Summer Games
Join other Virginia Tech employees in competing in the university’s first-ever Summer Games, a professional development event where employees can learn, compete, and earn digital badges in five “ring” categories: Creativity/Innovation, Cultural Competencies/Inclusion, Institution/Education, Leadership, and Technology.
Registration and Participation
From May 20 – Aug. 23, 2024, employees can compete and participate by completing and recording development activities in the Summer Games Canvas site. As development activities are recorded, badges are earned. These badges can be published on social media sites, including LinkedIn, and displayed in your email signature.
Teams are encouraged to register as a group and compete together!
To register as an individual or team, complete the registration form.
NOTE: Employees who wish to participate in learning development activities that require time away from their regular work should discuss and work with their supervisor first to clear participation and ensure proper coverage for their role or team.
Earning Badges
Each of the “ring” categories has a roster of development activities and events that can be completed to earn badges. Badges are rewarded as follows:
- Complete one event in one category - receive a bronze badge.
- Complete two events in one category – receive a silver badge.
- Complete three events in one category – receive a gold badge.
As participants complete events in multiple “ring” categories, they will work their way up the Summer Games Championship Ladder and earn additional digital badges, which are rewarded as follows:
- Complete all events in one category – receive the Hokie-lympian badge.
- Complete all events in two categories – receive the Champion badge.
- Complete all events in three categories – receive the Powerhouse badge.
- Complete all events in four categories – receive the Flag Bearer badge.
Finally, competitors completing all events in all five ring categories will receive the illustrious Torch Bearer badge!
Frequently Asked Questions
Employees interested in competing in the Summer Games should complete the registration form; they will then be added to the dedicated Summer Games Canvas site.
All Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and non-student wage employees are encouraged to participate in the Summer Games. Employees who wish to participate in development activities that require time away from their regular work should discuss and work with their supervisor first to clear participation and ensure proper coverage for their role or team.
Each of the five “ring” categories – Creativity/Innovation, Cultural Competencies/ Inclusion, Institution/Education, Leadership, and Technology – includes a roster of activities that count toward earning badges.
No, if a training or development activity is not listed under one of the five “ring” categories on the Canvas site, it does not count toward badges for the Summer Games program.
Yes, development events must be sponsored by a Virginia Tech department, office, or group and listed on the Summer Games roster to qualify.
Employees will track completed development activities by self-reporting in the Canvas site.
Yes, teams are encouraged to compete together; simply complete the registration form.
The purpose of Summer Games is to encourage employees to take advantage of the summer months to focus on their own development, learn new or hone current skills, prepare for career advancement, and encourage employee engagement and retention.
You can complete as many or as few development activities as you want. Of course, we encourage you to complete as many as you can!
If a department, office, or group is interested in adding an event to the Summer Games roster, complete this event form.
The amount of time is determined by the event sponsor and varies from event to event.
Assistance available
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Email: vttraining@vt.edu
Phone: 540-231-9331