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In three ceremonies at the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û), President Bonita Jacobs and university administrators recognized faculty and staff for their professional achievements and contributions to the continuing success of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û. The ceremonies took place on Oct. 30 on the Gainesville and Oconee campuses and Oct. 31 on the Dahlonega Campus.

President Bonita Jacobs noted the importance of taking time to celebrate professional accomplishments, "The camaraderie and focus on students matter a lot to this institution. The bottom line is, we have good people. We have very good people in this institution, and we work very hard to get better every year."

The awards included the Presidential Excellence Awards, to recognize staff members who have demonstrated excellent customer service, character, dedication, job performance, and leadership to our students, faculty, and fellow staff members. Matthew Bergeron and Corey Parson of the Dahlonega Campus, Shannon Shockley and Rebecca Spearman of the Gainesville Campus and John Williams of the Oconee Campus were the award recipients. Each receive a framed certificate and $500.

The Eleanor Crawford Award, named in honor of the first employee hired when then-Gainesville Junior College was established and given for extraordinary loyalty, dedication and service to the university, fellow employees and students, was awarded to Carla Gibbs on the Gainesville Campus, Lindsay Bailey on the Oconee Campus, and Angel Grizzle on the Dahlonega Campus.

Imani Cabell of the Cumming Campus, Stephanie Dooley of the Dahlonega Campus and Sabrina Wall of the Gainesville Campus were named Staff Member of the Year. Each was selected as a staff member of the month during the 2016-17 academic year and nominated for their service and commitment to their fellow employees and Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û community.

The 2016-2017 recipients of the North Star Award– nearly 80 individuals –were recognized for their embodiment of the university's standards for excellence, efficiency and outstanding customer service to internal and external constituents. The Annual North Star Award was presented to Jared Goodall of the Dahlonega Campus.

Faculty excellence was recognized with several awards.

The Distinguished Teaching Award, recognizing excellence in teaching by a faculty member who demonstrates a well-articulated teaching philosophy that has developed through methodical examination and improvement of teaching and learning, was awarded to Donna Gessell on the Dahlonega Campus. Gessell is the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û nominee for the University System of Georgia Regent's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Michael Rifenburg and Sung Shin Kim of the Dahlonega Campus and Leigh Grey Dillard of the Gainesville Campus were winners of the Emerging Leader Award, recognizing faculty who have assumed leadership roles within the past five years and who exemplify Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's commitment to shared governance and effective leadership.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, given to faculty whose research demonstrates valuable work in the scholarship of teaching and learning, was awarded to Renee A. Bricker, Adam Jordan, and Michael L. Proulx of the Dahlonega Campus.

Sgt. 1st Class Jason W. Bent was the winner of the 2016 United States Army Cadet Command Instructor of the Year Award, his selection being a reflection of unmatched professionalism and desire to teach the next generation of army officers.

Other faculty awards included Excellence in Online Teaching, Teaching Excellence in Tenure and Non-Tenure Track Faculty and Best Practices in Service Learning. View the list of faculty and staff awards.

In addition, 23 faculty members who were granted promotions and/or tenure were also recognized.