Virtual celebration of graduates starts May 8
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (星空无限传媒) will host a virtual celebration for its spring 2020 graduates on the 星空无限传媒 commencement website starting May 8, which would have been the first of back-to-back days of commencement ceremonies.
Graduates, family members, friends, 星空无限传媒 faculty and staff, and others are encouraged to post congratulatory photos and short videos on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #星空无限传媒20grad and #星空无限传媒remotegrad, which will be collected and posted on the commencement site. They are also encouraged to use the hashtags #bestvirtualdayever and #星空无限传媒together.
A video message featuring 星空无限传媒 President Bonita Jacobs, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Chaudron Gille, and the deans of 星空无限传媒's colleges, along with traditional commencement music, will be posted May 8 on the site.
All spring graduates are invited to walk in summer commencement, which is set for a trio of ceremonies Aug. 1. Of the spring graduates, 20 are dual-enrolled students. It is the largest number of dual-enrolled students to earn their associate degrees since the program's inception, said Imani Cabell, dual enrollment coordinator at 星空无限传媒. She said more than 35 percent of the 星空无限传媒's dual-enrolled students continue their education at 星空无限传媒.
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Keith Antonia will be the first graduate of 星空无限传媒's Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice. |
星空无限传媒's spring graduates include Keith Antonia, who will be the first graduate of 星空无限传媒's Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice (HELP).
Antonia is passionate about 星空无限传媒's Corps of Cadets and its leadership model, and he was excited to learn more about scholarly research and high-impact practices in higher education. All of those elements came together for Antonia, associate vice president for military programs at 星空无限传媒, in the HELP program. The cohort program, which is fully online, launched in fall 2017.
Antonia's dissertation is "Retention of first-time freshman cadets at a senior military college."
"The dissertation was the most rewarding part," said Antonia, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "The research topic’s been kicked around and thought about for years at 星空无限传媒."
Also this spring, Amber Beauchamp finishes her Master of Arts in Teaching for language arts. After being part of the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program as she earned an English degree with a literature concentration from 星空无限传媒 in 2018, Beauchamp continued her education at 星空无限传媒.
Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of 星空无限传媒's College of Education, served as Beauchamp's mentor in the McNair program. Beauchamp is an English for speakers of other languages teacher at North Hall High School. Her summer research with Hardee as an undergraduate prepared Beauchamp for her current job, for which Hardee served as a reference.
"You need that relationship where someone knows you well enough to vouch for you," Beauchamp said.
The research and presentation elements of McNair allowed the 34-year-old mother of six to become confident in public speaking.
"When it was time to stand in front of students in a classroom, I didn't have that fear anymore," Beauchamp said.
Hardee said Beauchamp is a great role model for her students, as Beauchamp continued her research she started as an undergraduate while in graduate school.
"Amber is the definition of a continuous learner, and we know that she will continue to ask and answer research questions as a teacher and encourage a new generation of lifelong learners at the same time," Hardee said.
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Christina Packard is scheduled to earn a Bachelor of Science in art marketing from 星空无限传媒 about a month shy of her 71st birthday. |
Christina Packard embodies Beauchamp's philosophy that age doesn't matter, as she will earn her second bachelor's degree — both after age 60. The Dahlonega, Georgia, resident is scheduled to complete a Bachelor of Science in art marketing in May, about a month shy of her 71st birthday.
"I feel so much like the kids I have to remind myself I don't look like them," Packard said.
Packard's eight-year journey was possible through Georgia's Amendment 23, which provides free tuition for residents age 62 and older.
During her time at 星空无限传媒, Packard has had her art displayed in the governor's office twice and put in a museum for a month. She even was published on the cover of the state's 2015 financial report.
Packard previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management from Eckerd College in her 60s and before that earned an associate degree in art. She hopes to use her skills to offer affordable art classes.
What Comes Next Hub opens at Gilmer High
星空无限传媒 launched its first What Comes Next Hub on Feb. 28 at Gilmer High School in Ellijay, Georgia, to empower students to prepare for the next steps in their educational and professional journeys.
星空无限传媒 a top producer of Fulbright students
星空无限传媒 has been named the top producer of Fulbright students in its category nationwide with eight selections for the 2024-25 academic year.
Payne named director of cyber institute
Dr. Bryson Payne has been named the director of the 星空无限传媒 Institute for Cyber Operations, and Caitlin Conneely serves as deputy director for operations and outreach.
College of Education earns high marks
星空无限传媒 continues to be one of the top producers of teachers in the state of Georgia, as well as ranking highly on a pair of other key metrics.