The University of Houston-Victoria’s Master of Science in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship (MSEDE) degree program is one of two finalists for a national entrepreneurship education award. The UHV School of Business Administration program started in the fall of 2006 and will have its first graduates next fall. The online program is the only graduate program in the nation combining economic development and entrepreneurship. The U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) will announce whether the UHV program is the winner of its 2008 Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program award during its annual conference Jan. 10-13 in San Antonio. The other program competing for the award is Achieving the Commercialization of Technology in Ventures Through Applied Training for Entrepreneurs (ACTiVATE) at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The year-long program trains and supports women to start technology-based companies. David Summers, a UHV associate professor of economic development and entrepreneurship, nominated the MSEDE program for the award by submitting an executive summary about the program at the end of September. He then submitted more materials when UHV was named a finalist. “I’m excited about being a finalist,” Summers said. “This is a world-recognized organization, and to be honored by them would be really great for UHV and the program.” Charles Bullock, dean of the School of Business Administration, also was pleased with the program being named a finalist. “We are delighted to receive this recognition,” he said. “Just to be a finalist for this award is a significant honor and a testimonial to the quality and innovative nature of the program.” Summers will give a presentation about the program before a panel of judges Jan. 11 during the USASBE conference. UHV also will be recognized that night during a party sponsored by the New York Times to honor all USASBE finalists and past award-winners. The Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program award is one of seven entrepreneurship education awards being given during the conference. The Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program award is given annually to a college or university that develops innovative and highly effective courses or programs for teaching entrepreneurship in a niche or specialty area. Nominations are evaluated based on five criteria: innovativeness and uniqueness; quality and effectiveness; completeness and comprehensiveness; sustainability, or how long the program will last; and transferability, or how easily another university could use the program. USASBE is a worldwide organization made up of government officials, directors of small business development centers and academics in finance, marketing, management and economics who are interested in entrepreneurship and small business.