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More than 170 high school students enjoyed learning about the University of North Georgia's (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û) College of Education and its teacher preparation programs on Nov. 3. Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û hosted Future Georgia Educators (FGE) Day at the Convocation Center on its Dahlonega Campus as a collaboration with the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).

"We work with our district partners to try to bridge the teacher gaps, not just within our region, but within the state," Dr. Christian Bello Escobar, director of academic and clinical engagement, said. "Teaching can be fun. It shapes the minds of our future leaders and is a lifelong, rewarding career. We want to continue to showcase the need to increase the number of future educators by encouraging high school students to stay on the path of becoming future teachers or considering teaching as a profession." 

Participants experienced interactive workshops, a college recruitment fair, an FGE Knowledge Bowl competition, and lunch in the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û Dining Hall. Some had tours of the Dahlonega Campus.

We want to continue to showcase the need to increase the number of future educators by encouraging high school students to stay on the path of becoming future teachers or considering teaching as a profession.

Dr. Christian Bello Escobar

Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û director of academic and clinical engagement

Baltimore, Maryland native William Smith and Kae Hall of Dacula, Georgia, were two of this year's ambassadors.

"I wanted to be an ambassador to be in a position of leadership and help others. Being an educator is about being a good role model for students and helping them in becoming adults," Smith said. "I feel as though being a part of this will help me improve upon those things."

Smith, who is pursuing a degree in kinesiology with teacher certification, added that he hopes his participation helped alleviate worries and reassured prospective teacher education students that "it will all work out."

Hall, who is pursuing a degree in English education, also aimed to ease concerns about college life.

"Coming into college was a really jarring and scary experience, so I really just want to be able to help any students that might have those fears to feel comforted and know that, while it is scary, everything is going to be OK," Hall said. "The main thing I wanted to accomplish was just to give these students some peace of mind as they begin their journey into college life. I never had a lot of guidance when I was coming into college, so I really just want to be a resource for them to ask any questions that might be on their mind."

The high school students said the FGE Day made a strong impression.

"It made me think about how I could change the lives of many students and have a big impact as a teacher," Mikayla Pogue, a senior from Flowery Branch High School in Hall County, Georgia, said.

She's considering becoming an elementary school teacher.

Thomas Hennelly, a senior from Denmark High School in Forsyth County, Georgia, said his favorite part of the day was the Knowledge Bowl.

"Participating in it with my classmates was fun," he said. "Working as a team is something I enjoy, and it helps that we got second place."