Cornerstone Awarded Innovator of the Year!

Our Takeaways & Reflections from the 2023 GYA Conference

This year in Missoula, Cornerstone Safety Group received the 2023 Innovation in Gap Year Programming Award! After a record number of nominations from members and industry leaders, Executive Director, Dave Dennis, gratefully accepted the award at this year’s Gap Year Association Conference.

“Cornerstone provides benchmarks for safety, risk management, mental health, and medical support on student programming,” read one nomination. “The subscription model is innovative within our industry and the approach of ‘safety is not intellectual property’ has allowed for more collaboration across companies that previously saw themselves purely as competitors. Cornerstone is making the industry safer for all of us.”

This award was not only an honor that represents our organization, but rather, we’re excited to see this award as proof that the industry is shifting and the message is spreading - safety is a responsibility we all share. As we enter the next chapter of Cornerstone Safety Group, we will continue to embody innovation and service to the industry into every interaction with members.

In the spirit of collaboration and looking ahead, we’d also like to share a few takeaways from this year’s Gap Year Association Conference below.

The Passion is Alive and Well!

Attending this event left absolutely no doubt that the gap year community is a passionate crew! From the program providers to the independent consultants, you could really feel the magic of being together in person again. The individuals in this industry are advocates for the powerful transformation that happens through meaningful travel experiences - their commitment to making this a part of students’ lives was very clear from the way they collaborate, discuss, encourage, and challenge each other to improve.

GYA is Growing

The Gap Year Association is growing - rapidly. This organization is responsible for bringing competitors together in the spirit of setting standards and expectations that help all organizations “rise with the tide” of the growing gap movement. As students in 2023 normalize the concept of gap, we feel assured this association will continue to develop and foster industry growth to mirror the advancement of the gap industry. We encourage any program provider considering starting or expanding into the gap year space to become a member.

Focus on DEI & Accessibility

We were a part of many conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout the conference. The industry is focused on developing clear, actionable, and meaningful objectives that will shape the future of the industry and provide access to these powerful experiences to more students.

What really struck us was the call for real reform and a desire to ensure these values expand to the organizations themselves, including ranks of program leaders, office staff, and leadership populations. One specific statement that resonated was the need for diverse populations to see others within organizations that “look like them”. Creating accessible programs is important, but it’s equally as vital to build diversity within organizational leadership through internship initiatives, professional development opportunities, and ambassador programs to build careers in our field.

What were some of your main takeaways from this year’s Gap Year Association Conference? Email us at info@cornerstonesafetygroup.org - we’d love to hear them!