Article By: Clark Leonard
This fall's University of North Georgia (ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥) aims to raise $104,500 to support 16 student scholarship funds.
The fundraising effort begins Oct. 15, the start of ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s Weekend 2021, and wraps up Nov. 12, the day after the university's annual Scholarship Gala.
"I hope the ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ community will rise together, as they have done each year, to support ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ students and strengthen ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s mission of providing access to higher education," , annual giving officer, said.
The scholarships benefit an array of ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ students, including student-athletes, cadets, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students, nursing students and first-generation students.
One of the funds benefits students pursuing physics degrees and honors Dr. Richard M. Prior, who retired in June 2020 after 26 years leading ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
I hope the ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ community will rise together, as they have done each year, to support ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ students and strengthen ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s mission of providing access to higher education.
Alberto Perez
ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ annual giving officer
"Through his vision and leadership, he molded the department into what it is today, a top producer of physics graduates," Dr. John Leyba, dean of ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥'s College of Science and Mathematics, said. "Dr. Prior led his department by example and thus inspired his faculty to excel in their roles as educators and researchers."
The Kathleen Ann Smith Nursing Scholarship supports students studying at ÎçÒ¹¿ì²¥ to join this high-demand field.
"These past few years have validated the service and sacrifices that nurses make every day caring for people both when they are sick as well as healthy," Mary Beth Byerly, development officer for the College of Health Sciences & Professions and the College of Education, said. "Nursing is a demanding degree, and scholarships often provide caring support so that students can focus academically and graduate ready to help others."
The other scholarship funds in the RISE campaign are: