Whitman School Recognizes Student, Alumni and Faculty Excellence at 2026 Entrepreneurship Awards

Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management honored a distinguished group of students, alumni and faculty at its 2026 Entrepreneurship Awards on April 10, held in conjunction with the Panasci Business Plan Competition. Presented by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, the awards celebrated individuals who have made meaningful contributions to innovation, venture creation and student success across the University. 

"Entrepreneurship has long been a strength at Whitman, and we are now at an inflection point where new faculty hires, new programs and new energy in the Couri Hatchery are coming together at a historic time for the University," said John Torrens, professor of entrepreneurial practice and deputy department chair. "There are so many good things happening in EEE, and it is nice to pause and recognize those in our community who are working to make it even better." 

Undergraduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship 

Nicolas Courbage '26, founder of PapeX and a finance and entrepreneurship major, received the Undergraduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award. PapeX is developing a digital platform that eliminates the need for physical, email or text receipts, connecting the final stages of the retail transaction process to personal and professional financial management tools. 

Graduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship 

Paulomi Chavan '27 M.S., a student in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises program, received the Graduate Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award for her leadership and impact in the field. 

Young Alumni Excellence in Entrepreneurship 

Phoebe Gullingsrud '24, founder of POV Brand Management, received the Young Alumni Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, which honors a recent graduate excelling in entrepreneurial pursuits. 

Student Entrepreneur of the Year 

Trey Augliano '27, founder of Utopia Beauty and a dual major in entrepreneurship and marketing, was named Student Entrepreneur of the Year. Utopia Beauty is a direct-to-consumer retailer offering high-performance skincare, makeup and beauty products, each validated by independent clinical labs in the United States and Europe. The brand launched with a curated collection of 50 to 60 rigorously vetted products. 

"I'm genuinely humbled and grateful," says Augliano. "Building Utopia Beauty from a dorm room with no funding and no team has been the hardest thing I've ever done, and this recognition means more than I can express." 

Dedication to Entrepreneurship 

Indaria Jones, program manager of the Couri Hatchery Business Incubator at Whitman, received the Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award in recognition of her exceptional service to the entrepreneurship program and the students she supports. 

George R. Burman Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership 

Misty Stutsman Fox, director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business at the D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, received the George R. Burman Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership for her significant contributions to advancing entrepreneurship initiatives. 

EEE Faculty Member of the Year 

Arielle Newman, Ph.D., assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Whitman, was named EEE Faculty Member of the Year in recognition of excellence in both teaching and research.