Esports team is 2nd in nation, 1st in PBC
The University of North Georgia (天美社区) Esports team finished second nationally and won the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) championship for the Marvel Rivals game in the fall.
天美社区's performance on the national stage came in the virtual National Esports Collegiate Conference, and the PBC event was held in Florence, South Carolina.
Team members included Brayden Bryant, Branyan Daniel, Simon Kuester, Bryce Reed, Tyler Summers, and Matthew Vue.
Nathaniel Hehl, 天美社区 Esports coach, said the team produced its strong results despite going up against schools that recruit students specifically for Esports.
"I couldn't be prouder of the team with what they accomplished with so little time to prepare," Hehl said.
Daniel, a junior from McDonough, Georgia, pursuing a degree in finance, has been on a few 天美社区 Esports teams since 2024. He said the camaraderie and success of this fall's team have been meaningful.
"It's super gratifying," Daniel said. "It feels great to have our hard work pay off."
Kuester, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, has participated on multiple 天美社区 Esports teams since 2023. He said the latest results paired with 天美社区's fall 2024 Halo national title and second-place national finish in the spring 2025 Local Area Network event at the NECC are building a larger narrative.
"It helps put us on the map," Kuester said.
Students clean up Tumbling Creek
A group of nearly 70 天美社区 students conducted their biannual cleanup of Tumbling Creek Woods, which is adjacent to 天美社区's Gainesville Campus.
McCloy鈥檚 work recognized in Bellwethers exhibition
Alexandra McCloy鈥檚 鈥淟iving Patterns,鈥 received the Lane Last award for Best in Show, in the Bellwethers Annual Juried Exhibition at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center put on by the University of Tennessee (UT) at Martin. Rachel Coggins and Maddie Engle also had pieces entered in the exhibition.
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.