Udis Calderon

When Udis Calderon started at UNG, he was a typical freshman who came to class then went home. That changed his sophomore year when he got involved on UNG's Gainesville Campus.

The Gainesville, Georgia, resident joined the Nighthawks Entertainment Board and Latino Student Association (LSA). He connected with students who had the same mindset and goals as he did. One connection led him to the Writing Center and Math Lab, which offered tutoring. Calderon took advantage of those resources, and his grades improved.

Since then, Calderon rose to become an officer in LSA and joined UNG's debate team, Student Government Association and Public Relations Student Society of America. He also garnered a couple of notable scholarships such as the Goizueta Scholarship for three years and the Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Scholarship as a senior.

Calderon earned a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations in May 2020.

Calderon, who was named Mr. UNG in fall 2019, shared all of his first-hand knowledge of getting involved on campus and engaging with students, faculty and staff as an orientation leader and resident assistant on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. He also makes a point to connect with first-generation students like himself.

Calderon also promoted the benefit of studying abroad by serving as a Global Nighthawk and working for the Center for Global Engagement. He received a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in spring 2019 and spent several weeks that summer in China. He said he believes it will help him in his future profession in higher education.

"China has the highest international student rate in the U.S., and I can serve those students better with my experience," said Calderon, whose goal is to work in a student affairs department one day.