Alumni Weekend events set for April 16-18

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Alumni Weekend will take on a different feel in 2021, but many of the weekend's most popular events will remain in place April 16-18.

"While we continue to follow CDC guidelines, and respect those who are not yet ready to come to Dahlonega, many alumni are telling us they are ready for safe engagement," said Wendi Huguley, director of the Alumni Association. "It is with this in mind that we have scheduled a fabulous weekend that is largely outdoors and allows for maximum spacing."

Use of face coverings is required by students, faculty, staff, and visitors in UNG buildings and facilities. Face coverings are not required in campus outdoor settings where social distancing requirements are met.

Reunite on the River will bring alumni together at Pine Valley on April 17 with barbecue sales from local favorite Hickory Prime starting at noon, and live music from BandX will begin at 1:30 p.m.

The weekend kicks off at 9 a.m. April 16 with the UNG Alumni Weekend Scholarship Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Nighthawks Athletic Club, at Achasta Golf Course.

A pair of alumni will speak at Corps of Cadets events during the weekend. Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, '83, commanding general of U.S. Army Cyber Command, will serve as the keynote speaker at the military awards review at 11 a.m. April 18. Lt. Col. Allen Kehoe, '00, executive officer for program analysis and evaluation directorate at the Pentagon, will speak at the 4 p.m. April 17 Memorial Retreat. The event will be streamed live on the North Georgia Corps of Cadets Association Facebook page.

"I am excited to have Lt. Gen. Fogarty and Lt. Col. Kehoe on campus for our two biggest military activities of the year. Lt. Gen. Fogarty will no doubt inspire our cadets about what they can achieve," said retired Maj. Richard Neikirk, assistant commandant of cadets at UNG. "Lt. Col. Kehoe recently commanded the battalion responsible for all Army burials at Arlington National Cemetery, and I know he will share meaningful comments about remembering those who have served and sacrificed."

The Fun Run with the Corps will start at 6:45 a.m. April 17 on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field and go up Crown Mountain and back.

The annual Alumni Association awards banquet will be at 6 p.m. April 16 and is invitation-only due to COVID-19 restrictions. It will stream live on the UNG Alumni Association YouTube page. The event will celebrate this year's winners:

• Distinguished Alumni: Wesley Thomas, '76, worked at UNG for more than 40 years and retired in 2019 as associate dean of student involvement. Maj. Gen. Joseph "Joe" Jarrard, '88, is one of six UNG alumni who are currently Army generals. He is deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Europe for the Army National Guard, and previously was the adjutant general of Georgia.
• Hall of Fame: William "Bill" Pallozzi, '88, served as secretary of the Maryland Department of State Police, which he joined in 1989, from 2015-20. Now retired from the state police, Pallozzi also served 15 years in the Army Reserves.
• Ralph Colley Spirit of North Georgia Award: Samuel Walley, '20, sustained partial loss of two limbs and a traumatic brain injury from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012. He needed almost 100 surgeries and learned to walk again, but enrolled at UNG in 2015 and earned a bachelor's degree in political science.  
• Distinguished Young Alumnus: Jacob Elliott, '10, worked in UNG's Information Technology Services and was an adjunct faculty member. He now works for a cybersecurity contractor.
• Distinguished Professor UNG North (Dahlonega and Blue Ridge): Dr. Bryson Payne, '97, professor of computer science, serves as director of UNG's Center for Cyber Operations Education.
• Distinguished Professor UNG South (Gainesville, Cumming and Oconee): Dr. Katherine Rose Adams, an assistant professor, is the program coordinator for the Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice.
• Dot Strother Scholarship: Sharrell Canty works full time at Emory Health Center while also pursuing a degree at UNG. Caroline Jones plans to attend medical school is on a research team with UNG's biology department.
• Paul Hutcherson Outstanding Students: Cadet Maj. Alison Gaynor, a Distinguished Military Student (DMS), is only the third female to attain membership of UNG's Aggressor Platoon. Cadet Lt. Col. Derek Whitmore, a Distinguished Military Graduate and DMS, is the top-ranked cadet in his class of 103 at UNG.

For more information on Alumni Weekend, follow the UNG Alumni Association on Facebook or Instagram, or visit its website.