RISE Crowdfunding Campaign raises funds for scholarships from Oct. 5-30

The University of North Georgia (UNG) is doubling its crowdfunding campaign efforts.

The UNG RISE Crowdfunding Campaign aims to raise $89,000 from Oct. 5-30 for 16 projects supporting student scholarships. The crowdfunding month looks to provide between $1,000 and $15,000 for each project.

Volunteers lead all scholarship projects, which are supported by the Office of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving.

"In recent months, the phrase Nighthawks Together has expressed our commitment across UNG to care for each other and stay true to the university's mission despite these unprecedented times," said Alberto Perez, UNG's annual giving officer. "RISE puts the resiliency of UNG faculty, staff, alumni, and friends into action. By giving to one or more scholarships, we commit to support the next generation of leaders."

One of the new efforts this year seeks to raise $5,000 for scholarships for first-generation students to help them pay for tuition and fees.

"Supporting first-generation scholarships at UNG helps reduce financial barriers that too often prevent students from achieving their dream of being the first in their family to obtain a bachelor's degree," said Jennifer Herring, special assistant to the vice president on UNG's Gainesville Campus.

Another seeks to provide $5,000 of additional support for the UNG women's soccer team, which returned to the NCAA tournament in 2019 and continues to pursue lofty goals.

"Donations to the UNG Women's Soccer Scholarship contribute to our ability to build a competitive team through the quality and depth coming off the bench," coach Chris Adams said. "Meeting our goal allows us to have a deeper roster with more impactful players who can propel us to new heights. Our team is focused on making a run at a region championship and hopefully an opportunity at a national championship."

The 1st Lt. Weston Lee Memorial Scholarship, which has a $5,000 goal, will be supported in part by a Spirit Day on Oct. 14 at Zaxby's in Dahlonega. A portion of restaurant's proceeds from that day will go toward this scholarship.

Other crowdfunds within the campaign include:

• Visual Arts Scholarship, which helps students move into art-related careers.
• NGC Eagle Fund, which provides financial assistance to cadets who intend to commission.
• Lawrence Dennis Endowed Fund, which supports the accounting program in the Mike Cottrell College of Business.
• NGC Class of '75 Scholarship, which provides one scholarship to a cadet and one to a noncadet from the Dahlonega Campus.
• Chief Michael "Mike" Stapleton Memorial Scholarship, which honors the former UNG police chief.
• Women's Educational Scholarship Fund, which provides inspiring female students with scholarships.
• Oconee Annual Scholarship Fund, which supports students transferring from the Oconee Campus to another UNG campus.
• Tom Davis Fund, which awards scholarships to students pursuing a degree in chemistry or pre-medicine students.
• Ralph E. Hitt Scholarship Fund, which goes to an endowed scholarship fund for pre-veterinarian students.
• Zak McConnell Memorial Scholarship, which provides opportunities for local high school graduates to pursue a degree at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.
• Kevin Jenrette NG '95 Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to a commissioning cadet who is an outstanding member of one of six specialty groups in the Corps.
• Richard M. Prior Scholarship Fund, which honors Prior, who led the UNG Department of Physics & Astronomy for 26 years and retired in June 2020.
• Class of 1959 Scholarship Fund, which provides a $2,000 scholarship each to one student-athlete and one cadet every year.