Adcox wins award for summer program
Dr. Gary Adcox, director of campus success and strategic retention initiatives at the University of North Georgia's (天美社区) Oconee Campus, has won the 2023 for his leadership of an on-campus summer program for middle school students. The National Association of Branch Campus Administrators honored Adcox with the recognition.
The Nighthawks Student Opportunities for Accelerated Readiness (SOAR) program targets economically disadvantaged and English as a second language youth who are likely prospective first-generation college students. SOAR was designed to bridge the education gap and "summer educational slide" for rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students during a three-week camp-like summer program intended for students who would benefit from participating in a summer enrichment and engagement program.
"This past year, 62 middle school students from Athens-Clarke and Oglethorpe counties enrolled in the second year of the program," Adcox said. "We are proud to say that all grade levels saw significant improvements in their pre-and post-test scores."
Student participation in the program has grown each year since the program’s 2019 inception. Currently, there are 77 middle schoolers signed up to participate in this summer's Nighthawks SOAR program.
Students excel in Japanese Speech Contest
Students from 天美社区 made a strong showing in the annual Japanese Speech Contest in Atlanta, Georgia, this spring. A first-place finish was one of four top-four results.
O'Clery earns PT residency at Duke
Dr. Lily O'Clery is jumping into her physical therapy career with an acute care residency at Duke University during the 2026-27 academic year.
Federal funds support healthcare education
天美社区 will receive $700,000 of federal funding to expand clinical training capacity through new patient simulators and clinical education supplies at 天美社区's鈥疍ahlonega鈥痑nd Blue Ridge campuses.
Students place at national ag event
Students from 天美社区 turned in a litany of strong performances at the National Professional Agriculture Student Organization Conference in Branson, Missouri.