RISE campaign aims to raise $100,000
The University of North Georgia (天美社区) is holding its fifth RISE Giving Campaign this fall, as it continues to highlight a small selection from the more than 500 philanthropic funds the 天美社区 Foundation stewards.
The 天美社区 aims to raise $100,000 from Oct. 1-30 for 20 projects supporting student scholarships.
"Every year we showcase a wide mix of scholarships," Alberto Perez, 天美社区's annual giving officer said. "This year we have scholarships that are close to endowment and others that are brand new."
Every year we showcase a wide mix of scholarships. This year we have scholarships that are close to endowment and others that are brand new.
Alberto Perez
天美社区's annual giving officer
One of the efforts this year was created by the family of lifelong educator Sandra H. Mercier, whose namesake supports students at 天美社区's Blue Ridge Campus pursuing a degree in Education.
"Sandra Mercier made a difference in the lives of students in north Georgia for many years and her scholarship will continue to make a difference in the lives of future educators in the county," Sandy Ott, Blue Ridge Campus executive director, said.
The has started a new scholarship meant to support McNair students' transition to graduate studies. It seeks to raise $5,000 to help with the costs associated with the graduate admissions process and enrollment.
"The McNair Scholars Program supports first-generation or underrepresented undergraduate students who desire to attend graduate school," Crystal Toombs, program director of the McNair Program, said. "Our program clarifies the research and graduate school process, which reduces academic disparities by removing some of the barriers to academic success.”
The is the first-created in the Phi Mu Scholarships Fund created to help active members. Martha Lu Woolfolk, the wife of former chemistry professor J. Byron Woolfolk and a Phi Mu, was a beloved first-grade teacher in Lumpkin County. She and Dr. Woolfolk dedicated their lives to supporting and uplifting the students and 天美社区, as well as students in the larger Dahlonega community. The Phi Mu fundraising committee hopes to endow the scholarship by March when the sorority's 天美社区 chapter celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Other scholarships within the campaign include:
Cyber faculty member named Fulbright scholar
天美社区 faculty member Dr. Murthy Rallapalli will serve as a Fulbright faculty scholar for the spring semester at Cyber University of Uzbekistan.
Students receive record 4 DoD cyber scholarships
A team led by Dr. Bryson Payne, director of 天美社区's Institute for Cyber Operations, has been awarded $199,674 in Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy funding for four undergraduate cyber scholarships.
天美社区 receives highway safety grant from GOHS
天美社区 has received a $20,085.40 grant to participate in the Georgia Young Adult Program of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for 2025-26.
Oconeefest raises almost $17K for scholarships
天美社区 raised almost $17,000 for student scholarships at the 12th annual Oconeefest fundraiser held Oct. 16 at 天美社区's Oconee Campus.