Meal packing part of 9/11 remembrance
The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has received a $41,500 military college grant to support a food packing event on Sept. 7 in remembrance of the Sept. 11 attacks. AmeriCorps and MyGoodDeed, the nonprofit that founded 9/11 Day, funded the grant.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ students, faculty and staff can sign up to help pack 100,000 meals in 90-minute shifts at 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Convocation Center at Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Dahlonega Campus. More than 300 volunteers are needed to pack the meals that will be distributed by local nonprofits.
"It's a great way to connect with and serve the community," Mallory Rodriguez, director of student leadership, said.
Then, the Student Government Association (SGA) and Corps of Cadets will host a 9/11 remembrance at 7:30 p.m. that day in the Convocation Center. Retired Lt. Col. Keith Antonia, interim vice president for Leadership and Global Engagement, will serve as keynote speaker.
Antonia retired from 20 years of service in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in August 2001. During his Army career, he served two tours in the 82nd Airborne Division, two tours in the 75th Ranger Regiment, and three tours in the Airborne Ranger Training Brigade. He was designated a distinguished member of the Ranger Training Brigade in 2005; inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2009; and served as Honorary Colonel of the Ranger Training Brigade from 2011-2014.
This project helps fill a really big need in the community. I'm super proud to partner with Â鶹ÊÓƵ on this as an alumna and former faculty member. It's a great opportunity for Â鶹ÊÓƵ students to learn about the community they live in and get involved.
Brigette Barker
Lumpkin County Family Connection director
will provide the meals Â鶹ÊÓƵ students, faculty and staff will pack.
"In partnership with 9/11 Day, The Pack Shack is honored to work with Â鶹ÊÓƵ volunteers to pack 100,000 delicious, healthy meals for neighbors in need in Georgia. Across its multiple campuses, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has an important role as a corporate citizen," Bret Raymond, CEO of The Pack Shack, said. "Their authentic desire and action to help those affected by food insecurity in Georgia is an inspiration to us all and is representative of what it means to be neighborly."
Emma Mitchell, SGA president, is grateful for the service opportunity tied to remembering Sept. 11.
"We'll help our students increase their involvement so they can connect more to the ceremony," Mitchell said.
Director Brigette Barker will help Â鶹ÊÓƵ ensure the meals are distributed where they are needed. Lumpkin County Family Connection is part of Georgia Family Connection, the only statewide network of its kind in the country with partners in all 159 counties working toward measurably better outcomes for children, families and communities through identifying and bridging service gaps.
"This project helps fill a really big need in the community. I'm super proud to partner with Â鶹ÊÓƵ on this as an alumna and former faculty member," Barker said. "It's a great opportunity for Â鶹ÊÓƵ students to learn about the community they live in and get involved."
Alum equipped to lead with 'no playbook'
Bernex Richardson said his experiences at Â鶹ÊÓƵ have equipped him for a wide-ranging career path in which he takes the lead in times of uncertainty.
28 cadets earn DMS recognition
Twenty-eight Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets have earned recognition as Distinguished Military Students for the 2026-27 academic year.
NLC provides up-close view of Corps life
High school students have a chance to get an up-close view of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Corps of Cadets and experience personal growth during National Leadership Challenge, set for Oct. 30-Nov. 1.
Maynard takes part in Army nursing program
Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadet William Maynard took part in the Army's prestigious Nurse Summer Training Program earlier this year.