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Kelly Wiemann
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Award recognizes faculty who have successfully developed and nurtured entrepreneurs

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of èßäapp System Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Bob Schwartz awarded the first èßäappSystem Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year Award on Friday. The award was presented to University of èßäapp-Kansas City Rubey M. Hulen Professor of Law Anthony Luppino for his distinguished activity in developing and nurturing entrepreneurs.

“As the state’s premier research land-grant institution, we serve as an economic engine for the state,” Schwartz said. “By cultivating entrepreneurs who contribute to this crucial part of our mission, Professor Luppino represents everything an entrepreneurship educator should be and his many contributions illustrate the very reason we created this recognition.”

Luppino joined the UMKC School of Law faculty in 2001. He also serves as director of the Law School’s entrepreneurship programs and is a senior fellow in the cross-campus Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Prior to UMKC, Luppino practiced multiple areas of law including transactions, business and tax planning. At UMKC, he has produced a comprehensive set of programs for the intersections of law and entrepreneurship. In addition to teaching a full load of upper-level business, business-planning and tax law courses at the Law School, Luppino has also created or co-created and participates in several interdisciplinary courses, including Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Special Projects in Law, Technology & Public Policy, and, most recently, Entrepreneurial Urban Development. As a scholar of entrepreneurship, Luppino has published numerous articles, books, essays, papers and reports on the discipline.

Judges for the award, Dr. Rebecca White of the University of Tampa and Dr. Carlos Kemeny of the University of Texas System, noted that Luppino is a well-rounded educator and has been a leader in integrating entrepreneurship and law. They appreciated his teaching, mentoring, research and service to the discipline, as well as his national service to the profession.

The award presentation took place during the inaugural èßäappSystem Entrepreneurial Educator Summit. More than 50 educators from all four èßäappSystem campuses gathered for two days in Columbia to focus on entrepreneurial education. The conference provided a collaborative environment for the attendees to share best practices, brainstorm new approaches and better understand the resources available to them as part of the èßäappSystem.