Event honors students, alumnae for excellence

The sixth annual Women's Leadership Luncheon recognized 10 outstanding UNG female students and five alumnae this year.

Hosted by Women of UNG, a shared-interest group of the university's alumni association, the event was held March 27 and highlighted student leaders who were nominated by faculty, staff and administrators in September.

"It's an award based on merit, academics and leadership," Gabrielle Barr Lang, '83, Women of UNG chairman said. "This is to recognize young women who are making a difference with the organizations they're involved in on campus."

Lang said that her experience in student government, Kappa Delta sorority and other campus organizations provided her with leadership skills that she sees in the 2022 leadership award recipients.

The students are:

• Whitney Auer, a senior pursuing a degree in psychology. She is from Hartwell, Georgia.
• Elizabeth Brown, a junior pursuing a degree in marketing. She is from Columbus, Georgia.
• Madison Bunch, a senior pursuing a degree in She is from Senoia, Georgia.
• Natalie Copeland, a senior pursuing a degree in environmental spatial analysis. She is from Buford, Georgia.
• Sarah "Lizz" Holtz, a senior pursuing a degree in middle grades education. She is from Cleveland, Georgia.
• Cadet Maj. Lee Jung "Esther" Kim, a senior pursuing a degree in nursing. She is from Johns Creek, Georgia.
• Ann Lim, a senior pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. She is from Lawrenceville, Georgia.
• Chloe Meewes, a senior pursuing a degree in biology. She is from Benoni, South Africa.
• Cadet Lt. Col. Callie Regal, a senior pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies with social science and military science concentrations. She is from Dalton, Georgia.
• Elizabeth Wilcauskas, a senior pursuing a degree in management. She is from Dunwoody, Georgia.

Alumnae honorees include The Honorable Kimberly Miner Childs, '94, Lt. Col. Rebecca D'Angelo, '02, Holly Carpenter Jones, Ph.D. '03, Mary Ann Feuchter Robinson, '63 and Elizabeth Powell Rosner, Ph.D. '92. Rosner was also the luncheon speaker, and her talk's title was "The Visionary Leader."

"It’s an honor to be recognized by the Women of UNG," Meewes said. "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student at this university, and I know that the opportunities awaiting me after graduation are because of faculty members and organizations at UNG. I'm grateful for all of the leadership and research experiences I've had these past four years and I look forward to becoming an alumna.” 

Meewes was nominated by Jared Patterson, UNG alumni relations officer, who said that she has repeatedly demonstrated the traits of a model UNG student.

 "She is academically driven, people and community-oriented, as well as a woman of high character," Patterson said. "There will be one Ph.D. program that will be extremely lucky to have her."

 Dr. Lorraine Ramirez Villarin, assistant professor of science education, said Holtz exemplifies what it means to be a leader.

"Lizz goes above and beyond in service to UNG through her leadership of the National Science Teaching Association Student Chapter, to the community through her work with the Dahlonega Science Festival, and to the profession by serving on a national level committee for NSTA," Villarin said.