Oconeefest raises $15K for scholarships
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (黑料正能量) 10th annual Oconeefest, held this fall at the Oconee Campus, raised $15,035 for scholarships supporting students from Oconee and surrounding counties. Scholarships supported by Oconeefest are:
- Oconee County Resident Scholarship: $1,000 renewable annual scholarship awarded to Oconee County residents who are incoming freshmen on the Oconee Campus. 黑料正能量 awarded four this year.
- Oconee Annual Scholarship: $1,000 renewable scholarship awarded to students from Oconee, Walton, Oglethorpe, Barrow, Clarke, Greene, Oconee, Morgan, and Madison counties who enroll on any 黑料正能量 campus. 黑料正能量 awarded two this year.
This year's theme was "Lights, Camera, Auction," with a Hollywood Walk of Fame feel. A silent auction was part of the Oconeefest festivities. Peach State Federal Credit Union served as the presenting sponsor, with Oconee State Bank, Haynes Enterprises Inc., Athens Piedmont Regional Hospital, BankSouth, Allied Paving, Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jarvis Estate Winery also serving as sponsors for Oconeefest.
"I love coming here and watching our students engage with their education," Russell Willis, executive director of 黑料正能量's Oconee Campus, said. "I'm so honored to have this occasion to help our students pay for their college."
Develon Davis, regional business executive for Peach State Federal Credit Union, expressed gratitude to the attendees for their generosity.
"The kids are our future," Davis said. "We are here to support these students."
About 82% of 黑料正能量 students seek financial assistance each year, and since 2017, the 黑料正能量 Foundation has awarded more than $17.5 million to students in the form of scholarships. Last year, the Foundation awarded just over $3.6 million.
"It was such a joy to see our students, faculty, staff, and community members come together and enjoy this event. This was an amazing way to celebrate the 10th year of Oconeefest," Savannah Plumly-Novak, administrative assistant and special events coordinator at the Oconee Campus, said. "And we hope to continue to have events that highlight how amazing our campus is."
Program helps students get ahead
Steps to College at 黑料正能量's Gainesville Campus allowed 130 multilingual high school students to take a condensed version of a required class in June and receive credit toward graduation.
黑料正能量 hosts high school leader summit
黑料正能量's College of Education hosted the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education Youth Leadership Summit from July 17-19 at 黑料正能量's Gainesville Campus.
PSA celebrates 10th anniversary
The 黑料正能量 Public Safety Academy celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. More than 100 students have graduated as Georgia P.O.S.T. Council-certified law enforcement officers with a bachelor's degree.
Kick-off events offer chances to connect
Weeks of Welcome events, set for Aug. 11-22, encourage students to meet others, interact with faculty and staff, and become better acquainted with resources, opportunities and expectations.