Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ

Esports team takes second place nationally

September 2, 2025
The Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports team finished second in the Local Area Network event at the National Esports Collegiate Conference. Pictured, from left, are Nicholas Flynn, Dalton Ragon, Nathaniel Hehl, Conner Lincavicks, Wyatt Gowan, and Jay Turner. Hehl is the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports supervisor, and Lincavicks is College Halo head of operations at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ.

Article By: Clark Leonard

The University of North Georgia (Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ) 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ's Halo national title in fall 2024.

Team members for the spring national runner-up group from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Esports has come from where we were," Poore said. "The support of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ means everything to me."

Nathaniel Hehl, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ."


Cyber students take national title in D.C.

Cyber students take national title in D.C.

An eight-student team from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ earned a national championship in the Department of War Chief Information Officers Cyber Workforce Competition at the National Defense University in late March.
Student gains feedback on innovation at USG event

Student gains feedback on innovation at USG event

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ grad student Aliou Aboubakar Mouhamed competed at the USG Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition held April 6-7 at Kennesaw State's Marietta Campus.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ wins SMC Cyber Fusion event at VMI

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ wins SMC Cyber Fusion event at VMI

A four-student team from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ secured first place at the Senior Military College Cyber Fusion competition held Feb. 26-27 at Virginia Military Institute.
Students earn prizes for innovative ideas

Students earn prizes for innovative ideas

Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ students took center stage as they shared their business ideas and won prize money to support their entrepreneurial ambitions at the innovateÂé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Pitch Challenge held March 2.