Gregory Moore, Senior Technology & Innovation Architect at the MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP), led the group nomination behind their D2L Excellence Award. He reflects on what set their submission apart and offers a practical roadmap for others preparing their own.
Choosing the Right Project
For us, the motivation to apply really started with the project itself. “What’s the IHP’s Role in Health Equity?” was already doing important work within our community. We were seeing strong engagement, meaningful conversations among learners, faculty, and staff and real indicators that the course was prompting reflection and change.
We had a course we were genuinely proud of. It was innovative in how it used Brightspace, and it clearly aligned with the Excellence Award criteria. The nomination became an opportunity to tell that story more fully.
Lean Heavily on Data
I kept asking myself the question: How do we know this was effective?
We had more than five years of survey results, plus analytics captured directly within Brightspace, and we used that evidence to tell our story. Because 50% of the judging criteria for Group Nominations is focused on results, I wanted to make sure we didn’t just talk about impact—we showed it.
The statistics and visualizations we included helped the judges see the trajectory of the course over time and understand why it was making a difference.
Involve Your Team
The biggest challenge was capturing the full story of our project and all the layers that made it special within the space of a few pages.
To overcome that, we involved multiple members of the project team in shaping and reviewing the submission. Having different vantage points ensured we weren’t missing important details and helped us tell a clearer, more complete story.
Start Early
We refined our nomination over six to eight weeks, returning to it repeatedly to tighten the writing and strengthen the evidence. You can complete the application quickly, but the depth and clarity you gain through iteration makes a real difference.
Give yourself time to reflect on your project, gather your data and craft a narrative that truly represents your impact.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Awards Season
The D2L Excellence Awards honor the innovation, progress and betterment of learning in the communities we serve. MGH Institute’s journey is a reminder that the strongest nominations come from projects already transforming communities—and from teams willing to tell that story together.
As you prepare your D2L Excellence Award Submission, Gregory offers a clear roadmap:
Start with the work that matters. Show your impact through data. Collaborate. Iterate. And give your story the time it deserves.
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