NACCE Awards

Below is a list of our current and past winners for NACCE's signature awards. NACCE's awards are standards of excellence and are only given to colleges and individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to entrepreneurship and taken steps to advance entrepreneurship in their college and community. 

Heather Van Sickle Entrepreneurial College of the Year Award

This award recognizes schools that have demonstrated a strong commitment to entrepreneurship both inside and outside the classroom.

They have faculty, students, alumni, community members, business and industry actively involved and successful in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Specifically, this recognition is rooted in the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge (PFEP) that underscores the belief that community and technical colleges are ideally positioned to take the lead in furthering entrepreneurship and supporting local economic development.

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2022
2021
2020
2019
  • San Diego Continuing Education (CA) - View Press
2018
2017
2016
2015

Entrepreneurial President of the Year Award

Tallahassee Community College President James Murdaugh, Ph.D., is NACCE’s 2022 Entrepreneurial President of the Year. A few examples of entrepreneurial endeavors initiated under his tenure include: the creation of “TCC Spark" and Hosting of “Entrepreneurship Educators Meet-ups," among other efforts.

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2021
  • Dr. Betty Young, President, Hocking College (OH) - View Press
2020
  • Dr. John Rainone, President, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College (VA) - View Press
2019
  • Dr. Paul Dale, President, Paradise Valley Community College (AZ) - View Press
2018
  •  Dr. Penelope Wills, President, Yavapai College (AZ) - View Press
2017
  • Dr. Ben Dillard, Florence-Darlington Technical College (SC) - View Press
2016
  • Dr. Chuck Terrell, President, Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College (WV) - View Press
2015
  • Dr. Bryan Albrecht, President, Gateway Technical College (WI) - View Press

Lifetime Achievement Award

NACCE's 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winners are the Fish Family Foundation and the Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation. Both of these foundations have demonstrated an entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to equity, as demonstrated through their respective roles in the expansion of the “Learn & Earn” program (L&E) at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) in Boston, Mass.

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2021
  • Laura Day, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer, Minnesota Twins 
2020
  • Bill Haslam, former Tennessee Governor - View Press
2019
  • Dr. Constance Carroll, Chancellor, San Diego Community College District - View Press
2018
  • David Wilk, President & Co-Founder, Four Day Weekend - View Press
2017
  • Richard Gonzmart, President, Columbia Restaurant Group
2015
  • Mr. Richard Huebner, President, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council - View Press
2014
  • John Chemaly, Co-owner and President, Trinity EMS - View Press
2013
  • Desh Deshpande, Venture Capitalist and Entrepreneur - View Press
2012
  • S. Prestley Blake, Co-Founder, Friendly Ice Cream Corp. - View Press
2010
  • B.W. "Bernie" Simpkins, Founder, B.W. Simpkins Oil Co. - View Press 
2009
  • John G. Pappajohn, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Business Leader - View Press

PFEP College of Excellence Award

Several years ago, NACCE implemented the President’s for Entrepreneurship Pledge (PFEP) as a way of igniting positive change across campus and in the classroom. In 2015, the PFEP was validated through an independent study as an effective leadership method. For the past three years, we have recognized 15 schools with PFEP College of Excellence Awards according to the five action steps of the PFEP.

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2019 
  • Step 1: Northampton Community College (PA)
  • Step 2: Houston Community College (TX)
  • Step 3: Pierpont Community & Technical College (WV)
  • Step 4: Rogue Community College (OR)
  • Step 5: Borough of Manhattan CC (NY)
2018
  • Step 1: Algonquin College (Canada)
  • Step 2: College of DuPage (IL)
  • Step 3: Austin Community College (TX)
  • Step 4: Wake Technical Community College (NC)
  • Step 5: North Iowa Area Community College (IA)
2017
  • Step 1: College of San Mateo (CA)
  • Step 2: Fayetteville Technical Community College (NC)
  • Step 3: Madisonville Community College (KY)
  • Step 4: South Mountain Community College (AZ)
  • Step 5: Lorain County Community College (OH)