ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø Students and Faculty Honored by Future Founders and 1871

Apr 23, 2018

At ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, our students get to experience a small college campus with big city opportunities. And ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏ꿉۪s relationship with Future Founders and our university partnership with 1871, the , located in downtown Chicago, exemplifies those opportunities.

Over the weekend, Future Founders, which is located in 1871, held its 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship U Awards to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation at Illinois colleges and universities. The awards recognize institutions and individuals that have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial accomplishments.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø was honored to be named Future Founder’s Partner of the Year.

Students and faculty also received accolades:
–Entrepreneurial Student Leader of the Year: Gabe Soler
–Entrepreneurship Professor of the Year: Omar Sweiss, assistant professor of business, Honorable Mention for the second year in a row
–Student Startup of the Year (multiple winners): Ryan Hesslau for Above The Waves

Future Founders believes every youth can become an entrepreneur. They offer age-appropriate and stage appropriate programs to connect youth with mentors and help them build a toolkit of entrepreneurial skills. They are one of the leading organizations in the nation in entrepreneurial education and mentoring.

ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø students also excelled at 1871’s recent Campus 1871 Weekend, where Soler and Josh York took second place in the pitch contest.

“What a week it has been,” said Prof. John Wightkin, assistant professor of business and department chair. “And it all happened because ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø had the courage and faith to jump into the Chicagoland entrepreneurial world – particularly with Future Founders and 1871.â€