At the 2012 National Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO) conference in Chicago, the Neeley School took home Best Student Leader in the Nation, Best CEO Marketing Plan, Honorable Mention in the elevator pitch competition, and runner up for Best Faculty Advisor in the Nation.
 
TCU CEO President Luke Otteson, entrepreneurial management major, was awarded the Best CEO Student Leader in the Nation, and TCU CEO received First Place for Best Chapter Marketing Plan, out of 245 CEO chapters at universities across the country.
 
“Receiving this national award is a testament to the winning team we have in the TCU CEO chapter,” Luke said
 
Out of 60 students from across the country contending in the elevator pitch competition, Molly Johnson, entrepreneurial management major, placed in the top six and was honored with Honorable Mention, winning $500 for her business idea for Sneeze4, tissue boxes that promote different causes with part of the proceeds from sales going to each cause.
 
“I have found my niche in the Neeley community and could not be more grateful for the support of the entrepreneurship staff for Sneeze4,” Molly said.
 
In addition to Molly’s win, Neeley business major Steve Hofmann placed in the top 12 in the elevator pitch competition. TCU was the only university with two students in the top 12.
 
Brad Hancock, director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center, was awarded National Runner Up for Best Faculty Advisor for his excellent leadership of the TCU CEO chapter and his work with students.  
 
“Our 44 students who attended were fully engaged and took advantage of the numerous opportunities for education, inspiration, encouragement and networking,” Hancock said. “They represented TCU, Neeley and the entrepreneurship program in stellar fashion.”
 
Students who attended represented every major in Neeley and some from other colleges at TCU. Eight faculty members from the TCU Coleman Faculty Fellows in Entrepreneurship program also attended the conference, representing entrepreneurial thinking in nursing, religion, graphic design, dance, music, English, communications and more.