The Butler County Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday the recipients of the 2016 Chamber Champion and the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

This year, Slippery Rock University was honored with the Business Champion Award. The award was given to the university for its historic heritage and commitment to education and ongoing initiatives to new academic programs in homeland security and natural gas engineering.

Lisa Guard, owner of Specialized Staffing and Industry Recruiters in Butler, was honored with the William A. Morgan Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2016. Guard was recognized for her commitment to the Butler community, her business and her employees.

Recipients will be honored officially on Sept. 14 at the Robert M. Smith Student Center at Slippery Rock University as part of the chamber’s annual Celebrate Business dinner. The event also will reflect on the chamber’s accomplishments during the past year.

Each year, the chamber winners are nominated and voted on by past winners. Criteria for nomination are that the business be based and was started in Butler County.