Student honored for helping transfers and other first-year students

A University of North Georgia (UNG) student has been honored for her work in helping transfers and other first-year students make the transition to UNG.

Isabella "Bella" Michel, a junior human services and delivery administration major from Lawrenceville, Georgia, won the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award from the American College Personnel Association's (ACPA) Commission for Admissions, Orientation, and First Year Experience (AOFYE). She has assisted with more than 30 orientation sessions per year on all five UNG campuses.

"As a transfer student, Bella brings significant insight to the different needs and challenges of this often under-recognized subpopulation of first-year students," Darcy Hayes, UNG director of orientation and transition programs, wrote in a letter recommending Michel for the award. "She has overcome the initial transfer shock that many transfer students experience when they first transition to a new institution and has used the lessons learned to implement and enhance the UNG Transfer Mentor program."

Michel said she was surprised by the recognition but grateful to be honored. Michel said she aims to provide the same comfort level orientation leaders provided to her.

"My leaders made me feel extremely welcomed and relieved a lot of the stress," Michel said.