Awards and Recognition
Since 2001, CEO has recognized the entrepreneurs, advisors, chapter leaders and university programs that shape the next generation of founders. This page preserves the full history of every award recipient.
| Entrepreneur of the Year | Chapter President | Chapter Advisor | Global Chapter |
| Lifetime Achievement | Hall of Fame | Discontinued Awards |
CEO Collegiate Entrepreneur of the Year |
$500 Cash Award | Open for Nominations
Presented to the collegiate entrepreneur who best exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit through launching and running a business while pursuing their degree. Finalists present their ventures at the CEO Global Conference, and the winner is selected by a panel of judges.
|
2025 Recipient Dillon RosenthalFlorida Gulf Coast University · BounceBack Pickle |
Previous Recipients
Year |
Honoree |
University |
Company / Venture |
|
2024 |
Not awarded |
|
|
|
2023 |
Kinser Madison |
South Dakota State University |
Wildman Outdoors |
|
2022 |
Yahmir Muhammad |
Jackson State University |
|
|
2021 |
Suryanuj Gupta |
University of Delaware |
Backyard Gig |
|
2020 |
Javyn Stubbs |
Texas State University |
Kodi Trash Can |
|
2019 |
William "Grayson" Burgess |
Iowa State University |
Comic Sandwiches |
|
2018 |
Not recorded |
|
|
|
2017 |
Ryan Buonaugurio |
Bryant University |
RPB Marine |
|
2016 |
Nick Martin |
University of Tampa |
Signature Lacrosse |
|
2015 |
Sean Tabor |
University of Michigan - Flint |
Refuge Properties |
CEO Chapter President of the Year |
$500 Cash Award | Open for Nominations
Presented to the chapter president who led with purpose, grew their chapter, and left it better than they found it. This award was previously called the Outstanding CEO Chapter Leader Award through 2023.
|
2025 Recipient Roz BurgessEast Carolina University |
Previous Recipients
Year |
Honoree |
University |
|
2024 |
Skye Shapiro-Simmons |
Stetson University |
|
2023 |
Giancarlo Dandria |
University of Tampa |
|
|
Cherie Higgs (Runner-Up) |
Chico State |
|
2022 |
Payton Cranford |
Texas Christian University |
|
|
Bogdan Carp (Runner-Up) |
Baruch College |
|
2021 |
Jacob Woolf |
University of Central Florida |
|
|
Ibrahim Shoukat (Runner-Up) |
Middle East College |
|
2020 |
Justin Krug |
University of Nebraska, Omaha |
|
|
Andrea Prgomelja (Runner-Up) |
University of South Alabama |
|
2019 |
Brady Hillhouse |
East Carolina University |
|
|
Nathan Waley (Runner-Up) |
Canisius College |
|
2018 |
Casey Seidl |
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater |
|
|
Robert House (Runner-Up) |
Texas State University |
|
2017 |
Sarah Grosz |
Syracuse University |
|
|
Hunter Driscoll (Runner-Up) |
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater |
|
2016 |
Zoe Bruyn |
Grand Valley State University |
|
|
Nolan Herlocker (Runner-Up) |
Iowa State University |
|
2015 |
Sean Tabor |
University of Michigan - Flint |
|
|
Nolan Herlocker (Runner-Up) |
Iowa State University |
James H. Hunter Chapter Advisor of the Year |
$500 Cash Award | Open for Nominations
Recognizes the faculty or staff advisor whose consistent support helped their chapter grow and thrive during the academic year. In 2024, this award was permanently renamed the James H. Hunter Chapter Advisor of the Year Award in honor of Jim Hunter’s decades of service at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
|
2025 Recipient Daniel James ScottStetson University |
Previous Recipients
Year |
Honoree |
University |
|
2024 |
James H. Hunter |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
2023 |
Dianne Welsh |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
|
|
Marlene Leekang (Runner-Up) |
Baruch College |
|
2022 |
Derek Abrams |
University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley |
|
|
Randy Frye (Runner-Up) |
Saint Francis University |
|
2021 |
Lou Paris |
Stetson University |
|
|
James H. Hunter (Runner-Up) |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
2020 |
Dr. Corey Fox |
Texas State University |
|
2019 |
Dianne Welsh |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
|
|
James H Hunter (Runner-Up) |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
2018 |
Dr. Ji-Hee Kim |
Canisius College |
|
|
Jim Hunter (Runner-Up) |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
2017 |
Dale Eesley |
University of Nebraska at Omaha |
|
|
Craig Davidson (Runner-Up) |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
2016 |
James H. Hunter |
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
|
|
Dale Eesley (Runner-Up) |
University of Nebraska, Omaha |
|
2015 |
William Dougan |
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater |
|
|
James Bell (Runner-Up) |
Texas State University |
CEO Global Chapter of the Year |
$500 Cash Award | Open for Nominations
Presented to the CEO chapter that delivered the strongest overall entrepreneurship experience for its members during the academic year. Programming, membership, community and outcomes all count. Finalists present at the conference.
|
2025 Recipient University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
Previous Recipients
Year |
University |
|
2024 |
CUNY Baruch |
|
2023 |
Bryant University |
|
2022 |
University of Nebraska Omaha |
|
2021 |
Texas State University |
|
2020 |
Bryant University |
|
2019 |
Not recorded |
|
2018 |
Abilene Christian University |
|
2017 |
Not recorded |
|
2016 |
Abilene Christian University |
CEO Lifetime Achievement Award |
Honorary Recognition | Selected by CEO Headquarters | Presented 2005–2013
Presented to entrepreneurs whose careers represented decades of innovation, company building and industry leadership. Recipients were invited to the CEO National Conference to share their story with student entrepreneurs.
Year |
Honoree |
Company / Venture |
|
2013 |
Norm Brodsky |
Inc. Magazine, Black Gold Suites, Kobeyaki Restaurant Group |
|
2012 |
Brian Scudamore |
1-800-GOT-JUNK |
|
2011 |
Gene Landrum |
Chuck E. Cheese |
|
2010 |
Jeff Hoffman |
Priceline.com |
|
|
Michael DeLazzer |
Redbox |
|
2009 |
Alfredo Molina |
The Molina Group |
|
2008 |
Doris Christopher |
The Pampered Chef |
|
|
Robert Kiyosaki |
Rich Dad Poor Dad |
|
2007 |
Edward and Bettiann Gardner |
Soft Sheen Products |
|
|
Peter Thomas |
LifePilot |
|
2006 |
Helen Greiner |
iRobot |
|
|
Patrick Byrne |
Overstock.com |
|
2005 |
Steve Wozniak |
Apple Computer |
CEO Hall of Fame Award |
Honorary Recognition | Selected by CEO Headquarters | Presented Circa 2001–2021
Presented to entrepreneurs whose careers represented decades of innovation, company building and industry leadership. Recipients were invited to the CEO National Conference to share their story with student entrepreneurs and were inducted in recognition of the breadth and staying power of their work.
Year |
Honoree |
Company / Venture |
|
2021 |
Reuben Pressman |
Presence |
|
2019 |
Kyle Taylor |
The Penny Hoarder |
|
2017 |
Craig Dubitsky |
Hello Products, eos, Method |
|
2016 |
Dr. Gene Landrum |
Chuck E. Cheese |
|
|
Michael DeLazzer |
Redbox |
|
2015 |
Craig Culver |
Culvers |
|
|
Henry and Tom Bloch |
H&R Block |
|
2014 |
Kevin Harrington |
As Seen on TV |
|
2013 |
Chris Heivly |
The Startup Factory, MapQuest |
|
2007 |
Kenneth Hendricks |
American Builders and Contractors Supply Co. |
|
|
Ron Rubin |
The Republic of Tea |
|
2003 |
Michael Ferro |
Click Commerce, Inc. |
|
2001 |
Myra Hart |
Staples |
|
|
William Saito |
I/O Software, Inc. |
|
Circa 2001 |
Bill Porter |
E-Trade |
|
|
Earl Graves |
Black Enterprise Magazine |
|
|
Gordon Segal |
Crate and Barrel |
|
|
Herb Kelleher |
Southwest Airlines |
|
|
Rhonda Kallman |
Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams) |
|
|
Yossi Vardi |
ICQ |
2003: Michael Ferro was recognized under the CEO Young Entrepreneur of the Year distinction within the Hall of Fame program.
2007: Joshua James (Omniture, Inc.) and 2008: David Hauser (GotVMail/Grasshopper) and 2009: Edmund Scanlan (Total Attorneys, Inc.) and 2012: Mike Evans (GrubHub) were also recognized under the CEO Young Entrepreneur of the Year distinction.
2016: Dr. Gene Landrum and Michael DeLazzer were recognized under the Best of the Best distinction.
The following awards were presented through the 2024 conference and are no longer offered beginning in 2026. Their full history of recipients is preserved here.
Outstanding Marketing and Social Media Award |
Presented 2015–2024
Year |
University |
|
2024 |
University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley |
|
2023 |
Iona University |
|
|
Baruch College (Runner-Up) |
|
2022 |
Bryant University |
|
|
Iona University (Runner-Up) |
|
2021 |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
|
|
University of Nebraska, Omaha (Runner-Up) |
|
2020 |
University of South Alabama |
|
|
Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (Runner-Up) |
|
2019 |
Bryant University |
|
|
University of North Carolina, Greensboro (Runner-Up) |
|
2018 |
Bryant University |
|
|
Texas Christian University (Runner-Up) |
|
2017 |
Texas Christian University |
|
|
Iowa State University (Runner-Up) |
|
2016 |
Texas State University |
|
|
Iowa State University (Runner-Up) |
|
2015 |
University of Florida |
|
|
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater (Runner-Up) |
Best Cross Campus Innovation and Networking Award |
Presented 2015–2024
Year |
University |
|
2024 |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
|
2023 |
Baruch College |
|
|
Bryant University (Runner-Up) |
|
2022 |
Chico State & Woodbury University |
|
|
Middle East College (Runner-Up) |
|
2021 |
University of Tampa |
|
|
Bryant University (Runner-Up) |
|
2020 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
|
|
University of Texas at El Paso (Runner-Up) |
|
2019 |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
|
|
University of Central Florida (Runner-Up) |
|
2018 |
Bryant University |
|
|
Canisius College (Runner-Up) |
|
2017 |
Canisius College |
|
|
University of Michigan - Flint (Runner-Up) |
|
2016 |
Iowa State University |
|
|
Canisius College (Runner-Up) |
|
2015 |
Texas Christian University |
|
|
Grand Valley State University (Runner-Up) |
Outstanding Chapter Revenue Generating Initiative |
Presented 2015–2024
Year |
University |
|
2024 |
Iona University |
|
2023 |
University of Northern Colorado |
|
|
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Runner-Up) |
|
2022 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
|
|
West Chester University (Runner-Up) |
|
2021 |
Abilene Christian University |
|
|
Canisius College (Runner-Up) |
|
|
University of Nebraska Omaha (Runner-Up) |
|
2018 |
Abilene Christian University |
|
|
Canisius College (Runner-Up) |
|
2017 |
Canisius College |
|
|
Abilene Christian University (Runner-Up) |
|
2016 |
University of Nebraska, Omaha |
|
|
Texas State University (Runner-Up) |