University of North Georgia

Alumna Sara Courtney's last semester at UNG included the opportunity to visit the nation's capital and present at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

Twenty-five University of North Georgia (UNG) students held a variety of roles in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GTA) spring 2026 production of "The Play That Goes Wrong," which ran from Feb.13-21 at the Hosch Theatre at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia. At the helm, leading students, was GTA Artistic Director Zechariah Pierce. GTA is a one-of-a-kind, nationally recognized collaboration between UNG and Breneau University.

Tough times taught Sierra Ellis determination, dedication and fortitude. They also gave her the strength to earn her pro card as a professional bodybuilder.

Two University of North Georgia (UNG) students have been named 2025-26 Fulbright Canada-Mitacs Globalink research interns and will head to Canada in May. Micah Chandler is a junior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in mathematics and a minor in physics. Piper Spraker, a senior from Dahlonega, Georgia, departs May 8 for Canada. Spraker is a senior pursuing degrees in musical arts and physics and a minor in mathematics.

Students presented research and helped the University of North Georgia (UNG) host the Conference on the Americas from Feb. 20-21 at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. UNG's College of Arts & Letters and Mike Cottrell College of Business partnered to host the conference. The Americas Council of the University System of Georgia (USG) sponsors the event, and it includes faculty members of UNG, the University of Georgia, Georgia State University Perimeter College, Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Georgia Gwinnett College, and the University of West Georgia.

For the spring 2026 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded more than 1,700 degrees and certificates to graduates. Many of the graduates participated in the spring commencement ceremonies held May 12-15 at the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

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

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

In a ceremony held May 12 by the University of North Georgia, 60 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants.

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.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Model United Nations (MUN) Conference was held in March this year. It was the ninth conference, and 67 students, pursuing 15 different degrees, represented 21 countries. MUN, a two-campus club advised by Chand on the Gainesville Campus and Dr. Jonathan Miner on the Dahlonega Campus, welcomes new members. "The MUN Conference is a great platform for UNG students to hone their public speaking and research skills. It encourages students to be comfortable being in someone else's shoes and be effective at communicating with a wide range of people," Dr. Bibek Chand, associate professor of Political Science & International Affairs, said.

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.

Kinesiology students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) presented seven research posters at the Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) annual meeting held Feb. 26-28 in Greenville, South Carolina. A pair of faculty members also presented.

A University of North Georgia (UNG) student and a recent alumnus have made the most of their internships with local chambers of commerce and begun to blaze their career paths thanks to those experiences. Felipe Darquea, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in public administration and public service, parlayed his Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) internship in the summer and fall of 2025 into a full-time job during his final semester this spring.

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 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.

Dykejiah "Keke" Jones was awarded a Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) scholarship and shared that the chance to study in Taiwan is "a dream becoming reality." Jones is pursuing a degree in East Asian studies with a Chinese focus at the University of North Georgia (UNG). She leaves in February to study Chinese at National Taiwan Normal University until May. She hopes to one day teach in Taiwan or China.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.