Kristin Nash, MPH
Jun 18, 2024
Middlebury College recently awarded the inaugural 'Will Nash Prize'
Middlebury Entrepreneurs is a winter-term course at Middlebury College for students who want to start their own business or nonprofit organization.
During the course, students spend the month developing their ideas, building their organizations, and preparing for the culminating event—pitching their idea to a panel of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Will and his business partner participated in this program in early 2020, pitching their business, Semi Aquatics, which continues to grow and thrive today.
In its effort to honor Will’s student and entrepreneurial life at the college, Middlebury is sponsoring the ‘Will Nash Prize’—a $1,000 grant awarded to one of the student groups to help them further develop their initiative.
This year's award went to Morgan Lee, for her business, Leed Athletics, which addresses the need for comfortable underwear for female athletes.
“I'm incredibly grateful for the support of the Will Nash Prize, which has been instrumental in launching my business, Leed Athletics,” Morgan said. “As a student at Middlebury College, I started my company during the Middlebury Entrepreneurs class. Winning the final pitch competition and receiving the Will Nash Prize provided the crucial funding needed to turn my vision into reality.”
“Leed Athletics was born out of a personal need for comfortable underwear for female athletes, a need that many others share. Thanks to the financial support from the prize, I have been able to patent my product and begin manufacturing. None of this would have been possible without the generosity and belief in my mission from the Will Nash Prize. Thank you for empowering entrepreneurs and helping us bring our innovations to life.”