Nominate an Entrepreneur for the Indian Hills Vision Awards
On September 20, six entrepreneurs will be honored during the Indian Hills Vision Awards ceremony, held during the Southeast Iowa Entrepreneurship Conference. The Vision Awards celebrate entrepreneurship in the 10–county region served by Indian Hills Community College.
Over the years, the area has produced many great entrepreneurs who have been involved in highly successful ventures. Successful entrepreneurs must be innovative, willing to accept a measure of risk, hardworking, and passionate about their ideas. The Vision Awards are all about recognizing individuals in the Indian Hills region who exemplify these traits, and Indian Hills is seeking help in identifying entrepreneurs who deserve to be recognized for their efforts by nominating them for a Vision Award.
Vision Awards are awarded for the following categories:
- Business of the Year
- New Business of the Year
- Student Entrepreneur of the Year
- Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year
- Social Venture of the Year
- Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year
To be considered for a Vision Award the individual\business must reside in the 10-county Indian Hills region (Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne), with the exception of the “”Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year.””
Business of the Year: This is a business (within our 10–county region) that may have reached a turning point, having to reinvent itself or face and overcome a new challenge. This business may have introduced a new product, entered a new market, or expanded operations.
New Business of the Year: Start–up venture in the 10–county region that had great success and shows promise for long–term growth. Innovativeness of the business concept will be considered.
Student Entrepreneur of the Year: This K–16 student may or may not have a business of their own currently, but shows promise as a future entrepreneur. He/she presented innovative ideas and constantly challenged instructors and staff by proposing more efficient/effective procedures.
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year: K–16 educator from the 10–county region who went above and beyond to either educate on entrepreneurship or utlize entrepreneurial teaching methods. This award includes individuals in organizations such as 4–H or scouting, and nominees need not necessarily be licensed teachers.
Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year: IHCC graduate who is either currently operating his/her own business or was involved in an exemplary entrepreneurial project. Business or project need not have to be in the 10–county region. This project could be research, growth, relocation, or expansion–related, while working for a company.
Social Venture of the Year: This award honors ventures formed for the benefit of their community and society as a whole. Social ventures are formed by entrepreneurs concerned more with societal benefit than personal profits. Many social ventures are formed as non-profit entities, but they are not required to be for this award. The winning business must be located within the Indian Hills ten-county region.
For a complete description of each award category, please see the Vision Awards Criteria
To nominate someone for one of the above categories, please complete the Online Nomination Form. Nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 at 5pm.
You can also see a list of Past Vision Award Recipients here.
