A $10-million gift from the Joyce Foundation will see an annual Ed Lumley Bursary created to help support students at the University of Windsor.

Multiple bursaries each year will provide students from Windsor-Essex who face financial hardships $8,000 each year for up to four years of study.

The bursary is named in honour of the school's Chancellor, Ed Lumley, in recognition of his commitment to the school and the community.

In a statement, president and vice-chancellor Alan Wildeman said, "We are deeply grateful to Ron Joyce and his foundation, and are indebted to Chancellor Lumley for never forgetting his roots in Windsor-Essex and his belief in the power of education."

He continued "I also thank the faculty and staff who with our Chancellor helped design the Ed Lumley Bursary to ensure that it identifies students in high schools who have financial need and a desire to go to university, and that it includes mentoring support."

Wildeman also announced Thursday the school's new innovation centre on Wyandotte Street will be named The Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre.

The university says the bursary is the most significant student support endowment in its history.