PHOTO COURTESY OF UEDA/The Lehigh University team accepts its Talent Development award from the University Economic Development Association in Pittsburgh. From left, Genna Hurd, UEDA board director; John Ochs, technical entrepreneurship program director; Michael Lehman, technical entrepreneurship professor of practice; Chuck Shoopman, UEDA president; and Gene Merrell, UEDA board director.

Now the nation knows what Lehigh Valley residents have known for years.

The University Economic Development Association (UEDA) named Lehigh University’s Master’s of Technical Entrepreneurship program as the best in North American for talent development. The designation was part of the UEDA’s 2013 Awards of Excellence which is designated among the organization’s member universities and colleges.

The award initiatives that promote development of 21^st-century skills. Projects were judged on originality, sustainability, scalability, and ability to be replicated.

Members of the university formally accepted the award October 28^th at a ceremony in Pittsburgh.

The one-year MTE graduate program teaches students from all disciplines how to design a product and launch a company. Recent graduates have gone on to work in a variety of industries as well as found their own startups, according to Amy White, a communications specialist for Lehigh University.

“The UEDA award is a significant recognition for the MTE program, since the award is a competition for national best practices,” said Bill Michalerya, Lehigh University’s associate vice president for government relations and economic development and UEDA past president. “This puts Lehigh on a national stage in a leadership role.”

The honor marked the fourth time Lehigh won a UEDA award; it was the school’s fifth time in the finals.

MTE enrollment at Lehigh has doubled since the program’s launch in 2012. The number of students is expected to double again in 2015.

“I am convinced that our model can and must be replicated at other universities in order to have the economic impact that follows student-led startups,” said Lehigh professor John B. Ochs, who is known for his work with entrepreneurs.

“As I like to say: ‘Student innovation, fueled by creativity, is this generation’s most important economic development engine.’”