The Syracuse Student Start-up Accelerator, an initiative that helps Central New York college and university students start for-profit and nonprofit ventures, will receive $1.7 million that has been pledged to the Raymond F. von Dran Fund. The funding brings not only sustainability to the initiative and seed funding to student ventures, but an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and alumni to rename the Accelerator in von Dran’s honor.
Von Dran served as dean of the iSchool at SU from 1995-2007, when he passed away. He was a long-time academic entrepreneur who started many innovative programs in higher education and supported student innovation and entrepreneurship at Syracuse University.
Gisela von Dran, Ray’s widow and director emerita of the M.S. in library and information science program and an iSchool Board of Advisors member, started the Raymond F. von Dran Fund shortly after Ray passed away in July 2007.
Now, in honor of Ray, the Student Startup Accelerator will undergo a name change, and all faculty, students, staff and alumni at Syracuse University are invited to participate in a competition for the naming. A $1,000 first place cash prize will be awarded to the individual who submits the winning name, which should signify the energy and excitement that Ray had for supporting student ventures. Four $250 honorable mention awards will also be given. The deadline for submission is March 20 and all submissions should be emailed to excel@syr.edu.
The Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries has awarded a Student Start-Up Fund grant for the Spring 2025 semester to Thomas O’Brien ’25 for his company, Ten Open Projects. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to undergraduate and graduate…
It started with trivia nights at the Inn Complete and a mutual fandom of Orange sports and grew into a life filled with Orange pride, campus milestones and a little one who thinks Otto the Orange runs the world. For…
As point guard for the Orange women’s basketball team, Raquel-Ann “Roxi” Nurse McNabb ’98, G’99 was known for helping her teammates ‘make buckets’—a lot of buckets. The 1997 Syracuse University Athlete of the Year, two-time team MVP and three-time BIG…
The University is enhancing its commitment to lifelong learning with digital badges, a tool that recognizes and authenticates the completion of microcredentials. The badges aim to support learners in their professional and personal development by showcasing achievements in short, focused…
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near Syracuse where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
