As seniors in the Corps of Cadets at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Addyson Albershardt and Sarah-Anne Payne have heard several alumni deliver speeches about their time at the university and their life beyond the collegiate halls. But listening to 1989 alumnae Ann Padgett Hammel was a first for them.

"We have male leaders in the Corps who have come and spoken, but I've never seen a female leader who graduated from the Corps since I've been here," Albershardt said. "This will be the first alumnae and we are both seniors. So this is really great."

Honoring successful alumnae such as Hammel and introducing them to female UNG students was part of the program at the Women's Leadership Recognition Luncheon on Sunday, March 4, on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. The other alumnae recognized were Ann Couch Alexander ('64), Betty Rucker Chapman ('58), Emily George Dunn ('83), and Sue Haynes Malone ('74).

"You've made UNG so proud," said Karen Frost ('74), chairwoman of the alumni Women of UNG shared-interest group, which sponsored the luncheon with support from the UNG Alumni Association.

Frost then turned her attention to the UNG female students in the room.

"We want you to know that some of you will be standing here in the future and we will talk about the differences you've made in the world," she said.

The students already are making a difference at UNG. In fact, the luncheon honors female student leaders from UNG's five campuses every March for Women's History Month. It celebrated its second year by honoring 24 students nominated by faculty and staff for their integrity, responsibility, courage, and positivity, Frost said.

"We asked for the best of the best and that's what we have here," she said.

More than 20 University of North Georgia female students were honored March 4 at the second annual Women's Leadership Luncheon on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. The students were nominated by faculty and staff for their integrity, responsibility, courage, and positivity. The students were, from left: first row, Addyson Albershardt, Chandler Alligood, Kaitlyn Bowling, Callie Brock, Jemmy Case, Renee Clement, Abby Hood, Molly Martin, Kendall Maze, Nataly Morales Villa, and Sarah-Anne Payne; back row, Lily Rainwater, Martie Rogers, Sarah Rogers, Jenna Sanborn, Kristen Shadrix, Michelle Vatral, Ella Wasiluk, Ansley Watson, Rachael Williams, and Andrea Zarate. Students not pictured were Julie McKie, Kathryn Shafer and Sidney Sprague.

Students honored were:

• Albershardt, a senior kinesiology major from Charlotte, North Carolina
• Chandler Alligood, a senior business major from Toccoa, Georgia
• Kaitlyn Bowling, a freshman nursing major from Ellijay, Georgia
• Callie Brock, a junior biology major from Nicholson, Georgia
• Jemmy Case, a junior communications major with a concentration in organizational leadership from Gainesville, Georgia
• Renee Clement, a sophomore psychology major from Watkinsville, Georgia
• Abby Hood, a senior marketing major from Buford, Georgia
• Molly Martin, a senior kinesiology major with a concentration in health and fitness from Lewes, Delaware
• Kendall Maze, a senior biology major from Johns Creek, Georgia
• Julie McKie, a senior kinesiology major with exercise science concentration from Smyrna, Georgia
• Nataly Morales Villa, a senior double majoring in political science and Spanish from Gainesville, Georgia
• Payne, a senior communications major with a concentration in multimedia journalism from Dahlonega, Georgia
• Lily Rainwater, a senior chemistry major from Cumming, Georgia
• Martin Rogers, a senior business management major from Dahlonega, Georgia
• Sarah Rogers, a sophomore education major with a specialization in counseling from Ellijay, Georgia
• Jenna Sanborn, a senior nursing major from Rome, Georgia
• Kristen Shadrix, a senior athletic training major from Carrollton, Georgia
• Kathryn Shafer, a senior athletic training major from Jacksonville, Illinois
• Sidney Sprague, a senior special education and childhood education double major from Columbus, Georgia
• Michelle Vatral, a senior art marketing major from Columbus, Georgia
• Ella Wasiluk, a junior physics major from Newnan, Georgia
• Ansley Watson, a senior nursing major from Cleveland, Georgia
• Rachael Williams, a senior international affairs major with a concentration in the Middle East from Senoia, Georgia
• Andrea Zarate, a junior athletic training major from Milton, Georgia

A few of the students were honored at being recognized during the luncheon but were surprised at the nomination.

"I thought I was another face in the crowd," said Clement, a non-traditional student who connected with Hammel's speech. "I see a lot of similarities in my life and where I go from here."

In her speech, Hammel mentioned several key points that she described as non-revolutionary.

"I know as a confident leader, I have to work hard and smart. And hopefully we are never done," she said. "But each of you are in a different stage in your life and careers who are sharing an amazing bond and legacy."

Albershardt agreed.

"Sarah-Anne and I were suit-mates our sophomore year," she said. "And the bond she and I have is friendship."