Newswise — The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship has named Clarkson University the "National Model Undergraduate Program in Entrepreneurship Education" for 2015.

The entrepreneurship education honors are awarded to colleges and universities that have developed and currently offer high quality and innovative programs to educate and train future generations of entrepreneurs. The judging committee consisted of a panel of experts who represent top entrepreneurship programs from around the world.

"Selection by our peers for this honor is true affirmation of the quality of the experiences we are providing for Clarkson students," said Reh Center for Entrepreneurship Director Erin Draper.

The National Model Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program award is given to a program that demonstrates excellence in seven key areas: innovation, quality, comprehensiveness, sustainability, transferability, depth of support and impact. Draper said this designation as a national model that other institutions can learn from demonstrates that Clarkson is leading the way in entrepreneurship education.

"Clarkson and the Reh Center provide a number of experiential opportunities for students, from workshops and incubators to student-run campus businesses, as well as internships and business plan competitions, but it's the students that make these programs really special," she said. "Their hard work and passion make the difference, and we get to help ignite that spirit of entrepreneurship through our programs."

Clarkson was represented at the USASBE conference in Tampa, Fla., by alumni, current and past trustees, faculty, staff, administration and students.

"I was absolutely thrilled and proud to represent these stakeholders and the University's entrepreneurship programs when our name was called," Draper said. "It is an honor to be recognized by our peers at USASBE for this national award in entrepreneurship education."

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world’s pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and the health professions, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

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