This spring, several events across the College of Business demonstrated how connecting people across generations, disciplines and industries and their ideas creates momentum. By bringing together alumni, students, faculty, staff and industry leaders, we continue to build on our past while creating new possibilities for the future.
A great example is the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, which recently celebrated a milestone tied to one of the university’s most recognizable startup stories. Twenty years ago, Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management students John Wirtz, '05 & '06 MBA; David Graff, '05 & '06 MBA; and Brian Kaiser, '06, pitched their idea at the New Venture Competition. That concept grew into Hudl, now a global sports technology company used by teams around the world.
This year, the 39th Annual New Venture Competition continued that tradition as student founders pitched their ventures and competed for more than $80,000 in donor-funded awards to help move their businesses forward. The competition brings together students from 109 of the 120 majors the university offers alongside entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders who serve as mentors and judges. In the process, students refine their ideas and strategies while strengthening Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
At the awards event, held at Hudl, the Center for Entrepreneurship also honored eight entrepreneurs, faculty and community leaders. They received Nebraska Entrepreneur Awards for their role in shaping Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community and had the opportunity to network with the student winners at a reception after the event.
Our faculty also address real challenges through interdisciplinary research. A recent study by researchers in the College of Business and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources combined expertise in supply chain management and agricultural systems to develop irrigation rules that help farmers determine when and how much to irrigate. The research shows how smarter irrigation decisions can conserve water while improving farm profitability.
We continue to see the value of collaboration through the Mittelstaedt–Gentry Doctoral Symposium, a program created by Nebraska marketing faculty more than three decades ago. Each year, the symposium brings Ph.D. students and faculty from universities across the country together to present research and receive detailed feedback from peers and experienced scholars, helping strengthen the next generation of academic research.
Students in the second year of the donor-funded Integrity in Business Leadership program traveled to Atlanta to strengthen their professional connections. They met with leaders from Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company and the Atlanta Dream, gaining firsthand insight into leadership and business strategy during their sophomore year of college.
Together, these experiences reflect what makes Nebraska Business distinctive. We honor those who built the foundation before us, invest in the students who will lead the future and collaborate to help solve real challenges in our communities and industries. These connections create opportunities for our students and expand the impact of Nebraska Business far beyond campus.
Dean Kathy Farrell
