Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us

Find the most up-to-date information on the Presidential Search site.

Newsroom
  • All Articles
  • Media Relations Contact
  • Expert Guide
  • Points of Pride
  • Magazine
  • Social Media
    1. UNG
    2. News

    Deployed soldier, alumnus surprises daughter at commencement

    December 17, 2018
    Army Col. Norman "Chip" Kirby Jr. '93, surprised his daughter, Taylor Kirby, before UNG's fall commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

    Article By: Clark Leonard

    Taylor Kirby already knew Saturday was going to be a memorable day. But the University of North Georgia graduate couldn't have predicted tears flowing even before her morning commencement ceremony began.

    Kirby's father, Army Col. Norman "Chip" Kirby Jr., made a surprise visit on a short leave from active-duty military service in the Middle East. Only Kirby's mother, Jan Kirby, knew her daughter and the rest of their family were in for a reunion five months earlier than expected. Both of Taylor Kirby's parents are 1993 alumni of UNG, and Chip was a member of UNG's Corps of Cadets.

    As shocked family members smiled and ask questions about who knew what, Taylor Kirby stepped into her father's embrace and began crying tears of joy. Her father had told her he would be watching the ceremony online.

    "I'm excited to graduate anyway," Taylor Kirby said. "And then he gets to be here."

    Chip Kirby called it "the best experience of my life."

    Jan Kirby said the family had expected her husband to be back for their son's high school graduation in the spring, but after his deployment in September, seeing him at their daughter's ceremony was originally doubtful.

    "This is great," Jan Kirby said. "I really appreciate all the help he received getting here."

    UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs met with the family to congratulate Taylor and thank Chip for his service.

    "Col. Kirby, like many of our alumni, is currently deployed to the Middle East as an active duty soldier, and we are grateful to him for his service and that he was able to attend this important celebration in the life of his family," Jacobs said.

    Coverage of the surprise for the Kirby family was shared by CBS46, FOX 5 Atlanta, 11 Alive, AccessWDUN, and The Gainesville Times.

    Taylor was one of more than 600 students who received their degrees at UNG's two fall commencement ceremonies Dec. 15.

    Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and University System of Georgia Board of Regents member Erin Hames were the commencement speakers at the Saturday ceremonies in the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

    Separate commissioning ceremonies were held Friday for 26 members of the Corps of Cadets entering the armed forces as second lieutenants.

    Contact the Author

    Cadets raise $32K for suicide interventions

    Cadets raise $32K for suicide interventions

    The UNG Corps of Cadets raised more than $32,000 for Armed Forces Mission's suicide intervention efforts through the Courageous Challenge pushup competition.
    Spring FROG class joins Corps of Cadets

    Spring FROG class joins Corps of Cadets

    About 25 incoming cadets engaged in Freshmen Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week at UNG this January.
    Applications open for Georgia Military Service Scholarship

    Applications open for Georgia Military Service Scholarship

    Applications are open for the Georgia Military Service Scholarship, which is worth $85,000 for cadets who are in the Georgia Army National Guard while in the Corps of Cadets.
    Cadet Sullens wins  AUSA scholarship

    Cadet Sullens wins AUSA scholarship

    UNG cadet Olivia Sullens was awarded a $10,000 Condor Outdoor Products Scholarship from the Association of the United States Army.

    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment/HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2023 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    Establishing Connection...
    AskNigel