University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

December 4, 2001

Contact: Jeffron Boynés (312) 413-8702; jboynes@uic.edu

UIC WINS NASDAQ ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, part of the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been named one of five national winners of the NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.

NASDAQ honored UIC for having an institute that has made and will continue to make contributions in advancing entrepreneurship as the force in economic growth throughout the world.

NASDAQ created this special award in association with the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers for the purpose of recognizing the unique achievements and outstanding efforts of entrepreneurship centers across the United States.

A panel of NASDAQ representatives, previous honorees and professors of entrepreneurship at some of the leading programs in the country make the selections. The honor is given to entrepreneurship centers that have made remarkable advancement in the entrepreneurship 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.

The UIC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies' mission is to expand awareness and knowledge among students, entrepreneurs, professionals and academics regarding new venture opportunities, methods of creating and growing enterprises and the role of entrepreneurship and new/smaller firms in economic development and the world economy.

In addition to offering an MBA concentration as well as an undergraduate certificate program in entrepreneurial studies, the institute directs the selection of new members to the annual Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

It also sponsors an annual research symposium on marketing and entrepreneurship and a certificate program for business owners and managers. UIC's Center for Urban Business, as part of the institute, provides programs for minority and smaller enterprises.

The UIC Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies was recognized this year by SUCCESS magazine as the third leading entrepreneurship program in the United States.

The other four schools recognized by the NASDAQ center were Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Arizona and Wake Forest University.

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