University of North Georgia

Seventeen University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates (DMGs) for the 2023-24 academic year, which is six more than a year ago. Five of UNG's DMGs are among the top 10% nationally of graduating active-duty-eligible cadets.

In a ceremony held Dec. 15 by the University of North Georgia, 27 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) tradition of excellence continued at Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as 94 cadets completed the summer training.

1st Lt. Tristan Moran, '20, graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School in September. He became the second active-duty Army nurse to complete Ranger School while in the Army Nurse Corps.

A total of 22 University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets earned Distinguished Military Student (DMS) status for the 2023-24 academic year. The cadets were formally recognized at the DMS dinner and review the weekend of Sept. 22-24.

One hundred and seventy-eight cadets began their time as University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets with Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week from Aug.13-19. FROG Week marks the transition from civilian to military life within UNG's Corps of Cadets.

In ceremonies held Aug. 2 by the University of North Georgia, 13 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants.

UNG has added a new program to its military academy exchange program, and two UNG cadets are taking advantage of the opportunity. From Feb. 27 to June 26, the pair of cadets are fully immersed in Lithuanian culture while studying at the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. Other cadets studied abroad in Taiwan, Romania and South Korea in spring 2023.

A University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus is bringing his talent to a premier military band.Kevin Flanagan, '20, is playing tuba in the West Point Band, an opportunity that developed after years of practice and discipline.

UNG cadet Anthony Linatoc took first place in the cadet division of the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships on March 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

In ceremonies held May 4-5 by the University of North Georgia, 37 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants.

More than 100 military awards and scholarships were presented to University of North Georgia cadets at the March 30 Military Awards Ceremony and the April 16 Military Awards Review.

UNG junior Anna Cronan has been selected for the summer 2023 Fulbright-MITACS Globalink Program, where she will conduct cover crop research.

Twenty-three cadets began their time as University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets with Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week from Jan. 4-8. FROG Week marks the transition from civilian to military life within UNG's Corps of Cadets.

In ceremonies held on Dec. 16 by the University of North Georgia, 21 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants. They are the first of the 100 officers UNG expects to commission during the 2022-23 academic year.

For the first time, the University of North Georgia (UNG) has four full-time Taiwanese cadets enrolled and seeking a college degree as full-time members of the Corps of Cadets.

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus 2nd Lt. John Belser, '20, has been accepted into the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps.

Eleven UNG cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for 2022-23. DMGs are commissioning cadets who finish in the top 20% of Army graduates on the national Order of Merit List by achieving superior grade-point averages, strong performance in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and proving their worth as exceptional leaders in their college ROTC training. The DMG designation will remain on their Army record throughout their military career.

UNG had 93 cadets complete Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, this summer. This training opportunity allowed Cadet Command to assess their proficiency as future officers.

About 165 cadets began their time as University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets with Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week from Aug. 14-20. FROG Week marks the transition from civilian to military life within UNG's Corps of Cadets.

Sixteen University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets have been named Distinguished Military Students (DMS) for the 2022-23 academic year. They were honored at the Sept. 25 DMS Review on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets and leaders traveled abroad this summer for a wide range of professional development opportunities and events. This included multiple visits to international military academy partners, as well as conferences and leadership courses.

Twyla Bryant, who completed post-baccalaureate work at UNG to be certified as a teacher, was selected by the Transatlantic Outreach Program of the Goethe-Institut to participate in a study tour to Germany, funded by The Halle Foundation.

A faculty member, a recent alumna, and a staff member from the University of North Georgia (UNG) attended the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) Conference from June 19-22 in Treviso, Italy. The conference theme was "Working Wicked Intelligence Challenges." Dr. Edward Mienie, professor and executive director of UNG's bachelor's degree in strategic and security studies, presented on a counterintelligence framework for cybersecurity education as part of a counterintelligence panel. Noelle Heineman, a former student of Mienie and a December 2021 UNG graduate with a degree in strategic and security studies with a concentration in intelligence, attended the conference to gain further exposure to the intelligence and intelligence education career fields. She started attending George Washington University this fall to pursue a master's degree in security policy studies.

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumna Leah Pennell, '22, has earned an $8,500 Phi Kappa Phi fellowship and will use it to fund research at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is pursuing a doctoral degree in molecular and cellular biology. Pennell earned her bachelor's degree in biology from UNG in May. Pennell, who worked as an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Alexandra Garrett while at UNG, presented her work at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) in fall 2021 and National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in spring 2022 Her leadership roles as an undergraduate also included being a Supplemental Instruction facilitator and a mentor to other Nighthawks and co-manager of the lab of Dr. Abby Meyer. Meyer described Pennell as "a model student."

In ceremonies held Aug. 5 by the University of North Georgia, 22 graduating cadets were awarded commissions as second lieutenants. They are among the 123 officers UNG commissioned during the 2021-22 academic year.

University of North Georgia (UNG) students Melena Appling, Edleen Henriquez, and Susana Olivo Sandoval have earned grants from the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE). Appling received a $6,000 Global Cities Grant, reducing her program fee to half, allowing her to participate in the Open Campus program in London and Rome during fall 2022. Appling is a junior from Buford, Georgia, pursuing a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations. Henriquez and Olivo Sandoval each will receive $1,500 to use for study abroad in summer 2022, fall 2022 or spring 2023.

The Upward Bound program at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is helping three siblings attain the goal of a college education while also receiving major scholarship assistance. Siblings Jerson Lopez, Melissa Lopez and Mileidi Martinez-Garcia, of East Ellijay in Gilmer County, are each Dell Scholarship recipients, each earning funds of up to $20,000, for a total of $60,000 for the trio.

More than 100 University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets were presented with scholarships and awards at ceremonies held this spring.

Eight University of North Georgia's (UNG) cadets completed a 12-week aviation ground school during the spring 2022 semester. It provided a valuable experience for those who want to commission into the Army's aviation branch and prepared them for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot written knowledge test.