Sustained Excellence Award

Born from a small gathering of students and alumni seeking faculty-informed economic insights, this annual forum has evolved into a signature alumni engagement platform that strengthens community while showcasing institutional expertise. When campus closures forced a pivot in 2020, the program made a defining decision to expand beyond its original audience, dramatically broadening its reach through a hybrid model that welcomed all students, alumni, and friends. Today, the forum attracts nearly 300 in-person attendees and reaches approximately 600 online participants across 25 U.S. states, international territories, and 10 countries, while generating corporate partnerships and cultivating a growing endowed fund that honors the program’s founding legacy.