Congratulations Class of 2026!

Every May, we get to do one of our favorite things: celebrate the seniors who made our programs richer, our community stronger, and our work more meaningful. This year's graduating class brought curiosity, grit, and more than a few ideas worth watching. We couldn't be prouder to have been part of your Lehigh journey.

Clutch cheering at Lehigh's 2026 Commencement

Pathways that Lead to Entrepreneurial Success and a Stage Full of Winners

The student awards segment of the 2026 Innovate! Celebrate! Entrepreneurship event underscored the breadth of Lehigh's entrepreneurship reach, from early-stage social impact projects headed to Sierra Leone this summer, to a clinically validated pediatric health venture, to a card game that has already cleared six figures in sales.

2026 student entrepreneurship winners stand on stage

Eureka! Three Pitches. One Grand Prize. 2026 was a Year of Grit, Drive and Determination

The centerpiece of the annual Innovate! Celebrate! event is the Eureka! Grand Prize Competition, named for Joan F. and John M. Thalheimer '55 and carrying a $5,000 prize. 

JR Perez wins the 2026 Innovate! Celebrate! Grand Prize

Innovate! Celebrate! 2026: From 'What If?' to What's Real

The annual Innovate! Celebrate! event was less a ceremony than a demonstration. On the evening of April 28, Lehigh University's Office of Entrepreneurship filled the room with confetti, applause, and something harder to manufacture: proof. Proof that curiosity, when given the right ecosystem, becomes something real. 

People's Choice Winner 2026 hold a giant check

EUREKA! Student Venture Program promotes entrepreneurial mindset

Lehigh University’s EUREKA! Student Venture Program provides a comprehensive, year round framework designed to transition student concepts into viable professional ventures. Managed by the Baker Institute, the program offers a structured pathway including customer discovery workshops and collaborative pitch nights where participants receive expert feedback, funding, and individualized coaching. By focusing on the development of an entrepreneurial mindset and practical execution, EUREKA! equips students from all academic backgrounds with the specialized skills necessary to lead startups or drive innovation within established organizations.

Students are gathered together as they prepare for EUREKA! Pitch Night.

EUREKA! Pitch Night

Eureka! Pitch Nights are the live showcase for validated student ventures of the Eureka! Student Venture Program. 

 

Event Date
Delivery Method
In Person
Eureka! Student Venture Program

Meet Michelle Julet, New Director of the Baker Institute

Michelle Julet helps people move from “what if?” to “what’s next.” As the new Director of the Baker Institute, she’s ready to support Lehigh students, faculty, and partners as they explore, test, and launch ideas that matter.

an image of Michelle Julet, Director of the Baker Institute

LehighSiliconValley 2026 Travel Week

Immerse yourself in the Bay Area tech ecosystem and earn 3 credits in one transformative week.

Event Date
San Francisco Bay Area skyline at dusk

Design Thinking

At Lehigh, the Baker Institute helps students bring Design Thinking to life through workshops, classes, and co-curricular experiences.

stylized words written in sharpie style that says "Design Thinking"

LehighSiliconValley

LehighSiliconValley (LSV) offers elite Lehigh students direct access to founders, CEOs, investors, and tech leaders at the forefront of innovation. This immersive program bridges classroom learning with real-world entrepreneurial experience in California's tech hub.

students discuss entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley with an established entrepreneur