Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute Awards Over $1.5 Million in Scholarships & Waivers for 2023-24

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a top-10 ranked program at the University of Utah, and the David Eccles School of Business awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships and tuition waivers to over 140 student entrepreneurs for the 2023-24 academic year. Most of the scholarships come with the opportunity to gain leadership skills and experience while managing many activities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Find a list of scholarship and tuition waiver recipients below. They include undergraduate to graduate students and come from many different majors across campus.

“We are proudly powered by students who receive scholarships to be leaders in our community,” said Troy D’Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and an assistant dean at the Eccles School. “These students are getting a great experience managing our many programs and opportunities while also receiving support for their educations.”

All incoming and current students at the University of Utah are welcome to apply for scholarships from the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. The priority application deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year is Jan. 9, 2024. Students who miss the priority deadline can apply at any time, and applications will be considered when opportunities are available.

The majority of the students receiving scholarships serve as student leaders. They manage a broad variety of programs at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, ranging from workshops and mentor sessions to a makerspace and high school outreach program.

“Our students do everything from showing students how to use our 3-D printers to awarding grants to fellow student entrepreneurs,” said Anne Bastien, program director at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “They are receiving meaningful experiences that will help them prepare for the future.

Barry Carta is one of the students who received a scholarship from the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute this year. He is an entrepreneurship student from Chicago. He currently serves as the director of the Company Launch program at Lassonde.

“Being a student leader at Lassonde has given me access to the other side of the programs I participated in as a freshman and sophomore,” Carta said. “I’m gaining invaluable experience from managing the budget, planning events, organizing communications, and networking with faculty. These programs are built just as much for the student leader as they are for the student.”

Lydia Smith is a recipient of the Launch Your Imagination – Kylie B. Park Memorial Scholarship. She is from Salt Lake City and is studying modern dance. Smith is the director of the Workshops program, where she hosts workshops and other activities at Lassonde Studios.

“Something I like about being a student leader is the connections you can make with others outside of your major,” Smith said. “I love hearing others’ perspectives on things and learning about the various life goals my generation has.”

Logan Bogesvang is the student director of the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. He is studying quantitative analysis of markets & organizations and information systems and is from Woodinville, Washington.

“Lassonde is special because of its community and student-led initiatives and programs,” Bogesvang said. “I like being involved with this interdisciplinary and diligent ecosystem that helps inspire my best work.”

Other recipients of named scholarships include Gerald Pharin, recipient of the Cameron Russell Williams Legacy Scholarship; and Sadie Bowen, recipient of the Erin Valenti Women in Entrepreneurship Scholarship.

Many of the scholarships for graduate students were awarded to founders in the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program, which helps founders grow their startups with personalized mentorship, applied curriculum, access to funding and more. The MBC program recently received a 2023 Business Innovation Award, as covered by TechBuzz.

The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business. The institute provides many programs and opportunities for all students on campus to launch a company, build a product or join a team. Most programs are provided at Lassonde Studios.

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at lassonde.utah.edu/leadership. Learn more about the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at lassonde.utah.edu.

Lassonde 2023-24 Scholarship & Waiver Recipients

Below is a list of the Lassonde student leaders and scholarship and tuition waiver recipients for 2023-24. The recipients are listed by program or program group and then alphabetically by last name:

Company Launch