Lewis Thurston II was recognized on March 24 with the Michael Boyce Award at the inaugural Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP) Entrepreneur Spotlight Speaker Series, hosted by Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
The award honors individuals who have overcome adversity while showing exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to their community. Thurston, a graduate of the LEAP program in Tallahassee, also served as the featured speaker at the event.
The LEAP program is part of the national Urban Poverty and Business Initiative network based at the University of Notre Dame. Each year, one entrepreneur from each participating city is selected for this award, which recognizes those who exemplify Col. Michael H. Boyce’s lifelong dedication to service, leadership, and mentorship.
Thurston’s company VEZ Productions provides music and entertainment services for events in Tallahassee and has contributed to local initiatives such as FSU’s Dance Marathon. According to organizers, he built his business from scratch—often working without pay early on until his work gained recognition in both industry circles and among community members.
During the event moderated by Madison Miller (M.S. Entrepreneurship ’26) and Samuel Kokales (B.S. Business Management ’27), both former student consultants with Thurston through LEAP experiential learning projects, college leaders Susana Santos and Marina Lickson presented him with remarks before awarding him this honor.
“Lewis, your journey reflects everything this award stands for,” said Santos. “You have overcome challenges, stayed committed to your vision and led with purpose — all while lifting others along the way. We are incredibly proud of you, not just for what you have built, but for who you are.”
Lickson added: “What makes you truly special goes beyond participation — it’s the impact and kindness you bring to our community every day… There is a generosity in how you show up for your clients, for your community and for all of us.”
Thurston shared that receiving this recognition brings responsibility as well as pride: “The award means there’s still more work to do,” Thurston said. “There are so many people counting on me to keep pushing forward and never give up. It also shows that people recognize the dedication and effort it takes to build something through entrepreneurship.”
Looking ahead, Thurston discussed plans to expand VEZ Productions into additional cities across Florida while continuing his focus on quality entertainment experiences.
