Information Technology

Congratulations to Mitchell Holt, the 2026 IT Innovation Award recipient. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated innovative ideas and practices that benefit Information Technology and the university. This award honors excellence in improving cost efficiency, streamlining processes, creating new programs or services, and leading new initiatives. 

Mitchell exemplifies these qualities through exceptional innovation and technical leadership during the Campus Network Access Layer Switch Upgrade project. By leveraging advanced network monitoring methods, AI/LLM-assisted script generation, and extensive data analysis, this person developed an effective approach to right-sizing campus switch infrastructure and reducing the number of access layer switches required for upgrades. 

Most recently, during the KEB/KEN upgrade, Mitchell's methodology reduced the required switch count from 13 to 9, resulting in more than $17,000 in savings. Applied across the broader campus upgrade initiative, this innovative approach has saved the university hundreds of thousands of dollars in switch procurement costs. His creativity, technical initiative, and commitment to solving complex infrastructure challenges truly embody the spirit of the IT Innovation Award. 

Congratulations to the 2026 IT Service Excellence Award recipient, Patrick McVay. This award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond professional responsibilities, sharing expertise, elevating service, and strengthening the GVSU community and beyond. 

Patrick was noted for approaching every challenge with professionalism, patience, and a collaborative mindset. He regularly steps up and volunteers to fill the gaps between departments. They embody a ‘yes and’ spirit, always willing to do what needs to be done. Beyond the technical contributions, Patrick constantly demonstrates a willingness to learn, collaborate, and share knowledge with others, making him a trusted and valued teammate. Patrick recently transitioned from Enterprise Architecture to IT Service to better align services.  His peers are confident that the broader campus community will benefit from his technical leadership, customer-focused approach, and commitment to excellence.  

Congratulations to the 2026 IT Leadership Award recipients, Noah Campbell and Kyle Macciomei. This award recognizes those who not only leads by example but also inspires those around them to do their best work. It’s about more than just guiding a team - it’s about creating a sense of community, fostering collaboration, and helping others succeed. 

Noah and Kyle have transformed, grown, and developed The Bridge through strategic, adaptable, and intentional leadership. They have expanded its reach and services while maintaining a strong commitment to faculty, staff, and student employees. Under their guidance, The Bridge has produced a record number of custom educational projects for GVSU faculty, supported high-quality project production and implemented a challenging retention policy with clear and thoughtful communication. Their mentorship has helped student employees develop valuable skills in production, client service, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, preparing them for their future careers.

Faculty and staff consistently describe Noah and Kyle as knowledgeable, patient, responsive, creative, and supportive partners whose work has enhanced online, hybrid, and flipped-learning courses through multiple tech. tools. Their leadership has strengthened educational media support with multiple office locations across GVSU, fostered meaningful growth opportunities for students, and made a lasting contribution to teaching and learning throughout the university, making them highly deserving of the IT Leadership Award.