University of North Georgia

Ten female students and three alumnae were honored for their leadership by the Women of UNG on March 3. University of North Georgia (UNG) first lady Jessica Shannon was the luncheon speaker. The event theme was "A Legacy of Leadership."

University of North Georgia (UNG) junior Fatima Santillan is the university's first Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute (PPIA JSI) fellow. The award will allow her to attend a rigorous seven-week fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy.

Three University of North Georgia students competed in the Geomatics Bowl at the Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia's Annual Technical Seminar, where they won two of their rounds. The Geomatics Bowl is a Jeopardy-style game with prompts from surveying, geospatial and related categories.

University of North Georgia (UNG) student Autumn Cleymans spent a week in Japan for the Kakehashi Project this January. She earned the opportunity through her first-place finish in the most advanced level of the Japanese Speech Contest held at Kennesaw State University in spring 2023.

University of North Georgia (UNG) students Hannah Eckerman and Devin Marshall, '23, had work published in Queen City Writers, an online source showcasing student writing. The journal is housed at the University of Cincinnati.

Hugh Pruitt, a University of North Georgia (UNG) freshman, was awarded a scholarship by the Atlanta Chapter of the Project Management Institute for his essay "Where Will I Be In Five Years."

The University of North Georgia men's basketball team will host the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional after winning its first Peach Belt Conference tournament championship.

Four third-year students in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Master of Science in Counseling program are gaining valuable field experience on campus as interns in the UNG Community Counseling Clinic.

Three students from the University of North Georgia presented their research at Posters at the Capitol in Atlanta on Feb. 20. Twenty-four projects from 11 different universities were presented at the yearly event put on by the Georgia Undergraduate Research Collective (GURC) to promote undergraduate research.

Four third-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students at the University of North Georgia (UNG) gained valuable experience with a clinical rotation in Italy during the fall 2023 semester. The time abroad occurred during the second of three required clinical rotations for the program.

Five University of North Georgia (UNG) students have earned selection for the Fulbright Canada Mitacs Globalink program for summer 2024. The program provides sophomores and juniors the opportunity to conduct 10-12 weeks of fully-funded research in Canada between May and August. UNG had one student take part in the program in 2023.

Sixteen University of North Georgia (UNG) students and alumni have been named semifinalists for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2024-25 academic year. They will learn within the next three months whether they are selected for the competitive fellowship.

The University of North Georgia (UNG) had multiple students from its Dahlonega and Gainesville Model United Nations (UN) teams contribute a strong performance at the Southeast Regional Model United Nations conference in Atlanta in November.

Five University of North Georgia (UNG) students were named winners of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for study abroad in December. The scholarship is presented by the U.S. Department of State to undergraduate students who meet eligibility requirements.

Before beginning a new season, the University of North Georgia (UNG) softball program had a high-profile chance to celebrate its 2023 NCAA Division II national championship. Twenty-three players and the team's coaches visited the Georgia Capitol on Jan. 30, receiving a commendation from Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp and Senate and House resolutions honoring the team's national title. The team also presented Kemp, state Sen. Steve Gooch and state Rep. Will Wade with personalized UNG jerseys. Gooch, the Senate majority leader, and Wade are UNG alumni.

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnae Nataly Morales Villa and Melissa Silva have earned one of six inaugural Gilman Alumni Changemaker Awards. Both graduated from UNG in 2019.

University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus 2nd Lt. Phillip Ly has earned the Rangel Fellowship, which awards up to $42,000 annually for two years to 45 American students who plan to earn a master's degree and begin a career in the Foreign Service.

A University of North Georgia (UNG) student and faculty member are participating in a Sonya Clark exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. Roxie Fricton and Johanna Norry, a lecturer of studio art, are assisting with "Reconstruction Exercise," where they help visitors weave a recreation of the Truce Flag from the Civil War.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Ethics Bowl team earned a spot in its national competition thanks to a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl in November. This marks UNG's second nationals appearance in a row. The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl national event is set for Feb. 24-25 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

University of North Georgia (UNG) senior Sharon Tran was selected as one of four recipients of the Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship, a 2023 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Collegiate Professional Achievement Award. Tran received the award at the NAfME National Leadership Assembly and Collegiate Leadership Advocacy Summit in June.

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) 30 newest cadets began their time in the Corps of Cadets with Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week from Jan. 3-7. The week mixed physical challenges with an array of workshops about available services and how to succeed as a cadet and a student.

Seven students from the University of North Georgia (UNG) attended the Wildlife Society 30th annual conference, one of the largest gatherings of wildlife professionals in North America, accompanied by three UNG faculty members, including biology lecturer Jessy Patterson.

Three University of North Georgia (UNG) students attended the fourth annual U.S. Arabic Debating Championship, an event created to spread cultural awareness and provide room for dialogue in the Arabic language from Oct. 13 -15.

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

For the fall 2023 semester, the University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded 989 degrees and certificates to graduates. Many of the graduates participated in the fall 2023 commencement ceremonies held Dec. 16 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 fall 2023. 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 Michael P. Shannon recognized students who achieved a 4.0 GPA during the fall 2023 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 University of North Georgia's (UNG) poultry team placed sixth overall at the 57th National Poultry Judging Contest held from Nov. 5-8 at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This year's team members were Amy Arellano, Eric Brockman, Ashley Davis, and Kayley Edwards, coached by associate professor Dr. Linda Purvis and UNG junior Jacque Conner.

University of North Georgia (UNG) junior Riley Rowland received the Southeastern Regional Conference of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) 2023 Undergraduate Poster Award in October in Durham, North Carolina.

University of North Georgia (UNG) senior Krista Willey was named Student Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Mike Cottrell College of Business in a ceremony on Oct. 25 in the Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. Taylor Merritt, '15, was recognized as the Alumna Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. Merritt is CEO of Daddy Tay Fitness, a company she founded in 2022.