Veterans honored with activities at UNG

Veterans enrolled at the University of North Georgia (UNG) will be treated to a free breakfast and a resource fair, among other events, as part of Veterans Appreciation Week. UNG's Nighthawk Engagement and Student Transitions (NEST) office is hosting the activities from Nov. 8-12, and a full list of events is available on UNG's Veterans Appreciation Week webpage.

A veterans' appreciation breakfast is set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 9 on all five campuses. This tabling event will offer information on UNG's services for veterans and military-connected students, as well as a free breakfast while supplies last. The breakfast is in the lobby on the Blue Ridge and Cumming campuses, the Hoag Patio in Dahlonega, Student Center Patio in Gainesville, and Student Resource Center Atrium in Oconee.

"We want to let the UNG community know what resources we provide to veterans and how they can help veterans who are family, friends and co-workers," Christy Orr, assistant director of NEST, said.

A career readiness workshop will be held at noon Nov. 10 via Zoom to help veterans showcase their military achievements and skills on their resumes.

The veterans resource fair is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 11 in front of the Student Center on the Gainesville Campus as UNG departments and community organizations share information on their services.

We want to let the UNG community know what resources we provide to veterans and how they can help veterans who are family, friends and co-workers.

Christy Orr

Assistant director of Nighthawk Engagement and Student Transitions

Students, faculty and staff can take part in the National Roll Call by signing up to read names or submitting names of U.S. military personnel they would like to add to the list of names read.

Additionally, a Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 11 on the Oconee Campus. The event will feature a detachment from the U.S. Army Recruitment Station to post the colors. Watkinsville Police Chief Shannon Brock will speak at the event, which will also feature a medley of U.S. military theme songs and commemorative gifts for all veterans who attend. A short reception and ribbon-cutting will then be held in the new student veteran lounge in Building 700.

Chiz Colón, a NEST specialist, and Orr have helped schedule the week of events honoring veterans.

"I'm very appreciative of the efforts of Chiz Colón and Christy Orr to grow this recognition week," Dr. Darcy Hayes, director of NEST, said. "Our focus on serving veterans and their families is an integral part of who we are at UNG."

The Corps of Cadets will take part in the Lumpkin County Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 6 in downtown Dahlonega, and the color guard of the corps will support the Big Canoe Veterans dinner Nov. 10, plus a Nov. 11 event at Lanier Village Estates, and the Nov. 11 UNG Scholarship Gala.

UNG's Golden Eagle Band will co-headline the 2021 Southeast North Carolina Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 6 in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina.

As part of the week, NEST has organized a clothing donation drive and asks for gently used winter clothes to be dropped off in donation boxes with the AMVETS logo. Boxes will be in the main lobby on UNG's Blue Ridge and Cumming campuses and at various spots on the Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee campuses.

Also known as American Veterans, AMVETS is a national organization with a local donation center in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Donations go to veterans who are in financial need.