campus. Four QCC students showcased their ventures at WPI Demo Day, another collegiate pitch competition, gaining public-facing experience while representing the College in Worcester's innovation community.
“The Auxilium Center at QCC gave me the tools, mentorship and support I needed to succeed as an entrepreneur while also pursuing my education and providing for my family,” said Jamie Miee, QCC student and founder of Hair by Jamie. “Starting a business feels scary and overwhelming, but with the right support, you can achieve your goals and overcome obstacles you once thought were impossible.”
The Auxilium Center at QCC was made possible through the vision of its founding supporters, the Cliff & Susan Rucker Foundation, whose early investment provided seed funding to hire the center director and help turn the vision into reality.
An Inspiring Generosity Grant from the Esler Family Foundation has provided a $10,000 matching grant to support Auxilium Center programming. Support from Cornerstone Bank, ITServe Alliance, UniBank, and the Webster Five Foundation is helping realize the full impact of this opportunity, which must be matched dollar-for-dollar.
Every gift made through December 31, 2026, brings QCC closer to securing the full $10,000 match, helping provide students with the mentorship, guidance and resources needed to turn ideas into ventures. These gifts will also support QCC's inaugural Entrepreneurship Week, help launch the Center's Business Incubator and strengthen the WooTank Qualifying Pitch Competition.
More information on how to support the Inspiring Generosity Matching Grant Program can be found at www.givecampus.com/schools/QuinsigamondCommunityCollege/auxilium-center-for-entrepreneurship-at-qcc.