One of the most remarkable features of the Dingman Center of Entrepreneurship is our extraordinary community of entrepreneurs. From Entrepreneurs in Residence, to angel investors and our student entrepreneurs, it is the people who engage with the Dingman Center that keeps its entrepreneurial spirit thriving.
On May 7, 2015, at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, the Dingman Center celebrated this amazing spirit of entrepreneurship and our thriving community with the inaugural Rudy Awards. Named for our founding director, Rudy Lamone, the Rudy Awards are an opportunity for us to acknowledge those in our community who have excelled in their endeavors this year.
It was inspiring to see so many from our community in attendance. Dean Alex Triantis kicked off the evening with remarks about the energy on Fridays in the Dingman Center and the importance of the center’s engaged community. Managing Director Elana Fine then took the stage thanking the attendees for their contributions to the Dingman Center.
“Within months of joining the team I recognized that the secret sauce of the Dingman Center was the number of people committed to our center and our work,” said Fine.
David Dingman, son of founding donor Michael Dingman, thanked the center for being a positive representation of the Dingman legacy and for making an impact on entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland.
Following remarks, the awards announcements began. Since there were only a select number of Rudy Awards to be presented, the Dingman Center staff elected to do superlatives or “staff picks.” The following community members received a staff pick: Liz Sara, Dingman Center Angel and Entrepreneur in Residence; Kyle D’Amore, Dingman Center student intern; Jordan Greenwald, Fearless Founder; and Hilton Augustine, Dingman Center Angel.
Next up was the announcement of the Rudy Award nominees and winners. Fine noted that the Dingman Center team went through a rigorous nomination and selection process. “Selecting the winners in each category proved to be one of the hardest tasks my team took on this year, so you should all be honored to be nominated,” said Fine.
The nominees and winners of the 2015 Rudy Awards:
Partner of the Year
Capital One - Winner
CONNECTpreneur
DC I-Corps
Portfolio Company of the Year
Social Tables - Winner
Talk Local
Visisonics
Mentor of the Year
Harry Geller - Winner
Andrea Keating
Brice Leconte
Faculty Honoree
Protiti Dasidar
Oliver Schlake - Winner
Andrew Sherman
Social Entrepreneur of the Year
Adrienne Baer
Evan Lutz - Winner
Kikanae Punyua
Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year
Paul Capriolo - Winner
Stephen Steinberg
Obidi Orakwusi
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Fredrica Antwi - Winner
Cody Branchaw
Sam Feldman
Jordan Greenwald
Bethany Monaghan
Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees who made a huge impact on our entrepreneurship community this year.
About the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
The Dingman Center has been at the forefront of entrepreneurship education and practice for more than 25 years. The center’s primary activities include helping students build their ventures, creating experiential learning opportunities and providing regional entrepreneurs with access to capital. Within the region, the center operates Dingman Center Angels, the area’s most active angel investor network with more than 40 members and 30 companies funded since 2005.
- Danielle Bennings, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
Media Contact
Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu
About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.