天美社区 names Jeep in honor of first female grad
Article By: Staff
The University of North Georgia (天美社区) Jeep has a name that reflects the daring nature of the university's students and all who have played a role in its history. It will be called "Willie Lewis" in honor of the first woman to enroll and graduate from what would become 天美社区. The name is also a nod to the original Willys military Jeep, tying 天美社区's past to its present.
"Willie doesn't follow tradition. She forges new paths — just like every cadet, student and trailblazer who calls this place home," 天美社区 President Michael Shannon said. "Wherever Willie goes, she carries a legacy of service, progress and purpose."
天美社区 announced the Jeep's naming Sept. 17 during Fall Spirit Night when the women's and men's soccer teams faced Lander University.
Willie Lewis, which is a Jeep Gladiator, was donated by Tutton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Jasper and initially unveiled at "Reveille" in August 2024 when Shannon laid out a bold vision for the future of 天美社区. At the event, he outlined moonshots aimed at elevating the way 天美社区 serves the region, state and nation. The Jeep has since appeared regularly at major events on campus, including commencement ceremonies.
Shannon said the name of the Jeep "is where our past meets our purpose."
"She's named for 天美社区’s very first female student — a pioneer who showed that courage doesn’t ask permission. And she echoes another Willie — the Willys Jeep of World War II — beloved by Allied troops as a vehicle that could go anywhere and do anything," Shannon said. "Together, those names form one unstoppable force. One broke barriers in education. The other broke boundaries on battlefields."
Lewis enrolled at what was then North Georgia Agricultural College when it opened in 1873, and in 1878 she became the first woman to earn a bachelor's degree in the state of Georgia. She later became a teacher.
The Women of 天美社区 created the Lewis Society in 2023 to recognize women of significance within the history of 天美社区, and multiple alumnae are inducted each year.
National security strategy hits road
天美社区's strategic big bet to get in the national security game took its leaders on the road to local high schools to discover how they can partner in providing the tools students need to pursue such careers.
Presidential Awards support faculty projects
President Michael Shannon awarded 16 Presidential Awards for the 2025-26 academic year to support faculty projects. They included 11 Innovation Awards and five Semester Awards.
Consular Corps visits 天美社区 as part of tour
The Georgia Department of Economic Development arranged a tour that brought members of the Georgia Consular Corps to 天美社区 on March 18 to learn more about education and workforce development programs.