Athletics department takes home two awards from PBC

For the 10th consecutive year, the University of North Georgia won the LeeAnn Noble Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Make-A-Wish Award for most funds raised. The award was presented at the conference's annual awards dinner in May.

UNG has finished in the top five in NCAA Division II Make-A-Wish giving for eight years in a row and led the country on six occasions, including 2017-18. The Nighthawks have hit the five-digit mark in giving for nine straight years and remain the only PBC school to do so.

In 2018-19, UNG raised $31,875 for the Make-A-Wish program and hosted its seventh Make-A-Wish reveal in February. The women's basketball team signed 5-year-old Hope Nix of Dahlonega to the team on a special "Hope's Magical Day" event.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. The Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which is the primary student-based group that contributes to policy-making for the division, established the Make-A-Wish partnership in 2003 and has since become one of the foundation's largest and most consistent contributors.

UNG won the 2018-19 Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Staff of the Year Award, which is a first for the school. UNG Athletic Communications Coordinator Walker McCrary accepted the award.

UNG also won the 2018-19 Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Staff of the Year Award, which is a first for the school. It is voted on by league's sports information directors.

UNG Athletic Communications Coordinator Walker McCrary accepted the award. He completed his second year as the coordinator, guiding the publicity and media initiatives for the athletic department.