On Monday, April 24, 2017, the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) announced that College of San Mateo had won the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge College of Excellence award.

“The Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge serves as the foundation for entrepreneurial leadership in our member colleges,” said Rebecca Corbin, Ed.D. president and CEO of NACCE. “If you are doing innovative work, you deserve to be recognized as part of our best-practice examples on a national level.”

Led by business professor Peter von Bleichert, Ph.D and added to the college’s curriculum in 2016, the Entrepreneurship certificate of specialization prepares students for success in starting and operating new enterprises throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. “This is an honor for our program, validation of our efforts, and inspiration for our students,” said Dr. von Bleichert.

Students in the program have frequently been recognized for their achievements, including first and third place finishes in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office’s 2016 Taste of Success Business Plan Pitch competition, as well as regional Silicon Valley finalist in this year’s competition, currently in progress. “Our student entrepreneurs are doing amazing work,” said Michael Claire, president of College of San Mateo. “They represent the future for economic vitality in our community, and this NACCE College of Excellence award recognizes our role in preparing them for that future.”

For more information about CSM’s entrepreneurship program, please contact Peter von Bleichert at vonbleichertp@smccd.edu.