The spring 2022 National Leadership Challenge weekend, set for April 1-3, helps high school students challenge themselves physically and learn about UNG's Corps of Cadets.
Article By: Denise Ray
After experiencing the fall 2021 National Leadership Challenge (NLC) at the University of North Georgia (UNG), Abby Judge decided to apply for admission as a cadet at UNG.
The weekend experience provided Judge and other high school sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn a little bit about UNG and see a demonstration of Corps of Cadets specialty units. They also learned about themselves and how to work with a team, according to Mike Ivy, director of cadet admissions at UNG.
"I loved all the physical challenges and team-building events,” Judge said. "But the main positive from NLC was meeting and working with current UNG cadets. From the really cool Legacy of Gold ceremony to watching the Colombo, Ranger, and Aggressor platoons in action, my future plans were sealed."
This spring's NLC runs from April 1-3, and registration is available on the National Leadership Challenge webpage.
Simply deciding to attend UNG wasn't enough for Judge, a Madison, Alabama, high school senior.
We are cultivating ambassadors for UNG who can give us a national reach. We help these students understand what UNG has to offer as one of the nation's six senior military colleges
Mike Ivy
cadet admissions director
She also shared details of her experience with her outdoor-loving sister, Lilli.
"I suggested she sign up for NLC," Judge said. "It will be her first college visit experience. I am hopeful that she will love it and perhaps choose UNG as her future path. If not, the experience and skills learned during the days at Camp Frank D. Merrill and Pine Valley will still be impactful and motivate her to move forward with her college search."
Most of the students who come to NLC and complete the surveys say that they had an outstanding time and UNG is now near the top of their list of schools to attend, according to Ivy. It's because of word-of-mouth promotion.
"We are cultivating ambassadors for UNG who can give us a national reach," Ivy said. "We help these students understand what UNG has to offer as one of the nation's six senior military colleges."
The weekend offers nonstop action, Ivy said. NLC includes a confidence rappel from the Colombo Tower, campus tours, an academic panel, and the Legacy of Gold presentation that highlights cadet specialty units and UNG history. Saturday is spent at Camp Frank D. Merrill, home of the Army's 5th Ranger Training Battalion, and Pine Valley Recreation Complex near campus.
Current cadet leaders organize the NLC weekend.
"The cadets do a phenomenal job of providing the high school students with peer encouragement," Ivy said. "Things like that really amplify the takeaway for these young people. They never thought they could do something like that. Now they can't believe they did it."
