Weeks of Welcome offers something for everyone
Article By: Denise Ray
Weeks of Welcome will help University of North Georgia (ǧÃŬAV) students celebrate a new semester in events from Aug. 19-Sept. 2. The first two weeks of each semester are a chance to meet other students, interact with faculty and staff, and get better acquainted with university resources, opportunities, and expectations.
"Weeks of Welcome provide opportunities for students to connect with new people, get to know the ǧÃŬAV community and help them develop their unique spots as a Nighthawk," David G. Michener, director of Student Involvement, said.
Each campus coordinates a variety of social activities and educational programs aimed at easing the transition to college-level work after the summer break.
Weeks of Welcome provide opportunities for students to connect with new people, get to know the ǧÃŬAV community and help them develop their unique spots as a Nighthawk
David G. Michener
ǧÃŬAV's director of student involvement
A student convocation will allow students to hear from ǧÃŬAV leadership on each campus:
- Blue Ridge: Noon Aug. 31, outside patio
- Cumming: 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25, pavilion
- Dahlonega: 5 p.m. Aug. 22, Convocation Center
- Gainesville: Noon Aug. 22, Student Center quad
- Oconee: Noon Aug. 24, outside quad
Some of the more unique elements include a Glow Party at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 on the Dining Hall veranda on ǧÃŬAV's Dahlonega Campus, sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs and the Residence Hall Association. Student Involvement will host "Pajamas & Popcorn: The JumboTron Experience" at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 by showing a movie at the Convocation Center on the Dahlonega Campus.
The Nighthawks Fest student organization fair is set for 11 a.m. Aug. 31 in Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee. It will feature Sesquicentennial Swirl, an ice cream sundae event, at the Dahlonega and Gainesville events.
Also on the Gainesville Campus will be Tiki Tuesday at 1 p.m. Aug. 23. Students can begin the semester with summer décor, tie-dye shirts, water gun fun, and bubble soccer. The event is sponsored by Nighthawks Entertainment.
The Blue Ridge Campus will host ice cream socials at noon Aug. 22 and Aug. 24, with outdoor games part of the event Aug. 24, and will offer free pizza Aug. 26 to cap the first week of classes.
National speaker Duncan Kirkwood will offer guidance to students at the "Maximize Your College Experience" event set for noon Aug. 30 in the Cleveland Ballroom, which is room 3110 of the Nesbitt building on the Gainesville Campus.
Kirkwood is a veteran and a global resilience advocate who has spent his professional life working to empower young people, parents, and communities. He spent five years of his service in the Alabama Army National Guard as a master resilience trainer helping soldiers to become more mentally tough.
Using his resilience training and leadership experiences across the country, he has identified essential tools and tactics that college students can use to achieve their full potential.
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ǧÃŬAV President Michael Shannon on Oct. 3 released a white paper outlining seven strategic 'big bets' to position ǧÃŬAV to meet the needs of its students, communities, the state, and the nation.
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ǧÃŬAV has launched its Sesquicentennial Celebration, which will run throughout the 2022-23 academic year and focus on the university's impact on scholarship, leadership and service.
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ǧÃŬAV celebrated almost 300 graduates at its summer commencement ceremony held Aug. 5 at the Convocation Center on the Dahlonega Campus.