LISLE, Ill. – Aug. 4, 2025 – DeVry University joined fellow recipients of the 2024 Chicago Innovation Awards at the Nasdaq Stock Market on Friday, Aug. 1, to ring the Closing Bell — a signature honor recognizing the region's boldest innovators on a national stage.
Representing DeVry at the ceremony were President and CEO Elise Awwad and Chief Experience Officer Richard Korczyk. The event, organized by Chicago Innovation, marked the twelfth consecutive year the organization and its awardees have been invited to celebrate their achievements at Nasdaq. Chicago is the only city in the nation to be selected for this honor.
DeVry was selected to participate in the ceremony following its recognition as a 2024 Chicago Innovation Award winner. In November, the university earned the prestigious People's Choice Award for its Women + Tech Scholars program — an initiative that empowers women pursuing tech careers through mentorship, credentialing, early job access and scholarships.
"We are honored to represent DeVry and stand among an incredible group of innovators," said Awwad. "This recognition reflects the serious work underway across the university, including the development of relevant programs, comprehensive student support and a shared commitment to preparing learners for a workforce shaped by continuous technological change. It is a collective effort powered by our staff, guided by our faculty and realized through the ambition of our students."
Awwad continued, "DeVry's presence in Chicago spans nearly a century, rooted in a belief that education must be responsive to the needs of individuals, the workforce, and society. The Women + Tech Scholars program extends that mission by directly confronting the barriers that have long limited women's participation in tech related careers. It is designed not simply to increase representation, but to equip women with the academic grounding, mentorship and experiential learning necessary to lead in fields that will shape the future of nearly every sector."
Chicago Innovation, an innovation hub with a mission to educate, connect and celebrate all innovators in the region, hosts the annual bell ringing to celebrate regional creativity and entrepreneurial success. Founder Tom Kuczmarski emphasized its importance as a national platform.
"Ringing the Nasdaq bell alongside our Chicago Innovation Award winners is a testament to the incredible work being done by innovators and entrepreneurs in Chicago every day," he said.
Chicago Innovation CEO Luke Tanen highlighted the long-term impact of past honorees.
"The 2024 Chicago Innovation Award winners are part of a legacy of success," noted Tanen. "Out of 420 past winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards, 98% are still in business. Moreover, 73 have been acquired with exit values exceeding $156 billion. This demonstrates the power of innovation in driving economic growth and value creation."
The Nasdaq ceremony is the only time each year a city is invited to ring the bell — an invitation that celebrates achievement, innovation and ongoing purpose. For DeVry, that purpose remains clear: to close opportunity gaps and prepare students to thrive in a future shaped by continuous technological change.
The full list of 2024 Chicago Innovation Award winners can be found here.
Photo Credit: Nasdaq, Inc./Vanja Savic
