Jack Gray

Jack Gray defines self-understanding and integrity in this concise way: “Integrity is being honest even when you have no reason to be and being a good person to others. Self-understanding is knowing where you are, where you want to be, and how you can achieve it.”

He said his family taught him the values of honesty, helping others, hard work, and dedication. And he said something interesting when asked how his values have changed over time. He said, “I think as I've gotten older, my values haven't necessarily changed, but my perspective on them has.”

Jack serves as Student Hiring Administrator for Dining Services at Virginia Tech. His nominator wrote, “In his role he strives to not only to be the best version of himself, but to help others in any way possible. With his upbeat and positive attitude, it is nearly impossible to have a down day while Jack is around.”

Jack said his passion is making people feel comfortable in the space they're in.

In addition to working in Dining Services, Jack is active in the residential college at West AJ. He is past president of the West Ambler Johnson House Council and managed events for its 150 members. Among his favorite memories are orchestrating the West AJ haunted house and the West AJ book hunt. In 2018 he was elected to the position of “sports badger,” helping members to participate in intramural sports.

He is most proud of earning his black belt in Tae Kwon Do because, in his words, “of how many times I failed but still stuck with it.”

Jack is President of the Virginia Tech Chapter of Campus Scouts, assisting local boy and girl scouting troops to reach higher levels of accomplishment by leading them through activities and monthly meetings.

His advice to others is this: “You have a wonderful opportunity to try whatever you want and figure out what you want. As long as you're doing your best, you’re doing good enough.”

Jack is graduating this spring with a BS in Business, double major in Accounting and Business Information Technology. He plans to move to Alexandria in June for his job as an IT auditor at Kearney & Company.

Jack, your nominator wrote, “While self-understanding and integrity are characteristics we find in the majority of Student Affairs employees, no one embodies them more than Jack Gray.” We couldn’t agree more. I am pleased to present Jack Gray with the Aspire! Award for PURSUE SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRITY.