Summer Games participants compete while learning
From: Human Resources
Virginia Tech employees embraced a new way of participating in professional development this past summer. HR’s first-ever Summer Games challenged employees to compete for badges by participating and recording their development activities.
From mastering new tools and techniques to diving into leadership and communication skills, the Summer Games offered something for everyone with 103 learning events in five “ring” categories: Creativity/Innovation, Cultural Competencies/Inclusion, Institution/Education, Leadership, and Technical. Whether employees completed a single task or engaged with multiple activities, the goal was to encourage employees to push personal and professional boundaries.
During the games, there were 449 badges awarded to 79 participants who were required to write a reflection on what they learned. Nineteen players completed the entire game, receiving the Torch Bearer badge, meaning they received at least one badge in each of the five learning categories.
Thank you to all employees who participated! Special recognition goes to the Top 5 participants in the individual and team categories for going above and beyond:
| Individuals | Badges Earned |
|---|---|
| Diane Agud Kelli Karcher |
24 |
| Ashley Carter Ryan Flanary |
17 |
| Jeff Flanagan Lisa Sedlak |
15 |
| Monika Gibson Barbara Hoopes |
14 |
| Tina Kapalin Stefanie Locklear |
13 |
| Team | Badges Earned (average for team) |
|---|---|
| Mathletes (3 members) | 16 |
| The TALENT Pool Sharks (3 members) | 8.5 |
| ISE Admin Team (6 members) | 8 |
| Graduate School (15 members) | 5.47 |
| I & P (2 members) | 5 |
Summer Games will kick off again in May 2025. Watch for information in the Virginia Tech News daily email.