Another exciting and engaging school year has come to an end for the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and it is time to celebrate some exceptional entrepreneurship students. The E&I Program and the School of Management recognized the academic and entrepreneurial success of twenty-three talented Clark University students at the annual E&I Awards Night on April 28 in the Grace conference room. School of Management Dean Alan Eisner and Teresa Quinn E&I Program Manager, kicked off the evening with well-wishes and a year-in-review video produced by student-owned Millman Management.
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.
The evening is designed to recognize students with their support system. With over 70 supporters of friends, family, and parents in attendance, the students were recognized in two ways – through academic excellence with induction into Sigma Nu Tau national entrepreneurship honor society and through student awards. This year 13 new entrepreneurship minors were inducted into the society and 11 students were recognized for their contributions to entrepreneurship on campus. The awards presenters were Teresa Quinn, and Stacie Hargis, E&I Adjunct Professor.
The requirements for induction into Sigma Nu Tau are steep. A student must have completed their entrepreneurship minor with a 3.6 or higher GPA, show engagement in campus entrepreneurial activities, and demonstrate good citizenship. This year’s inductees were Maya Cooney ’24 (Management), John D’Eufemia ’23 (Management), Lara Jordan ’23 (Geography), Anthony LoCasto ’24 (Economics) Chris Nguyen (Management), Elena Perez ’24 (Economics), Rachel Quinn ’23 (Management), Henry Reyes ’24 (Marketing), Fiona Scharff ’23 (Community, Youth, and Education), Sonny Siemenski ’23 (Spanish), Madeline Steigman ’24 (Marketing), Sujhan Ghimire ’23 (Computer Science), and Simi Stark ’23 (Internation Development and Social Change).
This year there were 48 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. The competition was tough making for a difficult deduction process for the committee. The committee narrowed the nominees to three or four top contenders in each category and chose a winner – 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); and 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.
Special thanks to Sadie Kaim ’24 owner of Sadie’s Sweet Shoppe for dessert and photo credit to Natalie Hoang ’25.
Learn More About Clark’s E&I Program
Please follow the E&I Program’s social accounts – LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram – to keep up with all Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program’s events and activities as well as our events calendar and student-run website www.clarkstudentventures.com.
If you are interested in getting involved with Clark Tank or the E&I program, please reach out to Teresa Quinn at TQuinn@clarku.edu.
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About the Clark University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program
The E&I courses are designed to help a student identify problems, ideate solutions to those problems, and implement the best solution to bring about the desired change. Whether your interest is business ownership or social change, Clark University’s E&I minor complements any major to help you gain the full benefit of your educational experience and future goals.
Media Contacts:
Teresa Quinn, Manager of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program
Email: TQuinn@clarku.edu
Meredith Galena, Communications Specialist, School of Management
Email: MGalena@clarku.edu