Biology students earn best poster honor
Article By: Agnes Hina
University of North Georgia (UNG) students Atticus Tomcho and Mary Dickens teamed up with their advisor, Dr. David Patterson, to win the best poster award in the Earth Sciences section at the 100th annual Georgia Academy of Science Conference. Tomcho and Dickens are each pursuing a degree in biology.
The event was held March 3-4 at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. UNG had a total of 10 posters and one oral presentation reflecting the work of 16 students and 15 faculty members.
Tomcho, a senior, and Dickens, a sophomore, presented their project "Late Pleistocene ecosystem evolution in southeastern North America: A transdisciplinary approach using fossil American alligator enamel isotopes." Their work explored contemporary biological responses to climate change and human population expansion by comparing alligator teeth from 60,000 years ago to modern alligator teeth.
"It feels very good to win and see all the work paid off. I'm excited to see where it goes from here," Tomcho said. "I'll plan on using this to apply for graduate school, where I want to study biology, maybe the paleo or wildlife ecology route."
In addition to Tomcho’s and Dicken’s two-hour presentation, the students were also able to listen in on several talks, network with experts in the field, and gain valuable insight on the activities students interested in graduate school should be working on to meet their goals.
Case, Hines earn first publication
A recent alumnus and a senior have earned their first peer-reviewed publication for a piece studying political rhetoric surrounding the Ukraine-Russia war.
24 are Distinguished Military Graduates
Twenty-four cadets have been named Distinguished Military Graduates for the 2024-25 academic year, including five who are in the top 70 out of more than 5,000 in the national ROTC class.
Blue Ridge students earn scholarships
UNG honored 28 of its Blue Ridge Campus students with almost $15,000 of scholarships and celebrated the philanthropy that made those scholarships possible at the Tomato Sandwich Supper on Nov. 7.
Chemistry student groups earn grant
UNG's Dahlonega and Gainesville chapters of the American Chemical Society received a $1,000 ACS Student Communities Engagement Grant.