The Honors Program team, pictured above with Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Steven Girardot and Chair of the OUE Employee Engagement and Culture Committee Kristi Hesse, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 OUE Employee Excellence Award, in recognition of their exceptional commitment to student success, cross-unit collaboration, and large-scale impact. This annual award is given to a team, staff member, or academic professional in the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) whose work exemplifies strategic excellence, ethical leadership, and alignment with Georgia Tech’s core values.
This year, the Honors Program team stood out for two exceptional initiatives: the launch of the Jacket Journey co-curricular engagement platform and the successful hosting of the 2025 Georgia Collegiate Honors Council (GCHC) student research conference.
Elevating Student Engagement Through Jacket Journey
In response to the national decline in student engagement during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honors Program set out to reimagine how students connect with co-curricular opportunities. The result was Jacket Journey—a new initiative built in the Suitable platform that encourages Honors Program students to engage in academic, professional, civic, and social learning experiences.
The team led the charge from start to finish, managing procurement, program design, implementation, and rollout. In just its first year, Jacket Journey achieved remarkable success: more than 51% of Honors Program students have already participated in the platform, completing nearly 3,600 activities since August 2024. Students earn points and badges through their participation, with nearly 100 badges already awarded and 75 more nearing completion. These badges function as digital micro-credentials that can be shared on professional platforms like LinkedIn, and the system also generates customized co-curricular transcripts for students.
The program is structured around four core competency areas aligned with the Honors Program’s mission: Scholarly and Creative Engagement; Civic Responsibility and Service; Professional Development and Leadership; and Social and Community Building.
“This would not have happened without the team effort to implement Jacket Journey and get student buy-in through positive reinforcement (including swag, experiential prizes, and friendly competition),” said Faculty Director Amy D’Unger.
Raising the Profile of Georgia Tech’s Honors Community
In addition to their success with student engagement, the Honors Program made a bold move to raise its visibility across the state and beyond. This culminated in the team hosting the annual Georgia Collegiate Honors Council (GCHC) conference for the first time in program history. Held February 21–22, 2025, the two-day research event welcomed a record-breaking 175+ attendees and featured more than 100 student research presentations through paper sessions and poster displays.
The Honors Program staff, a team of just three, planned and executed every aspect of the conference, including a keynote address, reception, business meeting, director’s lunch, and awards ceremony. Their success was bolstered by key partnerships across the OUE division, including support from procurement, finance, and the communications team.
“The conference was a resounding success and demonstrates the initiative of the HP staff,” D’Unger said. “There was no requirement that we do this...but it was important for the profile of the HP within GCHC and the larger honors community.”
D’Unger’s own leadership has further contributed to raising the program’s reputation. She currently serves as President of the Georgia Collegiate Honors Council and Treasurer for the Southern Regional Honors Council, in addition to multiple appointed roles within the National Collegiate Honors Council.
Modeling OUE’s Mission in Action
The OUE Employee Excellence Award honors those who exemplify key values such as persistence, innovation, cross-unit collaboration, and a clear focus on student achievement. The Honors Program team was selected for their ability to “see the big picture” and execute high-impact projects that elevate the student experience.
“The staff of the HP strive for excellence in all that we do,” D’Unger said. “Students are truly our top priority and supporting them requires collaboration within the HP and with others across the OUE.”
Please join us in congratulating the Honors Program team on this well-earned recognition and thanking them for their continued contributions to Georgia Tech’s undergraduate mission.