Ground broken for $15 million UNG expansion

  • Emma Mitchell told how UNG Blue Ridge has changed her life.
    Emma Mitchell told how UNG Blue Ridge has changed her life.
  • Sonny Perdue spoke to the comments of UNG Blue Ridge student Emma Mitchell.
    Sonny Perdue spoke to the comments of UNG Blue Ridge student Emma Mitchell.
  • Steve Gooch praised David Ralston’s support for education.
    Steve Gooch praised David Ralston’s support for education.
  • See figure [A]
    See figure [A]

    Several school and state officials spoke to the importance of the expansion of the University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Blue Ridge campus, but none matched the impact of Emma Mitchell.

    Mitchell is the vice president of the Student Government Association at UNG Blue Ridge and a 2021 graduate of Fannin County High School. She talked of the change in her life from when she began her studies there until now.

    Mitchell spoke of her insecurities early in her UNG career, insecurities that have vanished.

    UNG Blue Ridge is a “massive blessing...we’ve found a family,” she said of herself and her fellow students.

    Of the $15 million expansion being recognized last Wednesday afternoon, she called it not just a building but, “a space to cultivate more leaders for the next generation.”

    “UNG Blue Ridge has quite literally changed the direction of my life,” Mitchell concluded.

    Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, approached the podium with a folder containing his prepared remarks. But he left the folder unopened as he told those gathered that Mitchell had expressed the heart of what UNG Blue Ridge is all about and focused his comments on her story.

    Purdue called Mitchell the example of “growing our own in our own communities,” the goal the system works to achieve with such campuses as UNG Blue Ridge. He talked of the importance for a student to feel a belonging to an educational family who can make a difference in a life.

    Purdue said the UNG expansion is part of $750 million being invested by the state in UNG across Northeast Georgia, money intended “to grow jobs, opportunities and minds right here at home.”

    State Senator Steve Gooch said of the expansion, “It’s about economic development, it’s about jobs, it’s about quality of life.”

    Gooch echoed words spoken by UNG Blue Ridge Executive Director Sandy Ott when he praised Georgia Speaker of the House and District 7 Representative David Ralston for his long standing, steadfast support of UNG Blue Ridge.

    “We would not be standing here today if not for David,” Gooch said.

    Ott opened the ceremony by calling Ralston, who could not attend, “a champion of education and opportunity in Fannin County.”

    Ralston, speaking later as he recovered from his second bout with COVID-19, said UNG North Georgia, “Is going to benefit a lot of young people for a long time to come...(it’s) a real plus for the community.”

    UNG Blue Ridge “creates the opportunity for kids to go to school locally” who are pursuing a college education, Ralston said. This relieves them of the burden of having to drive long distances or pay the high costs of living away from home on a college campus.

    UNG President Dr. Bonita Jacobs said that since it’s beginning in a temporary home UNG Blue Ridge has grown from serving 20 to serving 230 students for the 2022-’23 school year.

    The expansion will allow the school to serve even more as the colleges of Education and Health Sciences are expanded.

    She, too, expressed thanks to Ralston and also to the Fannin County School System that has provided “very strong students” who have entered the UNG program.

     

    Figure [A]

    Breaking ground for the University of North Georgia Blue Ridge campus expansion are, from left, incoming Fannin County School Superintendent Shannon Miller, Fannin County School Superintendent Dr. Michael Gwatney, UNG Blue Ridge student Emma Mitchell, Dr. Mac McConnell with UNG, Fannin County Economic Development Director Sheree Ralston, UNG Blue Ridge Campus Executive Director Sandy Ott, Dr. Steven Smith with UNG, UNG President Dr. Bonita Jacobs, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, State Senator Steve Gooch, Blue Ridge Mayor Rhonda Haight, Fannin County Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley, Fannin County Chamber of Commerce President Christie Gribble, and Marty Smith with the Georgia Finance and Investment Commission.