A Windsor-based recruitment firm with four offices in Southwestern Ontario has found the perfect way to celebrate its 10th anniversary in business—contributing to the development of the next generation of workforce professionals.

LucasWorks! will award a $1,000 scholarship to a UWindsor student as part of a number of community projects announced Wednesday by owner Maureen Lucas. The scholarship is aimed at an individual involved either in starting a business or in assisting start-ups through programs at the University’s EPICentre.

Her company believes in the power of entrepreneurship, said Lucas: “We wanted to commemorate our 10th anniversary in a meaningful way.”

The student awards office will begin accepting applications this fall for the scholarship, to be awarded for the Winter 2015 semester.

In addition to its UWindsor scholarship, LucasWorks! will make a similar award to a St. Clair College student, will pay for employees to complete their high-school educations, and donated $4,000 to the Unemployed Help Centre for its job skills training programs.

“We are supporting the programs that are designed to help residents in the community we serve,” Lucas said. “The donations, GED program and scholarship all represent the foundation and essence that LucasWorks! was built on.”