We are so proud of your accomplishments and dedication these past four years at Rowan University. Keep making us #RowanPROUD! We cannot wait to see all of the great things you will do!

The School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Byrd and Ross Medallion Awards. These prestigious awards are presented to Rowan University seniors who contribute significantly to the entrepreneurship community and demonstrate perseverance along the way.

The recipient of the 2025 Byrd Medallion Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership is Ajee Jeter (Entrepreneurship & Music Industry '25).

This award honors Professor Kimble Byrd, a founding member of Rowan’s entrepreneurship faculty, and was established through the generosity of Professor Greg Payton, one of his former students. “Professor Byrd inspired me to think bigger and work harder,” said Payton. “He emphasized the importance of service above self, academic achievement, perseverance, and an entrepreneurial mindset.” The award recognizes a student who exemplifies these values.

The 2025 Ross Medallion Award for Entrepreneurial Engagement is awarded to Madison Miller (Journalism & Entrepreneurship '25) and Addison Deckert (Mechanical Engineering '25).

Given in honor of Dr. Linda Ross, who taught at Rowan for 43 years and co-founded its entrepreneurship program, the Ross Medallion recognizes students deeply engaged in Rowan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recipients are more than participants; they are entrepreneurial leaders who contribute more to the community than they seek to gain.

RCIE Student Funding Request

🗓 Registration Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) now has a student request form available for all students who are seeking assistance with their startups and professional development opportunities, like competitions and accelerator programs. The application is open now and will remain open for students to use.

🔗 Learn more and apply.

Season 5 of the Entrepreneurship at Rowan Podcast is Live!

Hosted by Madison Miller (Journalism & Entrepreneurship ’25), Season 5 features creative voices from Rowan’s entrepreneurship community who share how they’ve transformed their passions into ventures and what it means to pursue entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Listen here.

Rowan alumni Kayvon Jahanbakhsh ’19 and Mike Lombardo '18 were recently featured in Forbes for their startup story behind Halfday, a prebiotic iced tea brand born out of a personal health journey. What started as a solution to manage Ulcerative Colitis has grown into a fast-rising beverage brand now stocked in major retailers like Target and Publix. Read the full article here.

Congratulations to Professor Greg Payton, who was selected as the 2025 Rohrer College of Business Entrepreneurship Professor of the Year. “To hear that I’ve made a lasting impact in their classroom experience, helping them grow, think differently, and feel inspired, is the greatest reward I could ask for as an educator,” said Payton.

Noah Kouhoupt (Mechanical Engineering & Music ’27) has been named to the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Inno Under 25 list, which highlights rising innovators across the region. Kouhoupt launched Atlantic Media Co. just two years into college, and in under a year, the company has already generated over $1.2 million in client revenue by bringing bold, creative marketing to the home improvement industry.

Danielle McManus (Entrepreneurship ’25), founder of La Belle Vie Bakery, capped off her Rowan journey by contributing her signature scones to the SIE graduation celebration. A finalist in this year’s Rohrer New Venture Competition, Danielle’s baked goods were a heartfelt (and delicious) send-off for the Class of 2025.

Four standout Rowan University leaders were honored on this year’s INNOVATE100 list by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association. Mohammad Abedin-Nasab, Ph.D., Mira Lalovic-Hand, Ph.D., Mei Wei, and James Grinias were recognized for their contributions to research, technology, and institutional growth that are driving innovation across New Jersey. Read the full story here.