Ohio Northern University was one of four finalists for a United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program Award and was recognized at the USASBE annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

ONU made the top four from more than 50 nominations. Tammy Schakett, assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the Dicke College of Business Administration, attended the conference and nominated ONU. The three other finalists were the University of Maryland, University of Texas and University of Florida.

The Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program Award is given to a college or university that has developed and currently still offers a high-quality and innovative program, the purpose of which is to educate and train future generations of entrepreneurs in a niche area. This award may be given yearly for an exemplary program that reflects innovation, quality, comprehensiveness, sustainability, depth of support and impact.

In addition to attending the conference, Schakett was a panelist for a workshop titled “A conflict of intellectual properties protection realities: Classroom vs. Reality.”

The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship is the largest independent, professional, academic organization in the world dedicated to advancing the discipline of entrepreneurship. With more than 1,000 members from universities and colleges, for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector, USASBE is a diverse mix of professionals that share a common commitment to fostering entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors.