Welcome events offer students opportunities

Weeks of Welcome (WoW), sponsored by the University of North Georgia Center for Student Leadership & Engagement, takes place the first two weeks of each semester on all five campuses and online and provides opportunities for students to meet other students, engage with faculty and become better acquainted with resources and expectations. This fall's events run from Aug. 6-21.

The biggest event is Nighthawk Kickoff, the official welcome home, held on student home campuses with food, fun, games, and giveaways.

• Blue Ridge: noon Monday, Aug. 17, in the lobby
• Cumming: noon Wednesday, Aug. 19, lobby and room 125
• Dahlonega: 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on the Promenade
• Gainesville: noon Wednesday, Aug. 12, in the Student Center Cafeteria
• Oconee: 8:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, on the Quad

Events vary by campus with details here.

"Students are involved in Weeks of Welcome in a variety of ways. During this two-week celebration, multiple student organizations host events to welcome students back to campus and encourage them to get involved," Kyle Murphy, associate director of student involvement, said. "The student leaders are involved in every aspect of the events, taking them from an idea to planning and eventual execution. Weeks of Welcome gives them the opportunity to get creative and come up with new event ideas, setting the tone for a great semester."

Michelle Matancillas holds two student leadership positions and credits those opportunities to attending WoW as a freshman. As a result of her roles as Nighthawks Entertainment Dahlonega director of communications and Student Government Association (SGA) director of communications and marketing, she will be busy and enthusiastically encourages everyone to attend because the two weeks offer a glimpse of what helps make college a great experience.

"If you want to have a good start to this upcoming academic year, then you must get involved," she said. "I encourage students to get involved because this is their college experience. There are over 200 clubs that they can join across all five campuses. There's just so much for all these students to join. If students truly want to make the most out of their college experience, make new friends and meet their people, these events are really the place where they can find their friends. College is really what you make of it."

Matancillas is a junior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in  elementary and special education.

Nighthawk Fest is another event Matancillas recommends attending. It is held the second Wednesday of WoW on all five campuses and is an opportunity to see the various clubs offered at UNG.

"I never would have known about half of them if I didn't go to that particular event," she said.

Javier Reyes is a junior from Cumming, Georgia, and is pursuing a degree in finance.  

"I found Weeks of Welcome beneficial as a freshman because I had no idea what I would do in college. The events were an introduction to everything my UNG campus had to offer, and I also got to figure out how I wanted to plan my college experience," Reyes said.

This year, Reyes will be hosting El Primer Juego, the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Gainesville's game night, featuring Loteria. The event will introduce ALPFA to students and showcase its opportunities during the semester.

"ALPFA focuses on business-centered networking and events while uplifting Latino students pursuing their career goals," Reyes said. "Our organization and events are open to everyone as we strive to help students build their professional skills and networks."

Anna Rundbaken is so excited for the organizations she's involved with, she submitted separate events for each of them so fellow Nighthawks could learn more about them. She is vice president of the Gainesville chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society; president of Book[s] Club and a mentor/facilitator for the  Supplemental Instruction program.

"Sigma Tau Delta will be holding events that go along with our Trivia Night event that we are hoping to hold later in the semester," Rundbaken said. “Book[s] Club is a new club. It focuses on connecting with students in a more general way: free food and stickers. Supplemental Instruction is holding a tabling to show students study tips and help prepare them for this fall semester."

Rundbaken is a senior from Dacula, Georgia, pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies, with concentrations in humanities and social sciences.  

While in-person events range from movie nights and cornhole to school supply giveaways and academic advising to community engagement fairs and part-time job and internship fairs, the online events include Esports Elite Club tryouts from 8-10 p.m. Aug. 17. The club is recruiting for the 2026-27 academic year of collegiate competition from Aug. 17-21.