Rio Salado College Wins National Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Award
A graphic announcement with colorful icons on the right side and a small rocket illustration at the top. The text reads: “National Award Winner Rio Salado College. 2025 HEI Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence.”
A group of thirteen people stand together inside an aircraft hangar, smiling at the camera. Behind them is a large white and blue propeller airplane. The group includes men and women dressed in business and business-casual attire.
Three women stand together indoors, smiling for a photo at an event. The woman in the center, wearing a light blue suit, holds a glass award. She is flanked by two colleagues—one on the left in a striped blouse with a dark vest and trousers, and one on the right in a white blazer and blue pants. A banner behind them displays the SIG logo and tagline “SIG Solves Problems,” indicating the award recognition took place at a professional conference or gathering.

Janelle Elias, President Kate Smith, Lily Davidov

A crystal award engraved with “Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence – 2025 – Rio Salado College” sits on a table draped in purple. Next to it is a decorative glass vase with gold geometric trim, filled with branches of small purple blossoms. In the background, a projection screen and large windows with views of greenery and outdoor structures are visible, creating a celebratory event setting.

Rio Salado College has been named the 2025 recipient of the Higher Education Innovation (HEI) Institutional Award for Entrepreneuring Excellence— recognizing colleges with exceptional student focus, innovative programs, and visionary leadership.

Under the direction of President Kate Smith, Rio Salado has embraced entrepreneurial thinking at every level, launching programs that focus on student outcomes and learning, from nationally recognized student-first solutions such as RioLearn (LMS), RioPACT (student success analytics tool), and RioConnect (a student-facing communication tool), to innovative partnerships and awards with the League for Innovation, InsideTrack, Strada Education Foundation, the State Authorization Network, Education Design Labs, and American Council on Education.

"This award reflects our commitment to turning innovation into action,” Smith said. “At Rio Salado, we meet students where they are and empower them to create their own opportunities. Whether it’s launching a business, advancing their career, or reimagining their future, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful pathway to student success."

In addition, Rio Salado actively engages with the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)/Everyday Entrepreneur Program to shape the future of workforce education while supporting student ventures through pitch competitions and partnerships with Wells Fargo and others.

With a vision to “empower learners everywhere through innovative education,” Rio Salado College continues to lead the way— empowering nontraditional learners and redefining what’s possible in higher education.

HEI held its ceremony last week in celebration of this year’s awards.

“We are so very proud of our HEI 2025 award-winners!” said HEI President Dr. Mary Landon Darden. “It is difficult, particularly in these days, to take risks, step out of comfort zones, and attempt bold transformation. These great institutions and leaders have the courage and know-how to do just that. They are setting an important example for the path that American higher education must pave in order to be all they are needed to be for now and the future. Congratulations to them all!

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