Renee Clement

"When we moved, we had a junior and a senior in high school," Clement said. The family attended an open house at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Oconee Campus. "My husband said, 'You are excited about this. You should go back to school.' I just laughed."

But it was no laughing matter. The Navy veteran acted on her husband's suggestion and enrolled at the Oconee Campus. Since then, Clement took advantage of every college experience.

"When I went back to school, I was going all in," said the Statham, Georgia, resident.

After two years on the Oconee Campus, Clement transferred to the Gainesville Campus to pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology in fall 2019. Then Clement was one of 11 students to receive an Early Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. She received her Gilman scholarship to study in the Czech Republic for several weeks in summer 2020.

The May 2021 graduate also became an orientation leader and a Supplemental Instruction facilitator. Orientation leaders help freshmen and transfer students adjust to college life. SI facilitators help their peers through difficult courses in a collaborative group setting.

"I fell in love with working with students, and I realized this is why I was going to school," she said.

Clement also immersed herself in UNG's community, especially in Oconee. For three years, she served as treasurer for the Student Government Association. Clement continued to work in the school's library as a student while taking classes on the Gainesville Campus.

Her efforts and participation have garnered her multiple recognitions, awards and even financial assistance. In her time,  has received the Cresswind Veterans Scholarship, Oconee Annual Scholarship and the David Singleton Federal Scholarship.

All of this steered her down her educational path.

"I want to work with students and in order to do that, I needed a degree," she said.