The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to 110 students for 2025-26. Recipients gain leadership experience managing programs, workshops, and outreach, building skills while supporting fellow aspiring entrepreneurs.
Salt Lake City, Utah — January 14, 2026
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a top-10 program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to 110 student entrepreneurs for the 2025-26 academic year. Many of these scholarships provide students with leadership experience by managing programs that support aspiring entrepreneurs.
Recipients range from undergraduate to graduate students across a wide variety of majors.
“Our students are central to our mission, overseeing programs that create opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs,” said Scott Holley, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “As student leaders, they gain meaningful leadership experience along with scholarship support. This journey empowers them to explore entrepreneurship, inspire their peers, and build a strong foundation for their future careers.”
All University of Utah students, new and returning, are encouraged to apply for Lassonde scholarships. The priority deadline for the 2026-27 academic year is Feb. 15, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will be considered as opportunities arise.
Most scholarship recipients serve as student leaders, managing programs ranging from workshops and mentor sessions to a makerspace and high school outreach initiatives.
“We take pride in being a community created for students and guided by students,” said Anne Bastien, program director at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “Our outstanding student leaders gain hands-on experience managing teams, budgets, and events, while program participants benefit from peer-led initiatives that resonate with their experiences.”
Ethan McQuarrie, an entrepreneurship major from Salt Lake City and leader of the Lassonde Workshops program, said, “My favorite part of being a leader is connecting with successful alumni and expanding my network. I’ve met multi-million-dollar startup teams, high-level professors, and grown my friendships through other student leaders.”
He encourages other students to explore student leadership at Lassonde. “It’s a community built to push students to be their best selves. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow their business skills and gain real-world experience.”
Hannah Strassberg, a quantitative analysis of markets and organizations student and Lassonde Ambassadors leader, added, “My role has made me a better communicator. I used to fear public speaking, but being an ambassador helped me share information clearly and confidently.”
Charles Powell, a Spanish and quantitative analysis of markets and organizations student from Broomfield, Colo., serves as a student leader for the Lassonde 400 residential program. “In my role, I’ve helped shape the purpose of residential advisors in Lassonde Studios. We’re given resources and opportunities to foster collaboration in ways that are unlike any other dorm on campus,” he said.
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business, offering programs for all University of Utah students to launch companies, build products, or join teams. Most programs are hosted at Lassonde Studios.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at lassonde.utah.edu/leadership and about the institute at lassonde.utah.edu.
