“We are excited that we are able to provide support for UCF students, especially Rosen College graduate students,” said Dr. Juge. “The bottom line for both of us is that we get great satisfaction in supporting UCF students to achieve their goals. This gift is a way of repaying UCF and those who supported us in our early years.”

Dr. and Mrs. Juge have a long history at UCF. He joined the Chemistry Department as a Florida Technological şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą (now şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą) charter faculty member in 1968. Etta Jean also joined FTU that year as charter staff, becoming the first secretary in the Chemistry Department, which is how they originally met. She rose to become the administrative assistant to the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, then moved to Computer Services where she provided UCF faculty and staff training in technical areas like email and word processing. She received a degree in Liberal Studies and left the university to work as a technical writer, but remained strongly connected as a regular contributor to various UCF scholarships. Twelve years ago, she reunited with Dr. Juge and they married. Today, Mrs. Juge is a member of the Women’s Club at UCF and contributes regularly to their undergraduate and graduate scholarships as well as WUCF television.

Dr. Juge holds a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry and has worked in many positions at UCF, including professor, dean of Graduate Studies, associate vice president, vice provost and acting provost. ln 1975, Dr. Juge taught UCF’s first course on the chemistry of wine and winemaking. He transferred to Rosen College in 2003, where he currently teaches Exploring Wines of the World and The History and Culture of Wine. In addition, he has guided UCF students on tours of famous wine regions around the world. He is also a certified advanced level sommelier and has made wine as a hobby. In 2012, Dr. Juge was recognized by Orlando Magazine with a Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted into their Dining Hall of Fame.

In the spirit of the couple’s affinity for wine, Mrs. Juge donated a set of wine-related photos for display in Rosen College’s Anheuser-Busch Beer & Wine Lab when the campus opened in 2004. An additional set hangs in the Partnership II building located in the Central Florida Research Park.

The Juges’ generosity and contributions are evident across the university and their endowment will enable graduate students to positively impact the field of hospitality management for decades to come.

For more information about supporting Rosen College, please visit .

“Industry experts like Bill Whiting bring students their vast experience in the wine trade, but his lecture is about more than just wine,” said David Black, a lecturer at Rosen College with more than 30 years of experience in fine wine and spirits. “He also discusses the history of Italian wines going back to the Romans, which is important for students to understand. Bill only speaks at about ten different universities, so Rosen College is privileged to be included.”

Whiting is part of the third generation involved in the family business and a grandson of John F. Mariani, Sr., who founded Banfi in 1919.  Three of the company’s brands rank among the nation’s 10 top-selling imports and its Italian vineyard estate, Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, has won Italy’s highest wine honor four times – the Premio Gran VinItaly – for International Winery of the Year.

To learn more about hospitality management education at Rosen College, please visit .

Premier Beverage Company and UCF’s Rosen College partnered in 2011 to allow up to 450 students a year to take courses that focused on the historical, geographical and technical components of fine wines. The substantial 67 percent increased contribution from Premier Beverage Company now allows the college to support more than 750 students throughout the academic year.

“In looking over the wine list, I am very impressed with not only the quantity, but also the quality and breadth of product that Premier Beverage has generously donated to our program,” said Dr. Frank Juge, a UCF Rosen College professor. “It reflects their continued support of our college and curriculum, as well as their commitment to educating the future hospitality leaders of the world in fine wines.”

According to Juge, “approximately one third of the profit from restaurants is generated from wine sales, and in order for our students to become effective managers of such restaurants, it is essential for Hospitality Management and Restaurant & Foodservice Management majors to understand fine wines and food pairings.”

“Premier Beverage Company is a proud partner of this institute of higher learning, and we look forward to continue taking an active role in the education of these future leaders,” said Eric Pfeil, executive vice president of Premier Beverage Company.

Premier Beverage is one of the largest distributors of wines, spirits and other beverages in Florida, representing some of the most valuable and well-known consumer brands in the world. The company’s mission is to be the distributor of choice for its suppliers, customers, associates, industry, and community.