WKU News

Dr. Dawn Bolton, Mattie Newman Ford Professor and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at WKU’s Gordon Ford College of Business took home the top National Best Practices Award from the Small Business Institute® for her implementation of the STudent Entrepreneurship Learning Lab and Research (STELLAR) project. She was awarded the honor at the Small Business Institute® awards luncheon during the annual meeting on February 13, 2016 in New Orleans, LA.

The Small Business Institute’s® Best Practices competition is an opportunity for educators to share their most impactful practices in the classroom and/or programs that promote experiential learning. Best practices were judged on the quality of content, innovativeness of the practice, strength of incorporating cross-curricular initiatives, positive outcomes, and presentation quality.

“The competition and live on-site presentations in this category were remarkable for their depth, diversity of content, and high impact outcomes,” said Stephanie Bardwell, coordinator of the Best Practices Competition. “We are delighted by the caliber of the competition, and the well-deserved recognition to all the contestants.” 

Ten competitors were chosen through peer review to present their Best Practices at the national competition during the annual meeting of the Small Business Institute®. Dr. Bolton’s STELLAR presentation was chosen as the top Best Practices project nationally by a panel of judges.

“As an applied college of business we are proud that our Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation encourages students to create plans to make their business dreams come true,” said Dr. Jeff Katz, Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. “This prestigious national award affirms that our students are being engaged in innovative programs that distinguish them among their peers. Our world-class faculty members are highly dedicated teachers and scholars.”