Entrepreneurial Awards

We celebrate current students, alumni, and faculty and staff who have embodied the values of entrepreneurship.

Ken Olsen Student Entrepreneur of the Year

This award celebrates an individual student with the rare virtues required to create new ventures. This initiative was begun by the granddaughter of Ken Olsen, Lisa Masterson (Gordon alum ’03). Ken Olsen was a Christian entrepreneur that brought those virtues to life as few others.

Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year

This award celebrates a Gordon College alumni who has started his or her own organization or initiative and has embodied entrepreneurial virtues of innovation, resourcefulness, empathy, teamwork and determination.

2021 Janine Halloran '00 | Founder of Encourage Play LLC
2020 John Brice ’01 | Co-founder and Managing Partner of Antelope
2019 Josh Sturgeon ’07  | Founder of EmberTribe
2018 Kevin Grant ’09 and Kathryn Grant’ 10 | Founders of The Castle: A Board Game Café
2017 Kaitlyn Trabucco ’08 | Founder of Educents
2016 Kristina Stevick ’98 | Founder, President and Artistic Director of History Alive
2015 Robert Weil ’85B | Founder of Trutone
2014 Francis Vigeant ’04 | Founder of KnowAtom

Innovator of the Year

This award celebrates a faculty or staff member of Gordon College who works with an entrepreneurial mindset and pioneered innovation in their field of work.

2021 Ingrid Yamilette Orellana Rivera, International Student Services Coordinator
2020 Jewerl Maxwell, Vice President of Academic Initiatives and Dean
2019 Alexander Lowry, Executive Director of Master’s in Financial Analysis
2018 Leo Cleary, Head Carpenter
2016 Stan Reczek, Professor of Physics of Graduate, Professional and Extended Studies
2015 David Lee, Professor of Physics