A well-known department at Iowa State University has been honored for its innovative practices.
The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship recently received national recognition for its College-by-College Pitch Competition.
The Pappajohn Center earned the Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation award at the 2026 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship conference, which was held in February in Salt Lake City.
The honor highlights standout co-curricular programming in entrepreneurship education, part of USASBE’s annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education Awards, which honor institutions for creativity, sustainability and measurable impact.
Iowa State program praised for ‘replicability’
Iowa State’s pitch program stood out for its ability to be replicated at other institutions, Krystal Geyer, USASBE Awards Chair from Ohio University, said in a news release.
“The Pappajohn Center has created a well-crafted, replicable event, and one of the highest compliments came from an evaluator who shared that they are actively working to develop an event like the College-by-College Pitch Competition at their own school,” she said.
What is Iowa State’s College-by-College Pitch Off?
The College-by-College Pitch Off divides the traditional pitch contest into separate competitions within each of Iowa State’s undergraduate colleges. Students compete among peers in their own academic areas before advancing to a campuswide finale.
Seven hundred and eighty-three Iowa State students have participated since the program launched in 2019, and the center has awarded $185,000 in prizes.
Pappajohn Center Director Judi Eyles and Linda Niehm of the College of Health and Human Sciences accepted the award at the conference. Eyles said the recognition reflects the university’s cross-campus collaboration.
“The College-by-College Pitch Off is a standout example, engaging students from all majors and expertly facilitated by our team at the Pappajohn Center,” Eyles said in a news release. “It is awesome to be recognized nationally for this co-curricular program, which has already been replicated by a number of USASBE member schools.”
Eyles, Niehm and Michael Howard, a professor in ISU’s Ivy College of Business, contributed to multiple conference sessions, showcasing the university’s national leadership in entrepreneurship education.
Iowa State’s recognition underscores its growing national profile in entrepreneurship education.
The Pappajohn Center said the award affirms Iowa State’s commitment to expanding hands-on opportunities for students to develop and pitch new ideas.
Ames Tribune reporter Ronna Faaborg can be reached at rfaaborg@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa State’s Pappajohn Center earns national honor for innovation
Reporting by Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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