Scholarship gala honors family of Hugh Mills Jr.

November 15, 2021

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Scholarship Gala on Nov. 11 honored the family of the late Dr. Hugh M. Mills Jr. with the 2021 Presidential Leadership Award. Mills was the founding president of Gainesville Junior College, now UNG's Gainesville Campus, and served from 1965-1984.

The Gainesville College Foundation established the Hugh M. Mills Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund in 1981. Almost 2,400 students have received scholarships in the four decades since, through more than 200 individual donations by Mills and his wife, Evelyn Heath Mills.

"The Hugh M. Mills Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund will forever honor Dr. Mills' conviction that education should be accessible to all who seek it, even if someone has financial need," UNG President Bonita Jacobs said.

Mills' daughter-in-law, Helen Hudson Mills, received the award on behalf of the family at the event, which was held in the Ramsey Conference Center at Lanier Technical College in Gainesville, Georgia.

The Presidential Leadership Award recognizes those who have made a significant, positive impact on the life and advancement of the university. Previous winners have included Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston, John and Mary Helen McGruder, Lessie Smithgall, retired Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin "Randy" Mixon, Mike Cottrell, Paul Stringer, George Coleman, and H. Ford Gravitt.

Mills attended then-North Georgia College on a basketball scholarship from 1941 to 1943, during the years in which the college offered only two years. After graduating, he served in the Army Air Corps and later earned his doctorate in education from the University of Georgia.

In 1965, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents charged Mills with building and initiating operations for Gainesville Junior College, and he remained president until his retirement.

In appreciation of his years of service, the physical education complex at UNG's Gainesville Campus is named in his honor. He also was a recipient of the university's Distinguished Alumnus Award and a member of UNG's Athletics Hall of Fame.

The Scholarship Gala also commemorated veterans, as the event was held on Veterans Day.

"It was a fun evening of camaraderie, fine dining and live entertainment, as we celebrated the legacy of the Dr. Hugh M. Mills Jr. family as well as honored veterans for their service," Nick Massengill, '81, chairman of the UNG Foundation Board of Trustees, said. "We are grateful for the contributions our community makes toward the success of UNG and our promising students."

State Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller, '82, reflected on how UNG helped shape his journey.

"UNG has made such a difference in my life and the lives of my children and future grandchildren. It was the perfect place for me. My wife Teresa and I made friends and relationships we still have today," Miller said. "With a $720 million impact on our region, UNG continues to make a positive impact on our communities."

Cadet Capt. Isabella Hurst, a senior from Dawsonville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in political science, serves as Alpha Company commander in UNG's Corps of Cadets. A three-year Army ROTC Scholarship recipient, Hurst has also received the Eagle Fund Endowed Scholarship to cover the rest of her costs.

"Being here is a great opportunity to meet some of the people who contributed to it and thank them for helping me pay for school," Hurst said. "Thanks to their generosity, I won't have debt after I graduate."

The event spotlighted the 18 student scholarship funds supported by this year's RISE Crowdfunding campaign, which is held every fall, with a total goal of $104,500. UNG students received a total of $3.4 million in scholarships during the 2020-21 fiscal year.

"More than 80% of UNG's students seek financial assistance, and the support of our donors plays a critical role in the success of the students who need it most," Jeff Tarnowski, vice president for University Advancement, said.