Adcox wins award for summer program
Dr. Gary Adcox, director of campus success and strategic retention initiatives at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Oconee Campus, has won the 2023 Dr. George Giacumakis Innovation Award for his leadership of an on-campus summer program for middle school students. The National Association of Branch Campus Administrators honored Adcox with the recognition.
The Nighthawks Student Opportunities for Accelerated Readiness (SOAR) program targets economically disadvantaged and English as a second language youth who are likely prospective first-generation college students. SOAR was designed to bridge the education gap and "summer educational slide" for rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students during a three-week camp-like summer program intended for students who would benefit from participating in a summer enrichment and engagement program.
"This past year, 62 middle school students from Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe counties enrolled in the second year of the program," Adcox said. "We are proud to say that all grade levels saw significant improvements in their pre-and post-test scores."
Student participation in the program has grown each year since the program’s 2019 inception. Currently, there are 77 middle schoolers signed up to participate in this summer's Nighthawks SOAR program.
Students gain cyber immersion in summer
Two UNG students further enhanced their skills this summer at Cyber Summer Immersion events funded by the Department of War.
Stone earns prestigious accounting scholarship
UNG student Sophia Stone has earned a $15,000 scholarship to support her studies in accounting. Stone is pursuing a Master of Accountancy.
Simmons takes cyber fast track thanks to UNG
Zach Simmons took advantage of multiple opportunities afforded by UNG to earn his bachelor's and master's degrees in two and a half years before entering the cyber workforce.
Mills ready to empower future entrepreneurs
Monique Mills is the new director of UNG's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Mike Cottrell College of Business. She aims to equip students with vision to accomplish their goals.