BEMIDJI, Minn. (Sept. 13, 2010) — Bemidji State University’s 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence has been named a finalist for the 2010 Tekne Awards, given annually by the Minnesota High Tech Association.
The Tekne Awards, now in their 11th year, recognize individuals, companies and organizations that positively impact Minnesota’s technology-based economy. 360 Degrees is a finalist in the “Innovation and Collaboration of the Year” category.
The award honors a collaboration or partnership that has demonstrated leadership, dedication and excellence in delivering an innovation to Minnesota’s technology economy or the Minnesota community in general. There must be two or more parties involved with the collaboration and one party must be a for-profit business. Other finalists for the award are General Mills & Koda Energy, based in Golden Valley, and St. Paul-based Genesys Works.
The Center of Excellence was also a finalist for the award in 2009.
“We are holding company with some very prestigious businesses and organizations in Minnesota,” said Karen White, director of the Center of Excellence. “360° is a strong organization that seeks to find new, innovative and collaborative ways to advance the manufacturing and engineering industries.”
“The Tekne Awards recognize those whose leadership and dedication to technological development helps demonstrate Minnesota as a global player in technology-based markets,” said MaryFrances Schurb, interim president of the Minnesota High Tech Association. “This year’s finalists should be extremely proud of their role in helping Minnesota excel.”
The Tekne Awards are presented in partnership with the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, LifeScience Alley, Enterprise Minnesota. A full list of finalists is available at www.tekneawards.org; there are 48 companies, organizations or individuals nominated for awards in 12 categories.
Recipients of the 2010 Tekne Awards will be announced at the award ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The event will begin with a registration and reception at 4:30 p.m., followed by general registration and cocktails at 5 p.m., dinner at 5:45 p.m., the awards celebration at 7 p.m., and a post-Tekne party at 8:30 p.m. The event will be emceed by Paul Douglas, author, entrepreneur and meteorologist.
To register for the 2010 Tekne Awards ceremony, visit www.tekneawards.org or contact Kathy Marsh at (952) 230-4554 or kmarsh@mhta.org.
For more information, contact Beth Campus at the 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence at (218) 755-2206.
On the Web
360 Degrees: http://www.360mn.org
Minnesota High Tech Association: http://www.mhta.org
About 360 Degrees
The 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, part of the Institute of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Bemidji State University’s College of Business, Technology and Communication, is a partnership of 10 institutions led by Bemidji State University. Partner institutions include Central Lakes College, Lake Superior College, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Northland Community and Technical College, Northwest Technical College, Pine Technical College, Riverland Community College, Saint Paul College, and St. Cloud Technical and Community College. The center cultivates a potential future workforce through more flexible educational opportunities via its seamless career pathway.