Ames, Iowa – [2/24/2026] – The Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship was awarded the Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation honor at the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) 2026 conference, held February 18–21 in Salt Lake City. The award recognizes outstanding, innovative co-curricular programming in entrepreneurship education nationwide.
USASBE Awards Chair Krystal Geyer (Ohio University) shared, “One of the key considerations for this award is its replicability – whether other institutions could implement a similar program. 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.”
The recognition is part of the USASBE Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education Awards, which celebrate colleges and universities advancing entrepreneurship through creativity, quality, sustainability, and measurable impact. Iowa State earned the award in the Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation category for its College-by-College Pitch Competition, a signature program of the Pappajohn Center.
The College-by-College Pitch Off reimagines the traditional pitch competition model by hosting separate competitions within each of Iowa State’s undergraduate colleges, allowing students to compete among peers in their own college. Winners from each college advance to a campus-wide finale, in a high-energy showcase of top ideas across disciplines. Since 2019, 783 students have participated in the competition, and the Pappajohn Center has awarded $185,000 in prizes to student entrepreneurs.
Linda Niehm and Judi Eyles with the USASBE Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award.
Pappajohn Center Director Judi Eyles and Linda Niehm, College of Health and Human Sciences, attended the conference and accepted the award.
“Iowa State has done an exceptional job collaborating across colleges when it comes to entrepreneurship programming. 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. 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 said.
USASBE is an inclusive community dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship education through bold teaching, scholarship and practice. The Excellence in Co-Curricular Innovation Award highlights the significant role experiential learning plays in strengthening the overall entrepreneurship education ecosystem.
Iowa State also served as a Silver Sponsor of the 2026 USASBE Conference and was well represented throughout the event by Michael Howard (Hilsinger-Janson Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship, Ivy College of Business), Pol Herrmann (Dean’s Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ivy College of Business), Linda Niehm (Regents Professor of Entrepreneurship and Retailing, College of Health and Human Sciences), and Awoke Dollisso (Teaching Professor, Agricultural Education and Studies, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences).
Three of the attendees from Iowa State contributed to multiple conference sessions, showcasing the university’s national leadership in entrepreneurship education:
We are thrilled to receive further national recognition that shows Iowa State’s commitment to making entrepreneurship accessible across disciplines and empowering students with hands-on opportunities to develop, pitch, and launch innovative ideas.
