University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Education.

The Burke Award is presented by the National Society for Experiential Education and funded by The Washington Center for Academic Internships and Seminars in memory of TWC’s founder, William M. Burke.

The award recognizes a sitting college president who has made significant contributions to the field and exemplifies Burke’s commitment to college students through entrepreneurial support of experiential education on campus and in the community.

The award includes a $2,000 scholarship to be awarded to a ­University of Georgia student who is involved in experiential learning.

Morehead will be honored at the 2019 NSEE conference awards luncheon on Sept. 24.

The University of Georgia has partnered with a wide range of organizations to create more than 1,700 opportunities for students to gain hands-on learning experiences, including internships, undergraduate research, community-based learning opportunities, international experiences, opportunities for leadership, entrepreneurship or creative projects.

This combination of academic instruction and hands-on learning is a defining feature of a UGA education and nearly 13,000 students completed experiential learning programs in the 2018-2019 academic year alone.