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The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) broke ground Sept. 23 on its Wynne-Mathews Military Science Center for the Corps of Cadets. The Military Science Center is set to open in time for the fall 2026 semester.

University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue, USG Regent Jim Syfan, state Sen. Steve Gooch, and state Rep. Will Wade joined Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Michael Shannon and other Â鶹ÊÓƵ leaders at the ceremony, which was incorporated into the annual Distinguished Military Student Review on the Gen. William "Lipp" Livsey Drill Field.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ has received $8.3 million in state funding for the project after raising $5 million in private donations. The state funds include $7 million for construction in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and $1.3 million for design in the Fiscal Year 2023 amended budget.

Perdue thanked the donors in attendance at the ceremony.

"Â鶹ÊÓƵ plays a vital role in our state and nation," Perdue said. "Your investment will continue to propel the Corps of Cadets to greater heights."

Â鶹ÊÓƵ plays a vital role in our state and nation. Your investment will continue to propel the Corps of Cadets to greater heights.

Dr. Sonny Perdue

University System of Georgia chancellor

It is the first of three planned facilities necessary to modernize and consolidate the support functions of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Corps of Cadets.  

"The future is bright for our U.S. military because of the future leaders who stand before us," Gooch, the Senate majority leader and a two-time Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumnus, said.

The facility is named in recognition of the eight members of the Wynne-Mathews family who attended Â鶹ÊÓƵ or served in the U.S. armed forces and in honor of Bob Mathews' late wife, whom he met at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Mary Joan Wynne Mathews.

"You are all to be commended for making a transformational mark on the future of the Corps of Cadets," Shannon, a retired lieutenant colonel, said. "Our legacy has been and will continue to be the contributions of the leaders we produce in all walks of life."

Mathews served six years in the United States Army and is a member of the inaugural class of the Army ROTC Hall of Fame. He recently retired as president and CEO of Colliers International/Atlanta, where he held leadership positions since 1993, including serving as CEO from 2004 until his retirement.

He formerly served as a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation trustee and president of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Alumni Association. Mathews continues to serve as chairman of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Real Estate Foundation. In addition to his transformational gift to this new facility for the Corps of Cadets, Mathews has created a significant endowed scholarship in honor of his late wife.

This new building will be a two-story, freestanding structure. At approximately 22,500 square feet, this facility will be composed primarily of academic space including classrooms, computer labs and offices. The academic space will include a large classroom that will accommodate 100 cadets. It is designed to be reconfigured to accommodate various events and auditorium-style presentations.