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We are pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Blockchain Education Network Excellence Awards! The outstanding achievements of the members of our community and university chapters have inspired BEN to launch this annual series of awards. These awards highlight our chapters’ achievements in education, research, initiative, and other aspects of being a standout BEN chapter.
Through recognizing university chapters for their achievements, it is our hope that these awards will encourage further growth and innovation in blockchain in academia and help chapters and their members in their commitment to improving and spreading blockchain education.
The winners were selected by committee and announced during a BEN Zoom Event on Nov 12th. The winners will receive recognition on BEN’s social media in the coming days, as well as signed digital certificates for their universities’ record-keeping. We will also be issuing these certificates as blockchain-based verifiable credentials in the near future.
The four winners this year are:
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This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award is the <a href="https://rutgersblockchain.com/">Rutgers Business School Blockchain Hub</a>.
The leadership team at the RBS Blockchain Hub has displayed an outstanding commitment to blockchain education, student engagement, and overall involvement throughout their 2020 academic year.
RBS Blockchain Hub has hosted a variety of events all-year-round with consistently high turnout, from introductory blockchain sessions to guest speakers to diversity &#x26; inclusion training. Additionally, their students have repeatedly ventured outside of campus to various blockchain conferences with BEN’s and Rutgers’ financial support. This award recognizes and commends their ongoing efforts to further blockchain education and deliver opportunities and resources to their students.
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This year’s recipient of the Outstanding New Chapter Award is the <a href="https://twitter.com/iublocktech">Istanbul University Blockchain Technology Club</a>.
The leadership team at IU BlockTech has distinguished themselves during their first year of membership. They have taken innovative steps taken to rapidly expand their membership base and reputation on campus, as well as educational offerings and opportunities to more of their students.
IU BlockTech has contributed lessons and blockchain education material in Turkish and have ensured good student turnout rates to BEN Turkey and BEN Global online events. This award commends them on their rapid growth and their members’ involvement in BEN activities, both online and in-person.
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The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Chapter Research Award is the <a href="http://www.nublockchaingroup.com/">Northwestern University Blockchain Group</a>.
The leadership team at NU Blockchain has displayed an outstanding commitment to innovative research that stands to positively impact the blockchain ecosystem and community at large throughout their 2020 academic year.
This award recognizes NU Blockchain’s research project which analyzed the potential of blockchain dApps in clinical research project management, with an emphasis on healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations.
The Blockchain Education Network commends their ongoing efforts to promote a more comprehensive integration of blockchain technologies into professional organizations and academia.
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The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Chapter Digital Presence is the <a href="https://twitter.com/luucabsoc">Leeds University Union Cryptocurrency And Blockchain Society</a>.
The leadership team at LUUCABSoc has displayed an outstanding commitment to blockchain education delivered through the online medium, innovative digital student campaigns and overall community engagement throughout the 2020 academic year.
LUUCABSoc is consistently posting visually appealing and educational blockchain tips and mini-lessons on social media, as well as showcasing their chapter and member’s accomplishments, news, updates, and partnerships.
This award serves to recognize their ongoing efforts to deliver blockchain education even when classes aren’t in session through fostering a digital community for their students.
These awards highlight the values that the Blockchain Education Network upholds: community building, educational initiatives, and innovative research.
We were pleased with the number of different universities and countries represented in the applications, as it reflects the worldwide yet interconnected nature of the Blockchain Education Network.
We look forward to hosting an even larger BEN Excellence Awards in 2021.
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Want to nominate a chapter for next year's awards? <a href="/opportunities">Get involved with BEN</a> or <a href="/">explore our university network</a>.

2020 BEN Excellence Awards Winners

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