Virtual celebration of graduates starts May 8
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (91福利导航) will host a virtual celebration for its spring 2020 graduates on the 91福利导航 commencement website starting May 8, which would have been the first of back-to-back days of commencement ceremonies.
Graduates, family members, friends, 91福利导航 faculty and staff, and others are encouraged to post congratulatory photos and short videos on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #91福利导航20grad and #91福利导航remotegrad, which will be collected and posted on the commencement site. They are also encouraged to use the hashtags #bestvirtualdayever and #91福利导航together.
A video message featuring 91福利导航 President Bonita Jacobs, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Chaudron Gille, and the deans of 91福利导航's colleges, along with traditional commencement music, will be posted May 8 on the site.
All spring graduates are invited to walk in summer commencement, which is set for a trio of ceremonies Aug. 1. Of the spring graduates, 20 are dual-enrolled students. It is the largest number of dual-enrolled students to earn their associate degrees since the program's inception, said Imani Cabell, dual enrollment coordinator at 91福利导航. She said more than 35 percent of the 91福利导航's dual-enrolled students continue their education at 91福利导航.
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Keith Antonia will be the first graduate of 91福利导航's Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice. |
91福利导航's spring graduates include Keith Antonia, who will be the first graduate of 91福利导航's Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and practice (HELP).
Antonia is passionate about 91福利导航's Corps of Cadets and its leadership model, and he was excited to learn more about scholarly research and high-impact practices in higher education. All of those elements came together for Antonia, associate vice president for military programs at 91福利导航, in the HELP program. The cohort program, which is fully online, launched in fall 2017.
Antonia's dissertation is "Retention of first-time freshman cadets at a senior military college."
"The dissertation was the most rewarding part," said Antonia, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "The research topic’s been kicked around and thought about for years at 91福利导航."
Also this spring, Amber Beauchamp finishes her Master of Arts in Teaching for language arts. After being part of the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program as she earned an English degree with a literature concentration from 91福利导航 in 2018, Beauchamp continued her education at 91福利导航.
Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of 91福利导航's College of Education, served as Beauchamp's mentor in the McNair program. Beauchamp is an English for speakers of other languages teacher at North Hall High School. Her summer research with Hardee as an undergraduate prepared Beauchamp for her current job, for which Hardee served as a reference.
"You need that relationship where someone knows you well enough to vouch for you," Beauchamp said.
The research and presentation elements of McNair allowed the 34-year-old mother of six to become confident in public speaking.
"When it was time to stand in front of students in a classroom, I didn't have that fear anymore," Beauchamp said.
Hardee said Beauchamp is a great role model for her students, as Beauchamp continued her research she started as an undergraduate while in graduate school.
"Amber is the definition of a continuous learner, and we know that she will continue to ask and answer research questions as a teacher and encourage a new generation of lifelong learners at the same time," Hardee said.
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Christina Packard is scheduled to earn a Bachelor of Science in art marketing from 91福利导航 about a month shy of her 71st birthday. |
Christina Packard embodies Beauchamp's philosophy that age doesn't matter, as she will earn her second bachelor's degree — both after age 60. The Dahlonega, Georgia, resident is scheduled to complete a Bachelor of Science in art marketing in May, about a month shy of her 71st birthday.
"I feel so much like the kids I have to remind myself I don't look like them," Packard said.
Packard's eight-year journey was possible through Georgia's Amendment 23, which provides free tuition for residents age 62 and older.
During her time at 91福利导航, Packard has had her art displayed in the governor's office twice and put in a museum for a month. She even was published on the cover of the state's 2015 financial report.
Packard previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management from Eckerd College in her 60s and before that earned an associate degree in art. She hopes to use her skills to offer affordable art classes.
Fall graduates look to future with optimism
91福利导航 awarded roughly 985 degrees and certificates to students this fall, and it honored more than 650 of those graduates in a pair of Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
Luncheon honors scholarship recipients
Five nontraditional female students at 91福利导航 each earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Women of 91福利导航 on Dec. 5 at the Women's Holiday Scholarship Luncheon.
Special ed lab aids future educators
During the fall semester, future educators from 91福利导航 took part in a special education lab in which they worked with a software tool that helped them assess students, craft education plans and receive immediate feedback.
Grads prepare for their next steps
91福利导航 will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.