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.

The Gainesville Theatre Alliance closes its 2025-26 season with Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," which ran April 10-18 in the Ed Cabell Theatre at UNG's Gainesville Campus. Over two dozen students participated in acting roles and behind-the-scenes support.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Six UNG students were named Boren awardees, including five undergraduate scholarship winners and one graduating senior fellowship winner. This ties the UNG record set in 2021. Two additional students were named alternates.

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.

Ava Blythe, who is pursuing a degree in chemistry, was awarded the FEA scholarship to study in South Korea, making her the 14th FEA awardee at UNG.

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.

Cyber students at the University of North Georgia (UNG) have the skills and mindset it takes to excel in the cyber workforce. Their national championship in the Department of War Chief Information Officers (DOW CIO) Cyber Workforce Competition at the National Defense University in late March was simply the latest proof point that UNG students don't just study cybersecurity. They practice it. "This is exactly what we mean when we say UNG prepares students for what comes next," UNG President Michael Shannon said. "Our students are not waiting to serve. They are already operating at the level our nation and our allies demand."

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 student in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program has earned the Rising Star of Research and Scholarship Award from the Sigma international nursing honor society for an innovation that can help critical care providers, including nurse practitioners, physician assistants and physicians, better care for patients on ventilators. Dr. Soraya Smith-Farmer received the recognition for her research titled "A call for standardization in ventilator waveform education: Improving confidence and knowledge retention among advanced practice provider (APP) and physician fellows." She will present this work at Sigma's 37th International Nursing Research Congress, which is set for July 16-18 in Toronto.

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.

A four-student team from the University of North Georgia (UNG) secured first place at the Senior Military College (SMC) Cyber Fusion competition held Feb. 26-27 at Virginia Military Institute. James Goble joined cadets Danica Heeter, Charis Rueggeberg and Wesley Stoudenmier on the team that excelled in the four-hour capture the flag (CTF) event. Stoudenmier is UNG's Cyber Unit commander in the Corps of Cadets, and Goble is the Blue Team Element lead for the CyberHawks student club.

Cadets from the University of North Georgia (UNG) battled for first place in the Senior Military College Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl and ultimately fell short by one point in the online event, bringing home a second-place finish. The nailbiter ended with UNG and Norwich University tied with 129 points each, and the final decision was left to the judges. Two voted for Norwich - with one giving the lead to Norwich by one point - and the third judge voted for UNG. Norwich took home $5,000 prize through UNG's TRUIST Center for Ethical Leadership.

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.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Cadet Leadership Academy (CLA) held the inaugural six-week Cadet Advanced Leadership Course (CALC) in the fall for 156 sophomore cadets to prepare them for escalating levels of responsibility in the coming years. Designed as a key developmental pillar of the CLA's new 48-month curated cadet experience, CALC delivered rigorous, outcome-based training focused on leadership, readiness and character - mirroring standards found across the Army's premier leadership development programs. Cadets were immersed in a progressive series of academic, physical and leader-development events aligned with Army doctrine and the Corps of Cadets culture of excellence.

Four student groups earned prizes in the University of North Georgia's innovateUNG Pitch Challenge held March 2 in the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology & Innovation at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

A pair of recent University of North Georgia (UNG) graduates presented their innovative work with the UNG Press at the Open Education Conference held Oct. 28-30 in Denver, Colorado. Nicole Clifton, a spring 2025 graduate, and Joshua Lann, a fall 2025 graduate, shared about their experience converting UNG Press's open textbooks into accessible audiobooks. Both earned a degree in English with a writing and publication concentration.

In recognition of International Women's Day, which was March 8, the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Music held a concert showcasing award-winning female students and faculty members March 2 at UNG's Gainesville Campus in the lobby of the Performing Arts building. Dr. Joanna Kim, associate department head and professor of music, planned the event.

Eight University of North Georgia (UNG) students and alumni have been named Fulbright semifinalists for the 2026-27 academic year. All eight are pursuing the opportunity to be English teaching assistants (ETAs).

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Blue Ridge Rifles earned a fifth-place overall finish out of 31 teams in the 52nd annual Mardi Gras Invitational Drill Meet earlier this month at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Childhood experiences can play an important role in a person's dream of what to become as an adult, and Mauricio Gonzalez of Gainesville, Georgia, was no different. The First-Generation college junior at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is pursuing a degree in political science. He recently became the second student from UNG to be awarded a spot in the Public Policy International Affairs Junior Fellowship Program. The fully-funded, seven-week program is hosted by one of three universities (Harvard, Princeton and the University of Michigan, the host institution for Gonzalez). Gonzalez will take part in the program this summer. The experience is designed to propel students to graduate school.