University of North Georgia

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.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) won three of its four debates in the U.S. Universities Arabic Debating Championship hosted Oct. 13-17 by QatarDebate at Stanford University in California.

For the third year in a row, the University of North Georgia (UNG) and the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta have teamed up to offer scholarships to UNG students of Mexican/Latinx descent. A new element of this year's $6,000 grant from the Mexican consulate, which is matched by $8,000 from UNG, is its focus on future educators. Dr. Christian Bello Escobar, director of academic and clinical engagement in the College of Education, is the principal investigator for the grant.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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."

For the summer 2022 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded almost 530 degrees and more than 40 certificates to graduates. Almost 300 graduates participated in the summer 2022 commencement ceremony held Aug. 5 at the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

The deans of each of UNG's colleges announced the names of those students who made their respective lists for summer 2022. 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.

University of North Georgia (UNG) President Bonita C. Jacobs recognized students who achieved a 4.0 GPA during the summer 2022 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.

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.

Phi Kappa Phi recently announced the recipients of a 2022 Fellowship. The prestigious $8,500 fellowships were awarded to 54 students nationwide.

A dozen University of North Georgia (UNG) undergraduate students have the opportunity to take part in projects funded by Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement (FUSE) research grants. The programs run from May 31-July 22 and cover a variety of academic disciplines.

University of North Georgia (UNG) cadet Jaden Davidson won an Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Atlanta chapter's 2022 merit scholarship, which is for $1,500. Davidson, 18, is a sophomore pursuing a degree in cybersecurity.

University of North Georgia (UNG) cybersecurity students made strong showings in a pair of high-level events during the spring 2022 semester. They were fifth out of 25 teams in the national Hack the Port cyber-physical systems hacking competition. UNG also finished in second place in the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition hosted by Kennesaw State University.

Four University of North Georgia (UNG) students were selected for the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) program, which grants awards of up to $5,000 for students who demonstrate financial need to fulfill their plans of study abroad in Asia.

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.

Twelve University of North Georgia (UNG) students are taking a major step in their academic journey this summer thanks to Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Another will participate in an opportunity through the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at Emory University.

The University of North Georgia Tri-Alpha honor society spring induction ceremony highlighted the achievements of 42 students, seven faculty and staff, and one alumnus. The event was held on April 25 on UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Seven University of North Georgia (UNG) students were selected this spring for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Paired with the recipients announced in December, this gives UNG 19 awardees for the 2021-22 cycle.

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.

Four University of North Georgia (UNG) students pursuing degrees in cybersecurity had their research accepted for the inaugural Cybersecurity Research in Undergraduate Programs (CyRUP) Conference held April 6-8 at Norwich University, and one of them won an award.

University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets Chandler Harris and Jasmine Valentine participated in the TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, from April 11-13.

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

UNG students who showed promise, demonstrated creativity, displayed excellence, served others and exceeded all expectations had their moment in the spotlight during the annual Student Honors and Awards Day events held April 12-14.

Four University of North Georgia (UNG) students have earned Boren awards to support language and cultural learning opportunities, and two were named Boren alternates. The Boren Scholarship and Fellowship provides up to $25,000 for students to intensively study language and culture abroad. In exchange, students agree to work for the U.S. federal government for at least a year and receive coaching and mentoring upon their return to facilitate this objective.