University of North Georgia

The University of North Georgia (UNG) took nine nursing students and four faculty members to Peru on a study abroad during spring break. Patients came from hours away to receive the free services provided by students and faculty members. The services included cervical cancer, vision and anemia screenings, along with women's health services, blood pressure measurements and hemoglobin tests.

Students, faculty and staff of the University of North Georgia (UNG) provided a free program this summer that offered structured training for 95 youth athletes ranging in age from 7 to 12. Doctoral physical therapy students created workouts for the Balance Agility Quickness (BAQ) Academy, and three of them worked alongside UNG employees and former student-athletes to coach the students on Wednesdays and Sundays at Nighthawk Ridge.

University of North Georgia (UNG) cadet Alyssa Estes earned her Air Assault wings and ruck march champion honors July 21 at The Sabalauski Air Assault School at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She completed Air Assault Class AA 29-26, in which only 71 of 198 candidates graduated - a completion rate of about 36% from the group that started July 7.

Cybersecurity teams from the University of North Georgia (UNG) took three of the top four spots at SummitCTF at Virginia Tech in the spring. The first-place team included Stewart Cates, James Goble, Tyler McBride, and Paxton Meyer. Third-place honors went to Maya Cameron, Jonathan Farrington, Thomas Murillo-Bivins, and Parker Scott. Teaming up for fourth place were David Atsu, Andrew Bonam, Austin Sanders, and Sarah Ganthier.

Three University of North Georgia (UNG) Supplemental Instruction (SI) facilitators and three SI staff members presented research at the 14th International Conference on Supplemental Instruction (ICSI) in Portland, Oregon, this June. Their presentations included: "SI practices for anxiety-prone and introverted students," Anna Rundbaken and Sydney Michaud. "Adapting SI sessions for Gen Z students," Annie Blanks. "Leadership at the core: Strengthening SI through mentor development," staff members Sarah Dean and Oscar King. "Paving the path to SI leader success: Implementing a comprehensive SI leader performance rubric," staff members Sarah Dean, Oscar King and Tracy Howe.

An alumna and a student partnered with their University of North Georgia (UNG) psychology mentor to publish a research article: "How framing influences undergraduate students' attitudes toward graduate school." Their publication was in the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research. This research was of great personal interest to Hannah Hyman, a 2025 graduate from Gainesville, Georgia, with a degree in psychology, and Iris Wright, a junior from Gainesville pursuing a degree in psychology. Both plan to attend graduate school.

For the summer 2026 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded more than 400 degrees and certificates to graduates.

University of North Georgia (UNG) President Michael P. Shannon recognized students who achieved a 4.0 GPA during the summer 2026 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.

UNG College of Education interns participated in a grant-funded project to increase the representation of individuals with disabilities in books in school libraries.

The deans of each of UNG's colleges announced the names of those students who made their respective lists for summer 2026. 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.

Justin Wlosko comes from a family including an educator and language teacher, encouraging him to learn a second language. His passion for the Korean culture started at an early age and remained through his four years at the University of North Georgia (UNG).

Collaboration is the key word with the Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE) program. The two-month summer program has roughly a dozen University of North Georgia (UNG) students working on collaborative research projects with a faculty mentor in their field.

Four University of North Georgia (UNG) students from the Department of Music presented a workshop at the fifth annual String Band Summit at East Tennessee State University. The string band included Archer Callahan, Adam Oussaid, Cooper Sandefur, and Erol Savas. All four students participated in the workshop and then later performed at a local music festival.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) inducted 24 nursing students into the Sigma Theta Tau international nursing honor society during the spring 2026 semester.

The UNG Esports team finished off a decorated 2025-26 academic year with a second-place finish in the National Esports Collegiate Conference Marvel Rivals tournament.

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus Kian Esmaeili said he prefers to take things to the next level, so it wasn't a surprise when he chose to take his Honors Program thesis one step further and presented his research at IEEE SoutheastCon 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama. The Woodstock, Georgia, resident earned his degree in cybersecurity with a minor in entrepreneurship in May.

Alumnae Lily Hammond and Danni Ingram are on the path toward doctoral degrees at Yale University, citing strong support from UNG's Department of Music as inspiration.

ASCEND, a Summer Honors experience at the University of North Georgia (UNG), has been described as both an "academic enrichment experience" and a "regional leadership foundry" for high school rising seniors. In addition to advanced academic content, campers handle challenges requiring collaboration, problem-solving and self-advocacy. Applications are open for this year's ASCEND, set for May 31-June 12. The application deadline is May 1. Full or partial scholarships are available for students from some school districts to help with the $1,750 program cost. Students can visit the application page to determine if their school district provides a scholarship.

The 2025-26 University of North Georgia (UNG) Alumni Student Hosts are excited to perform their duties with bright smiles and boundless energy during Alumni Weekend, set for April 17-19 at UNG's Dahlonega Campus and additional Dahlonega spots.

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.

During spring break, the University of North Georgia (UNG) Combat Action Shooting Team (CAST) swept the top two spots in the cadet team division of the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship. Jesse Shoemaker, CAST officer in charge, was named top cadet, winning by more than 200 points. He earned excellence in competition points in both rifle and pistol, placing him in the top 10% of all 209 shooters at the competition. The team also had impressive results in the SIG Sauer Relentless Warrior Campionship. UNG was the only senior military college on the podium at the New Hampshire competition in April. UNG earned third place, the Air Force Academy took second place and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point took home the gold. Shoemaker was seventh individually, with Price also in the top 20.

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.

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.

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) 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.

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.

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.