Sweet Finale events set for late April

The University of North Georgia (UNG) will wrap up its spring-semester Sesquicentennial Celebration events with a Sesquicentennial Sweet Finale on April 27-28. Held on each of UNG's five campuses, Sesquicentennial Sweet Finale will feature ice cream sundaes plus the unveiling of a time capsule on UNG's Dahlonega Campus and the planting of a maple tree on each of the other campuses.

Event times and locations are:

April 27

• Cumming, Lobby, noon
• Dahlonega, Hoag Auditorium, noon
• Gainesville, Robinson Ballroom, noon
• Oconee, Multipurpose Room 522, noon

April 28

• Blue Ridge, Lobby, noon

UNG's Sesquicentennial serves as an opportunity to honor the university's heritage, celebrate its present achievements, and focus on where it will lead next.

Sesquicentennial Sweet Finale, the time capsule and the maples are a collaboration between the UNG Foundation, the Sesquicentennial Committee and the Student Government Association (SGA).

"As many generations of past North Georgia students left their mark on the university, this current generation will leave a legacy for future Nighthawks. The time capsule will provide future generations a guide of what has transpired before them and a roadmap for paving the way into the future," Dr. James Conneely, vice president for Student Affairs, said. "The trees symbolize growth and prosperity as the seedlings are planted for moving UNG to new levels of excellence. The students are the spirit of UNG's past, present and future."

Anna Møller, SGA president, is looking forward to the special finish to the 2022-23 academic year.

"In our celebration of UNG's 150th anniversary, we hope that the time capsule and maples on each campus serve to further connect and strengthen our UNG spirit across campuses. We see this project as a unique opportunity to reflect on and recognize the spirit of each of our five campuses as well as the spirit of one collective UNG," she said. "As we watch the trees grow, we may recognize the ways in which we continue to stand on the shoulders of previous generations and administrations, continuing our upward climb and development toward increasing scholarship, leadership and service."

The plan is to open the time capsule in 2073, which will mark the university's Bicentennial. 

Mallory Rodriguez, director of student life and leadership, said the students have done a great job with the project.

"This is such an important moment in our university's history," Rodriguez said. "And I am incredibly proud of SGA and their thoughtful curation of items to commemorate UNG for the time capsule."