Babson’s Blank Center Wins Prestigious GCEC Award

Listen

Closeup photo of the Nasdaq Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award

The Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College recently won the Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Conference in Las Vegas.

The award represents the highest honor that a university entrepreneurship center can receive. The Nasdaq award honors the entrepreneurship centers that have made and will continue to make enormous contributions in advancing entrepreneurship as the force in economic growth throughout the world.

Babson’s Blank Center also won the prestigious award in 2002, becoming one of just a handful of entrepreneurship centers to earn the GCEC honor multiple times in the 23-year history of the award. The competition this year was particularly strong with a record-breaking number of nominations (128).

“We’re honored to receive this special recognition,” said Smaiyra Million, Blank Center executive director. “Since its founding, the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship has been at the leading edge of entrepreneurship education and the advancement of entrepreneurship. To receive this award again 20 years later, validates the continuing work of our center’s staff, faculty, and students, to keep Babson innovating and advancing the field of entrepreneurship.”

This was the second year that the award was given in two categories, based on enrollment. Babson’s Blank Center won the small-school category (fewer than 5,000 students), and Iowa State University’s Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship was honored in the 5,000-plus students category.

Posted in Babson Briefs

More from Babson Briefs »

Latest Stories

Jason Ou ’27 talks on a microphone
After a 5-Year Entrepreneurial Odyssey, an Undergrad Returns to Babson’s Campus As a sophomore, Jason Ou ’27 left campus during the pandemic. His departure set him off on an entrepreneurial odyssey, as he moved from one opportunity to another. Now, five years later, he is back on campus.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
September 17, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership

Three entrepreneurs featured in BostInno 25 under 25 list.
Babson Entrepreneurs Lead the Way on BostInno’s 25 Under 25 List From fashion to tech, 12 Babson entrepreneurs made BostInno’s 25 Under 25, reflecting the College’s leadership in innovation.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
September 16, 2025

Posted in Community

Three creative business people look at a window filled with post-it notes
What Is Creative Thinking in the Workplace? And How Does It Fuel Innovation and Problem Solving? Creative thinking is one of the most essential skills for the workforce. Here’s why those skills are so important, especially in this era of rapid change.
By
September 12, 2025

Posted in Insights