The Chillfield Team: Ben Evans and Jazmyne Barron

Caring for the whole person is at the heart of everything we do in Student Affairs, and it’s inspiring to see how our colleagues bring this value to life every day. Now, I’m excited to celebrate our next award recipients for our Aspirations for Student Learning-ExperienceVT Award.

Through their vision, creativity, and relentless dedication, this duo has transformed how Virginia Tech engages students on the go—meeting them where they are and creating innovative, meaningful experiences far beyond the bounds of Blacksburg. At the heart of the Chillfield, is a desire to bolster student belonging, happiness, and retention. Using a pop-up engagement model, they reimagined student activities, turning an old box truck into a dynamic mobile hub for connection, learning, and growth.

Bringing the Chillfield to life was a true labor of love, taking over 14 months and involving collaboration across the division and university. Students helped name the Chillfield, and its launch was celebrated with a dynamic visual concept. Since its debut, the Chillfield has hosted over 18 events, reaching students not only in Blacksburg but also at the Roanoke and Innovation campuses—breaking geographical barriers and bringing the spirit of ExperienceVT directly to students’ doorsteps.

Events have included crafts, video game competitions, lawn games, tailgates, and celebrations of National Lego Day, Valentine’s Day, and Earth Day. The Chillfield also acts as a promotional powerhouse, advertising upcoming events and continuing engagement. The initiative has partnered with more than 10 offices and organizations, ensuring that events are relevant, diverse, and responsive to student needs. Across all events, approximately 1,300 attendees experienced the Chillfield’s unique offerings.

The Chillfield team embodies courageous leadership and curiosity—taking an idea from concept to reality in ways few have attempted. The student team played a key role in ideation, logistics, and implementation, gaining real-world skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and event facilitation. Their innovative approach has drawn national attention, with presentations at NASPA conferences inspiring other institutions to adopt similar mobile engagement strategies.

Through Chillfield events, students have developed a deeper sense of belonging, practiced curiosity, demonstrated self-understanding and integrity, and experienced courageous leadership. The Chillfield team exemplifies the Aspirations for Student Learning and ExperienceVT, particularly in their commitment to innovation and purposeful engagement.