Erikson Institute Named One of 100 Top Chicago Innovation Finalists

Out of 315 nominees, Erikson Institute has been selected as one of the Top 100 Finalists still in the running for the 24th annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The awards celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region across all organization sizes, sectors and industries. Over 700 business and civic leaders will come together to honor the winners when they are announced on November 13 at the UIC Forum.

Erikson’s Master’s in Early Childhood Education degree, affectionately called the T3 program, was nominated for the Chicago Innovation Award. The degree program offers triple endorsements in early childhood, special education, and bilingual/English as a Second Language education, making it the first program of its kind in Illinois to fully integrate these three areas within one teacher licensure program.

The benefits of this degree program are threefold: increase the number of teachers who reflect the communities they serve, prepare teachers for classrooms that can support the learning and development of children from a range of backgrounds and experiences, and increase teacher retention in schools where they are most needed. It serves as a model for the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.

“Being named a finalist for this award reminds us of what becomes possible when we listen to educators and design programs that honor their real lives while cultivating brighter futures for young children, their families, and communities,” said Mariana Souto-Manning, Ph.D., President of Erikson Institute. “The T3 program is more than a degree—it is a pathway that enables teachers to nurture their own families even as they prepare to ignite the minds of children in their classrooms. It draws on educators’ strengths and ensures that the light in young children’s eyes never fades—that their curiosity and hunger to learn continue to shine. Teachers prepared through T3 do more than teach; they illuminate the future we all deserve. This work is about hope, about opportunity, and about building a stronger tomorrow together.”

As one of the Top 100 Finalists, Erikson will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend The Practical Innovator, a day-long executive education course on October 14 led by top faculty who teach innovation at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Each of the Top 100 Finalists is also in the running for the annual “People’s Choice Award,” selected through online balloting at the 2025 People’s Choice Award – Voting Form.

“Chicago continues to rise as a global hub of innovation that cuts across industries, large corporations and startups, for-profits and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “The impact that this year’s nominees generated is profound – their new products and services generated $4.2 billion in revenues and created over 2,300 new jobs.”

Out of the Top 100 Finalists, the judges will select 20 winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards. In addition to being celebrated at the Chicago Innovation Awards on November 13, the winners will be invited to ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City and receive widespread media recognition.

Vote for the People’s Choice Award