The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is the recipient of the prestigious 2014 NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. The award was presented at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Annual Conference, hosted by the University College London (UCL), Oct. 2-4, 2014.
The award was created by NASDAQ in association with the GCEC for the purpose of recognizing the unique achievements and outstanding efforts of entrepreneurship centers across the world. The selections are made by a panel of previous award winners and professors of entrepreneurship. The honor is bestowed upon entrepreneurship centers that have made remarkable advancements in the entrepreneurial field in the following areas: entrepreneurship research, outreach to emerging ventures, entrepreneurship curriculum, community collaborations, special projects, and overall prestige and recognition in the entrepreneurship field.
“We are honored to be recognized by our peer entrepreneurship centers from around the world,” said Elana Fine, managing director of the Dingman Center. “Over the past several years, the Dingman Center has differentiated itself by offering a breadth of campus, regional, national, and international programs. We pride ourselves on the impact these programs are making on our students and community and will continue to set a high bar for student entrepreneurship.”
Rudy Lamone, former Smith School dean and founder of the Dingman Center, co-founded the GCEC in 1996 with Don Kuratko, director of the Johnson Center of Entrepreneurship at Indiana University. Kuratko nominated the Dingman Center for this year’s award.
“This is among the most coveted awards presented by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and has a very special personal meaning to me," said Lamone. “We are forever grateful to our namesake, Michael D. Dingman, whose gift more than 25 years ago gave life and purpose to our Dingman Center family.”
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 50 companies funded since 2005.
About the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC)
The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), formerly the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (NCEC), was founded in 1996. The intent of the organization is to provide a coordinated vehicle through which participating members can collaborate and communicate on the specific issues and challenges confronting university-based entrepreneurship centers. The GCEC current membership totals 200+ university-based entrepreneurship centers ranging in age from well-established and nationally ranked to new and emerging centers.
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.