Boston, MA – 3/10/26 – Modo Labs, a pioneer in campus experience platforms for higher education since 2010, today announced the winners of its 8th annual Appademy Awards, the industry’s only program dedicated to recognizing excellence in digital campus innovation. This year’s honorees are redefining the campus experience through unified, mobile-first platforms that connect systems, reduce friction, and help students, faculty, and staff take action.
Modo Campus’ low-code platform enables today’s leading colleges and universities to deliver a seamless, unified digital experience across mobile and desktop. Each year, the Appademy Awards recognize institutions that drive student engagement, streamline communications, and reimagine the digital campus experience through integration, personalization, and mobile-first design.
“We are continually inspired by how institutions are using Modo to transform the student experience,” said Andrew Yu, Founder and President of Modo Labs. “This year’s winners demonstrate that when campuses align their digital strategy with how students actually engage, with mobile-first, personalization, and real-time access, they deliver experiences that are both intuitive and impactful.”
This year’s competition highlighted a wide range of innovative use cases, from admissions onboarding and campus communications to mobile-first engagement and desktop portal transformation. Submissions demonstrated how institutions are consolidating systems, improving access to resources, and creating more connected campus experiences.
“The submissions this year reinforce how essential a unified digital campus experience has become,” Yu added. “These institutions are not just improving access, they are creating mobile apps and portals that support engagement, connection, and student success across the entire campus journey.”
2026 Appademy Awards Winners
The 2026 Appademy Awards included ten categories, with all category winners eligible for the Best Overall Digital Campus Experience award. This year’s winners are:
- Best Personalized Student Experience: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Best Admissions / Prospective Student Experience: Roosevelt University
- Best Role/User-Based Experience: Illinois State University
- Best Desktop Portal Experience: Penn State
- Best Mobile-First Experience: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Best Redesign: University of Texas at Arlington
- Best Student Engagement or Community Experience: Utah Tech University
- Best Use of Communications: University of Texas at Austin
- Most Creative Marketing Campaign: University of North Dakota
- Best Traditional Event: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Best Overall Digital Campus Experience: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Spotlight on Winners
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, winner of Best Overall Digital Campus Experience, was recognized for its Hello Heels platform, which delivers a unified, personalized experience across academics, campus services, events, and communications.
“UNC Chapel Hill’s Hello Heels delivers a cohesive, campus-branded ‘daily dashboard’ that makes personalization feel purposeful and measurable,” said Andrew Umans, GM, Higher Education and VP, Strategy & Partnerships at Modo Labs. “The content adapts to student context, like identity, timing, lifecycle moments, and even location, resulting in a streamlined experience that consistently surfaces what students need, when they need it.”
Penn State, winner of Best Desktop Portal Experience, was recognized for Penn State Go, a research-driven campus portal designed to serve as a centralized digital front door across 23 campuses.
“The submission presents a clean, scalable ‘digital front door’ with strong evidence of adoption and retention,” Umans added. “It clearly reduces system sprawl while delivering purposeful personalization without complexity.”
The University of North Dakota, winner of Most Creative Marketing Campaign, was recognized for App Quest, a gamified initiative that significantly increased app awareness and engagement across campus.
“UND combines a clear theme with a distinctive identity and strong execution across both physical and digital channels,” Umans noted. “The results show a direct connection between creative strategy and measurable engagement.”
Recognizing Innovation Across Higher Education
A panel of higher education, technology, and digital experience leaders reviewed submissions based on creativity, user experience, functionality, and measurable outcomes. This year’s judges included:
- Andrew Yu – Founder & President, Modo Labs
- Joellen Shendy – Sr. Director of Higher Ed & Student Product Strategy, Workday
- Jeff Dillon – Founder & CEO, EdTech Connect
- Joshua Meredith – Client Relationship Executive, Deloitte
Congratulations to the 2026 winners, whose work demonstrates the innovation and impact possible through a unified digital campus platform. This year’s submissions highlight how institutions are creating more connected, personalized, and engaging experiences for their campus communities.
For a complete list of finalists and full winner details, read the full 2026 Appademy Awards blog.
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