University of North Georgia

The University of North Georgia (UNG) swept top honors from U.S. Army Cadet Command this fall, boasting both the No. 1 overall ROTC cadet out of 5,538 nationally and the No. 1 National Guard commissioning cadet out of 1,491. Benjamin Smith is the top overall graduating Army ROTC cadet for the 2025-26 academic year, and Kyle Sanders achieved the No. 1 Army National Guard ranking and No. 11 overall.

More than 20 University of North Georgia (UNG) students took part in research that was presented at the inaugural Research in Artificial Intelligence Testing & Evaluation (RAITE) Symposium, which was held Sept. 22 at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. While not all were part of the presentations that day, many of them gained conference experience alongside students from fellow senior military colleges (SMC) The Citadel, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, and Virginia Tech. Multiple faculty members from UNG and the other SMCs also presented at the RAITE Symposium.

Two recent University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnae and a student joined Dr. Cathy Whiting, professor of biology, in delivering a recent workshop for Northeast Georgia Medical Center's (NGMC) Graduate Medical Education (GME) resident physicians. This is Whiting's fifth time leading a concept mapping workshop for NGMC GME residents, and she brings along students each time. In fact, this was alumna Josie Ayers' third time assisting the effort.

As part of an award from a Halle Foundation grant, four University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music students gave individual performances at the Halle Foundation estate in Atlanta after participating in the Saarburg International Music Festival in Germany for two weeks in summer 2025. Tyler Howell, Atira Murawski, Hayden Starr, and Greisi Voja spent the two weeks overseas with lessons, sightseeing and performances.

Olivia Tinsley transferred to the University of North Georgia (UNG). Her major changed a few times, but she remained steadfast with her art history minor. "I loved my art history minor so much, and it completely changed my career plans. UNG doesn't offer an art history major, so I chose digital marketing because I knew it would be applicable to anything and I do enjoy it," Tinsley said.

Students and a recent alumna from the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis (IESA) earned more than half of the Surveying and Mapping Society Education of Georgia Foundation (SAMSEF) scholarships awarded for 2025-26 in Georgia.

Three University of North Georgia (UNG) students studied in London this summer through the University System of Georgia (USG) Goes Global program. USG Goes Global partners with USG institutions to provide quality, affordable and impactful faculty-led study abroad programs for undergraduate students. Charlotte Carswell, Mallan Gill and T.J. Hageli were grateful for the opportunities the program presented them.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Esports team finished second in the Local Area Network event at the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) during the spring semester in San Antonio, Texas. That success followed UNG's Halo national title in fall 2024. Team members for the spring national runner-up group from UNG were Nicholas Flynn, Wyatt Gowan, Clayton Poore, Dalton Ragon, and Jay Turner.

A University of North Georgia (UNG) graduate student recently had a scholarly article published in the "Journal of Educational Impact." Dalson Gunter's article, "Integrating Marginalized Voices into History Education," appeared in the Sept. 3 issue of the journal. Gunter is pursuing a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction. The Dawsonville, Georgia, resident earned a bachelor's degree in history with teacher certification in May.

Twelve University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets spent the summer abroad in U.S. ally nations experiencing culture and military structure. Cadet Emily Mendez, who once aspired to be a veterinarian, spent the semester at Colegio Militar de la Nacion in Argentina. Being fluent in Spanish and having a deep desire to travel, the Lawrenceville, Georgia, resident jumped at the chance. While in Argentina, she was granted permission to participate in field training with the Armor Branch. The decision was "life-changing" for Mendez, who left the U.S. believing she wanted to branch infantry.

From July 14-18, the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Cumming Campus hosted high school students from across Georgia and the U. S. for the fourth annual National Intelligence Summer Academy (NISA). Dr. Edward Mienie, executive director of the strategic and security studies bachelor's degree program and partnerships and professor of strategic and security studies, envisioned NISA along with the former Institute for Leadership and Strategic Studies and created the NISA syllabus. The academy made an enormous impression on Madison Dewey, Cristin Gibson, Lydia O'Neill, and Hailey Thomas, who served as staff assistants this year providing students an exceptional experience and help networking with former members of the CIA, FBI and other agencies.

For the summer 2025 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded more than 400 degrees and certificates to graduates.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) inaugural cohort of University Innovation Fellows (UIF) traveled recently to the annual UIF meetup at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. The three students also participated in professional development while on campus, as the UIF cohort is housed in the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Mike Cottrell College of Business. Evan Cantrell, UNG program coordinator for UIF, also traveled to the Netherlands with the group.

University of North Georgia (UNG) President Michael P. Shannon recognized students who achieved a 4.0 GPA during the summer 2025 semester. Students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in bachelor's degree programs who achieved a 4.0 grade point average were named to the President's Honor Roll. Students enrolled in associate degree or dual enrollment programs who met the same level of achievement were named to the President's List.

The deans of each of UNG's colleges announced the names of those students who made their respective lists for summer 2025. Dean's List recognition is achieved by having at least a 3.5 grade point average, carrying 12 or more credit hours in one semester and having no grade lower than B.

The University of North Georgia finished third in the Cyber Combat Exercise portion of the National Cyber Exercise (NCX) in Baltimore, Maryland, which features teams from some of the service academies and senior military colleges. That made UNG the top senior military college in the Cyber Combat Exercise. UNG finished seventh overall at NCX.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) inducted about 40 nursing students into the Sigma Theta Tau international nursing honor society during the spring 2025 semester.

Students, faculty and staff from the University of North Georgia (UNG) invested in the next generation of national leaders at the Youth in Government (YIG) Expo hosted Feb. 23-25 by the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement in St. Simons Island, Georgia. They assisted with the cybersecurity and national security academies within the expo. The academies each included hands-on learning activities such as escape rooms and dead-drop locations for exchanging secret information. It was all with an eye toward helping high school students gain an early taste of potential careers in government.

Students Dawson Yang and Alec Reeb have created an app aimed at helping people find available resources in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Augusta, Georgia.

The iDEA (innovateDahlonega Entrepreneurship Accelerator) Community Pitch Challenge was held Nov. 7 at the University of North Georgia (UNG) Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) Launch Pad on the Dahlonega campus, with seven out of the original 13 applicants vying for a prize package of $20,000.

Thirteen students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) took part in the Harvard Undergraduate Latina Empowerment & Development (LEAD) Conference, which was held Feb. 7-8 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Fatima Santillan, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in public administration and public service, attended the LEAD Conference for a second time and served as an ambassador this year.

University of North Georgia (UNG) senior Sydney Glouse received the first ever student DAISY Award given by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS). DAISY stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

A student and a faculty member in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Department of Visual Arts have partnered with the City of Dahlonega to create a rendering of a pedestrian bridge that will be built soon. The pedestrian bridge will be over Yahoola Creek at the Reservoir.

University of North Georgia (UNG) junior William Edwards is the school's presidential fellow to the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) for 2024-25. Monthly online seminars will allow Edwards, a cadet who is pursuing a degree in history, to study the public policymaking process and the president's relationship with Congress, allies, the media, and the public. A multiday leadership conference in Washington, D.C., will wrap up the program.

Two University of North Georgia (UNG) students participated in the four-week Pathway to Med School program through the Foothills Area Health Education Center (AHEC) this summer. The program looks to help students get into medical school and get them interested in primary care so that they will consider returning and serving the north Georgia community. This summer, eight students from the region participated.

The Model United Nations clubs on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville and Dahlonega Campuses jointly organized the seventh annual Model United Nations Conference at the Gainesville Campus. Held March 29, the event topic was "Addressing the Impacts that Artificial Intelligence has in the Current Digital Age."

Nicole LeBlanc is UNG's 2022-23 UNG Presidential Fellow for the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed 1,971 new initiates from 78 universities during April 2022. Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on a campus are invited to join each year.