Children's book lauds Gainesville community

University of North Georgia (UNG) President Bonita Jacobs and Richard Oates, vice president of UNG's Gainesville Campus, collaborated to pen a children's book featuring the Gainesville Campus and its signature community event, the Starlight Celebration and Fireworks.

The UNG Press will launch the book "UNG Best Day Ever!" Aug. 28 at the Gainesville Campus during the annual community event. It is the second in a series of books spotlighting each of the university's five campuses. The first book, "UNG The Gold I See: The Legacy of UNG's Dahlonega Campus," was released in fall 2018.

"UNG Best Day Ever!" features the culturally diverse and multigenerational characters of Ana Green, her grandmother, and her dad, a UNG alumnus from the Gainesville Campus. In the story, the Green family prepares for Starlight by touring the campus and visiting landmarks in Gainesville, Georgia.

"Ana's dad has a 'Best Day Ever' coin from his graduation celebration event," BJ Robinson, director of UNG Press, said. "Ana thinks she can win a coin by trying to find out each person's best day ever. The people she asks turn out to be UNG students and graduates."

Jacobs and Oates knew it was important to emphasize the close connection between the Gainesville Campus and the community in the book. Several key sites in the story include Green Street, the Ed Cabell Theatre, the historic downtown district, and the poultry monument.

"UNG's Gainesville Campus legacy and its impact on students and the area are closely linked with the community it serves. This book illustrates the strong interplay between the two by showcasing iconic points of interest in Hall County, making it entertaining for children and nostalgic for adults and former students at our Gainesville Campus."

Bonita Jacobs

UNG president

 "UNG's Gainesville Campus legacy and its impact on students and the area are closely linked with the community it serves," Jacobs said. "This book illustrates the strong interplay between the two by showcasing iconic points of interest in Hall County, making it entertaining for children and nostalgic for adults and former students at our Gainesville Campus."

The illustrated, hardcover 40-page book costs $29.99, with all proceeds going to UNG student scholarships. One of Jacobs' top priorities as president has been to raise money for student scholarships. The UNG Foundation awarded $3.2 million in scholarships to more than 4,000 students last year, including more than $450,000 in emergency COVID relief. 

Jacobs became president of then-North Georgia College & State University in 2011 and later oversaw the university's consolidation with Gainesville State College. UNG now has about 20,000 students across its Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee campuses and online. In May, the Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized Jacobs as one of the area's top education leaders, and Georgia Trend magazine named her as one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians" in 2014.

The book’s illustrator is J'Nelle Short, Jacobs' sister. Short has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephen F. Austin University and is an accomplished artist who has taught art for more than 30 years, including being named "Teacher of the Year" six times.

Oates was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the "Top 100 Leaders in Education" in 2012. He was recognized by the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education as its 2016 Distinguished Administrator and received the association's distinguished service award in 2020.

The UNG Press is a scholarly, peer-reviewed press that promotes education and research. Through its development, in collaboration with faculty, of many free open educational resources and textbooks, the UNG Press saved students and educators more than $4 million in 2020.