The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship and the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE) were proud to present awards to outstanding entrepreneurship professionals, faculty and students on Saturday, April 16. Every year, special individuals are recognized for their contributions to the entrepreneurship program and entrepreneurship community at large.
“The entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises program is proud to celebrate excellence across the campus and in the Central New York community,” said Terry Brown, executive director of the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship. “In addition to our many educational and outreach programs, we believe the support includes recognizing the people who have made a positive difference in bringing entrepreneurship to our community, both on and off campus.”
Twenty awards were given out in total, across several categories, honoring students, mentors, devoted professors and entrepreneurial students who made their business dreams a reality or demonstrated academic excellence.
The 2016 entrepreneurial award recipients include:
Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year: Chinedu Echeruo ’95 BS, CEO and founder of Gigameet.com; Partner, Private Equity at Constant Capital Partners; CEO and founder, HopStop.com; CEO and co-founder, Tripology.com
Undergraduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award: Samuel Sanders ’16 BS
Graduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award: Jing Pan ’16 MSE
George R. Burman for Entrepreneurial Leadership: M. Jack Rudnick, director of the NYS Science & Technology Law Center
Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Angelo Damiano ’18 BS
Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award: Susan Oot ’15 MBA
Young Alumni Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award: Brandon Eng ’15 BS
EEE Faculty Member of the Year: Kenneth Walsleben ’83 BA
Student Veteran of the Year: Lee Buttolph, ’16 MA, ’15 MSE
Whitman Entrepreneurial Idea Award (presented by Jeffrey A. Linowes ’77): ChaChing, founded by Seth Samowitz ’17 BS
Student CNY Business Award (presented by Whitman Alumni Club of CNY): StudentTicket, founded by Richard Lewis ’17 BS
The Panasci Business Plan Competition winners were announced during the same ceremony and included:
- 1st Place ($12,500/each): ExPrep and PowerSpike
- 2nd Place ($5,000): Brevitē
- 3rd Place ($2,500): Vacuum Irrigation Technologies
- Fetner Prize in Sustainable Enterprise ($5,000): AgriSense
- Consumer Product Innovation Award ($2,500/each): Brevitē and Vacuum Irrigation Technologies
- Goldberg Prize for Technology & Innovation ($2,500): Zolhi Technologies
- Latina Women Build Entrepreneurial Dreams and Pitch Business Ideas at the WISE Women’s Business Center with support from Onondaga County Office of Economic Development - July 10, 2017
- Whitman Hosts the 2017 Panasci Business Plan Competition - May 18, 2017
- Spring Capstone Business Plan Competition: Meet the Winners - May 1, 2017