Entrepreneurship Student Awards

Entrepreneurship Awards Night April 19, 2024, Tilton Hall 6-8:30pm

Friends, family, and parents will gather to celebrate the top nominees in the following categories for a night of honor and recognition. This year there were 35 nominee submissions from across campus for three different student category awards  – Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year, Clark Student Venture of the Year, and Up & Coming Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year.

As with last year, this year’s competition was tough, making a difficult decision for the E&I adjunct professor committee. The committee narrowed the nominees to three top contenders in each category and chose a winner. Additionally awarded was the Program Manager Recognition Award chosen by Teresa Quinn.

Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year

• Winner – Sophie Lee
• Finalist – Maddy Steigman
• Finalist – Natalie Hoang

Clark Student Venture of the Year

• Winner – Just for Fun Farms
• Finalist – Youth Apparel
• Finalist – Breads & Threadz

Up & Coming Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year (first and second-years)

• Winner – Ana Gabriela Santana ’26
• Finalist – Cole Gushee-Nelson ’26
• Finalist – Forest Ryvicker ’26

Program Manager Recognition Award

Winner of the Program Manager Recognition Award was Natalie Hoang who demonstrated dedication to the E&I program as well as support and insight into driving program decisions of the E&I Program Manager, Teresa Quinn.

2024 Keynote Speaker

Keynote speaker, Dan Mazei, founder of All Tangled Roots and adjunct professor in the E&I program spoke in-depth on the importance of entrepreneurs moving the kindness needle in the world of business. Mazei worked most of his career in large corporations such as Activision Blizzard, Tinder, Ford, Reebok, and Edelman, but felt it was time to put human kindness back into business after a few unsettling situations in the corporate world. Mazei started a marketing consulting firm called All Tangled Roots in January 2024, which “delivers with an emphasis on energy, imagination, curiosity, respect, humility and levity.”

Dan Mazei, founder of All Tangled RootsSpecial thanks to Jack Rogerson ’23 ’24 for technical support and live stream, Danny Fredette for photography, Sherydan Quinn, and Amanda Edson for event assistance.

Entrepreneurship Awards Night April 28, 2023

With over 70 supporters of friends, family, and parents in attendance for the awards night ceremony, the top nominees in each category were recognized and the winners were announced.

Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year – Rhya Sippappin ’23, Andy Acevedo ’23, and winner Wynne Dromey ’25;

Clark Student Venture of the Year – Millman Management (owners Moses Millman ’24 and Henry Reyes ’24), VJSnapp (owner Vijay Yadav ’23), and winner Schweitzer Studios (owner Max Schweitzer)

Up & Coming Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year (first and second-years) – Sophie Lee ’26, Yajaira Bonilla ’25, Neel Kumar ’26, and winner Noah Katz ’26.

The Program Manager Recognition Award was presented to Henry Reyes for his outstanding contributions to the betterment of the program.

This year’s alumna guest speaker was Briana Azier ’05 owner of Bri’s Sweet Treats who shared her insight on networking and marketing your business. Briana rounded out her talk with an unveiling of her new peanut butter cup mascot, handmade and presented to Briana by Rhya Sippappen ’23, owner of Rhya’s Crochet Village. Additionally, last year’s Up and Coming Student Entrepreneur, Clarissa Ko ’25, shared her upcoming crowdfunding campaign video for 360Energy with the audience.

Special thank you to the following students for providing dessert – Sadie Kaim ’24, video – Millman Media, Moses Millman ’24 and Henry Reyes ’24, and photography – Natalie Hoang ’25.

Entrepreneurship Awards Night May 12, 2022

Friends, family, and parents gathered on May 12 to recognize outstanding entrepreneurship students at the annual awards night ceremony. The top nominees in each category were recognized and the winners were announced.

This year’s guest speaker was Christina Bai ’12 who shared her experience as an international student and entrepreneur.

Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year nominees – Charisma Nguyen-Lai ’22, Martina Villanueva ’23, and winner Henry Reyes ’24

Clark Student Business of the Year nominees – Radical in Progress (owner Gari De Ramos ’21 & ’22), Dough is Me (owner Maddy Steigman ’24), and winner SquidInk (owner Lara Jordan ’23)

Up & Coming Clark Student Entrepreneur of the Year nominees – Wynne Dromey ’25, Elli Mouchtaridou ’24, and winner Clarissa Ko ’25

Jose Castro ’22, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program intern was instrumental in coordinating the induction and awards ceremony. He was honored with the Program Manager Recognition award presented by Teresa Quinn, E&I Program Manager.

Special thanks to Manny Bowman ’23 owner of Sliced and Dana Miller ’23 for providing dinner, and Maddy Steigman ’24 owner of Dough is Me for providing dessert. Photography provided by Moses Millman ’24 and Vijaj Yadav ’23 grad student.