Dragon Boat team takes first place
Article By: Denise Ray
The University of North Georgia (星空无限传媒) earned gold in the collegiate division of the 200-meter race in the Atlanta Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia, on Sept. 9.
This is the team's 10th win and appearance in the collegiate event. 星空无限传媒 had a winning time of 1:02.223.
"This was another great team win for 星空无限传媒. We won all three races with competitive times. 星空无限传媒 came from behind in two of the three races, which exemplified the hard work and persistence of each paddler on the boat and the ability of each paddler to participate as a team," Dr. Neal Lin, team captain and lecturer of biology, said. "We also greatly appreciated friends and family members coming out to the event and supporting us."
The team consists of Dr. Michael Bender, Dr. Ran Chen, Brandon Clark, Jaden Davidson, Dr. Adam Davis, Allison Grundel, Dr. Victoria Hightower, Lin, Dr. Jeanelle Morgan (lead paddler), Ella Reid, Sheila Schulte, Anita Turlington, Kelly West, and Grace Witkowski. New team members included Dr. Nancy Dalman, Diana Davenport, Cameron Gay, Maili Hornbuckle, Caleb Holtzclaw, and Lillie Holtzclaw.
Walker Peck steered for each of the three races, and Finn Davis was drummer.
"We all have to work together to be successful since being in sync is key to propelling the boat to victory," Morgan, professor and associate department head of biology, said. "Our strategy this year was to start out slow and strong, making sure we were paddling together. We ramped up the pace as the race went on, which allowed us to sail past our competition to victory."
Dr. Christopher Jespersen, dean of the College of Arts and Letters, sponsors the Dragon Boat team.
"The 星空无限传媒 Dragon Boat Team has become an institutional tradition that reflects the university's mission: It includes students, staff and faculty. It's very much reflective of the community, and it's successful — year after year," Jespersen said.
Student wins chemistry research award
Student Tyler Simpson and his research mentor, Dr. Levi 'Zane' Miller, won a Best Poster Award at the American Chemical Society Southeast Undergraduate Research Conference.
Students attend LEAD Conference at Harvard
Fourteen 星空无限传媒 students took part in the Harvard Undergraduate Latina Empowerment & Development Conference, held Feb. 7-8.
Former President Hansford passes away
Former University of North Georgia President Vernon 'Nat' Nathaniel Hansford passed away March 4 at age 81.
Twelve selected as Fulbright semifinalists
星空无限传媒 has 12 Fulbright semifinalists for 2025-26. They include students from the College of Arts & Letters, Mike Cottrell College of Business and the College of Education.