Esports team takes second place nationally
The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Esports team finished second in the Local Area Network event at the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) during the spring semester in San Antonio, Texas. That success followed Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Halo national title in fall 2024.
Team members for the spring national runner-up group from Â鶹ÊÓƵ were Nicholas Flynn, Wyatt Gowan, Clayton Poore, Dalton Ragon, and Jay Turner.
Flynn, a sophomore from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, was grateful to be able to travel to Texas to compete. The Esports program has been a meaningful experience for him in a variety of ways.
"It's a lot of fun. You get to meet a ton of people. I've made a bunch of friends doing it," Flynn said. "It's up and coming. It's only getting bigger. There are more and more opportunities for people to play and hopefully win."
Poore, a senior from Dahlonega, Georgia, pursuing a degree in computer science, has appreciated the way Esports has helped him gain "friends I will have for a long time" after enrolling in Â鶹ÊÓƵ at age 14 and trying to find his footing socially. He has been one of the driving forces behind the program's growth.
"I've really enjoyed seeing where Â鶹ÊÓƵ Esports has come from where we were," Poore said. "The support of Â鶹ÊÓƵ means everything to me."
Nathaniel Hehl, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Esports supervisor, said both the conference and the competition were beneficial at NECC.
"We made a lot of great connections," Hehl said. "This has been our most successful school year thus far for the Esports program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ."
Students grow skills at Interfraternity Institute
Three Â鶹ÊÓƵ students spent time this summer in an immersive leadership experience focusing on fraternities and sororities. Two attended in Indianapolis and the third in Texas.
Students take top honors at AWS AI event
Â鶹ÊÓƵ swept the top two team spots at the Amazon Web Services Gen AI Challenge at Norwich University in an event that featured all but one of the nation's six senior military colleges.
Officers grew thanks to opportunities at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
Jaden Clark-Davidson and Brandon Clark-Davidson were two of the 20 Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets who commissioned Sept. 10 as second lieutenants in the Army and Georgia Army National Guard.
Students gain cyber immersion in summer
Two Â鶹ÊÓƵ students further enhanced their skills this summer at Cyber Summer Immersion events funded by the Department of War.