Mark Myers, director of Augusta University’s New Student and Family Transitions, was honored at the 2024 Augusta State of Tourism: Connect & Celebrate event hosted by Destination Augusta, the Augusta Sports Council and Film Augusta.

During the event’s Augusta Tourism Awards ceremony, Myers received the 2024 Tourism Partner of the Year Award for his exceptional collaboration with Destination Augusta.  

“Mark Myers embodies the true spirit of collaboration that drives Augusta’s tourism forward,” said Bennish Brown, president and CEO of Destination Augusta. “His innovative approach and steadfast commitment to shared goals have made him an invaluable partner. Through his work at Augusta University, Mark has exemplified what it means to align values with our mission, strengthening the ties between education, community, and tourism. It’s an honor to recognize him with the 2024 Tourism Partner of the Year Award. Together, we are making Augusta a destination that shines brighter every day.”  

The Office of New Student and Family Transitions plays a vital role in transitioning incoming first-year students into the AU community through orientation and Leap Week. Myers has partnered with Destination Augusta to foster relationships with local businesses, organizations and nonprofits, particularly during Leap Week, when students can sign up for explorative sessions throughout Augusta.   

“Destination Augusta has been a phenomenal partner and our community manager, Sarah Childers, has participated in planning our transition experiences in-depth for the last two years, participating in marketing plans and handcrafting these in-person experiences. We couldn’t have done that without Destination Augusta’s help and creativity to help make our experiences like no other,” Myers said.  

Leap Week 2024 saw close to 650 students participate in the ENGAGE Augusta and SEE Augusta tracks, which offered unique activities including kayaking, axe throwing, mug painting and splatter painting with local businesses. This marks a consistent increase in participation as Myers noted only around 60 students participated in 2022. 

Jacquez Barnett, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in computer science and NSFT student intern, led a kayaking group during Leap Week and saw first-hand the positive impact it had on students. 

“Kayaking was a wonderful experience not only for the students but also for being able to travel around with other staff and local peers,” said Barnett. “Not only did we experience going on the water but also learning about local history. It was a very learning Leap Week track.”  

Emily Mae Edmunds, a second-year undergraduate student majoring in music education and NSFT student coordinator for new student development, also saw how these local partnerships impacted the students.   

“During Leap Week, we had a service project where we made hygiene kits for Project Refresh, which supports people in the Augusta area who don’t have access to hygiene materials,” said Edmunds. “We were able to pack hundreds of hygiene bags the project can give out to those in the community. It was a great way for freshmen to get involved and already make a difference in their community.”  

Myers is excited to continue working alongside local vendors and building new relationships with businesses. In particular, he looks forward to planning more adventures and experiences, perhaps some even on-campus, to increase student participation and engagement.