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The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Athletics Department has announced the kickoff of its award-winning Operation Nighthawks of Honor initiative for the 2023-24 seasons, which recognizes service members who were former or current Â鶹ÊÓƵ students. This year's initiative will honor retired Col. E. Wayne Dill.

Dill was a Distinguished Military Graduate from the class of 1962. Upon graduation, he completed the Infantry Officer's Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, serving in company-level assignments. He commanded two rifle companies and received two awards for valor during two tours in Vietnam. He earned the Army Commendation Medal with "V" and Silver Star in 1966, which recognized his fearless leadership while facing murderous fire from a numerically superior enemy near Dak To. In early 1969, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star with "V" device for personally directing fires while in the air and on the ground during combined aviation and ground engagements.

In November 2020, Dill was inducted into the Georgia Military Veterans' Hall of Fame. Dill has also volunteered for 15 years with the Athens Community Council on Aging "Meals on Wheels" program in Athens, Georgia. Today, he continues to generously give of his time and energy to Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Corps of Cadets by serving as a Â鶹ÊÓƵ Foundation Trustee and advisor on the Corps Advisory Council.

The ninth annual Operation Nighthawks of Honor ceremony will be held throughout this academic year, with an in-person ceremony honoring Dill at a home basketball doubleheader against Lander University on Feb. 14, 2024. All ticket sales from the doubleheader, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will be donated to the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Boar's Head Brigade Corps of Cadets Endowed Scholarship Fund. Nighthawk Athletics has donated over $4,300 since the initiative's inception on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

One of only six federally designated senior military colleges in the nation, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is The Military College of Georgia, and its nationally recognized Army ROTC program attracts students from across the state, region and nation.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ has commissioned more than 60 flag officers, some of whom are currently serving in a variety of command positions. Many other Â鶹ÊÓƵ alumni completed successful military careers, and hundreds are currently serving on active duty today at all levels of command.