DAHLONEGA - University of North Georgia Nighthawk Athletics and the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee are proud to announce the 14^th class of the North Georgia Athletics Hall of Fame with the induction ceremony scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the UNG Convocation Center. The evening will begin with a social hour, followed by a dinner and ceremony programming beginning at 7:00 p.m.
 
Tickets for the induction ceremony are available for $50 per person. To purchase your tickets, please register online at UNGAthletics.com/HOF.
 
The UNG Athletics Hall of Fame honors individuals who have earned outstanding athletic achievements or made substantial contributions to the university. A nine-member Board of Directors is responsible for the Athletics Hall of Fame operations and serves as selectors for all honorees, based upon nominations.
 
This year's Class of 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame induction class includes:
 
Sally Bell, Supporter
Sally Bell has been a longtime supporter of North Georgia Athletics, but her reach and impact in the collegiate athletics landscape goes far beyond Dahlonega. Sally began officiating high school basketball in 1975 and only four years later in 1979 she moved on to NAIA and NJCAA games. The year 1981 would mark the first year she officiated Division I and II basketball games.
 
In 1996 she was named the Naismith College Women's Basketball Official of the Year. In her officiating career, she officiated 15 NCAA Division I Women's Final Fours, including 13 consecutive from 1993-2004. Bell was the coordinator of women's basketball officials for six different conferences (Atlantic Sun, OVC, SEC, Southland, SWAC and Sunbelt).  
 
In recent years, Bell has been an integral part of UNG Athletics and has held board member positions on the UNG Athletics Hall of Fame board, as well as the Nighthawks Athletic Club board. She has also served as a mentor to several Peach Belt Conference basketball officials for numerous years. Bell was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and in 2017 was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
 
"The University of North Georgia has been a part of my professional journey since the early 80's. To be selected as a member of the 2024 class of the Hall of Fame is a lifetime honor and a real humbling accomplishment. I look forward to sharing this honor with my fellow inductees."
 
Ashleigh Bennett, Women's Soccer, Class of 2002
Ashleigh Bennett was a fixture on the inaugural women's soccer team at then North Georgia College & State University. She was one of three student-athletes to start in 1998, and finish after their senior year in 2001. She was voted Best Offensive Player all four years on the squad and earned the title of Most Valuable Player from 1999 through 2001.
 
Bennett was named to the Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference 1^st team All-Conference in all four seasons as a Saint, and in her junior year, was named the Conference Player of the Year. She led the Saints in scoring all four years of her career and she finished her career with 44 goals and 17 assists.
 
"My four years at North Georgia were truly amazing and a launchpad for some of my fondest memories. Playing soccer in college was always a dream, and I got to live it out here.  My teammates, we were like a family. We pushed each other hard, celebrated together, and had a ton of fun along the way. Every laugh, every challenge, solidified our bond. My North Georgia journey wouldn't have been the same without every single teammate I played alongside-thank you! I am honored and humbled to be inducted alongside such esteemed individuals into this great university and fills me with immense pride. Throughout my athletic career, and even now, I've lived by this mantra: half-hearted efforts yield half-hearted results. It's a reminder to always strive for excellence, even in the little things, because those little things pave the way for bigger victories."
 
Ishmael Hollis, Men's Basketball, Class of 2014
Ishmael Hollis left his mark on the North Georgia men's basketball program in his two years after transferring from Western Carolina. He is still the only UNG men's basketball player to play in the NBA's G League. He appears in the men's basketball record book numerous times, which includes ranking third in points scored in a season, which he had previously held the number one spot for eight years.
 
In the 2013-14 season, Hollis was named to the NABC All-District team as well as the D2CCA All-Region 1^st team. Additionally, after the 2013-14 season, he was named the GABCA Player of the Year. During both of his years competing in the Peach Belt Conference, Hollis earned a spot on the All-Conference team.
 
After his time at UNG, he went on to compete professionally, which he still does today. He hosted Swish Basketball camps in the North Georgia community, as well as Australia. He has gone on to compete on every continent in the eight years since departing UNG.
 
"I gave it my all when playing for UNG. I had coaches, players, and a community that believed in me. I'm forever thankful for the opportunity that UNG gave me and I'm extremely honored to be inducted in UNG's illustrious Hall of Fame."
 
Lynsey Thompson, Softball, Class of 2006
Lynsey Thompson is one of the most decorated softball players to come through North Georgia. She was instrumental in setting the championship standard for North Georgia softball and has been credited with putting the program on the national stage in her time at North Georgia.
 
She holds several program records, which includes holding the records for most hits, total bases, runs, RBIs, and triples. Thompson ranks in the top five in the program in several other categories such as career batting average, slugging percentage, doubles and homeruns.
 
In 2003, Thompson was the Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference Player of the Year, as well as the Freshman of the Year, and in 2004 was named an NAIA All-American. Throughout her tenure at North Georgia, she was named All-Conference and All-Region on multiple occasions.

I am truly honored to be inducted into the UNG Athletics Hall of Fame.  Playing for UNG was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I want to thank my mom for the sacrifices she made throughout my career to help me develop as a player. I would also like to thank my coaches and teammates as I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without them. To the current and future athletes in the program, I wish you all the best and know you will enjoy your time as an athlete at UNG.
 
Brittany Truitt, Cross Country / Track & Field, Class of 2018
Brittany Truitt was a key figure for the UNG cross country program, and she helped lay the foundation for not only the cross country program, but the track & field program as well. Arriving on campus just two years after the cross country program was reinstated, Truitt helped to build the program up through not only her abilities on the course, but her leadership.
 
You don't have to look hard to find her name in the records book, as she holds multiple program records in both cross country and track & field which includes the record for fasted 5K and 6K time and holds six of the top ten 5K times in program history. On the track and field side, Truitt holds the records for the 1500, 3000, and 5000 meter times.
 
In 2014, Truitt led the cross country program to its first, and only, appearance at the NCAA Championship and was the team's top finishers all four years in the Nighthawk uniform, and earned All-Region honors all four years. Her dominance continued when the track & field program began in 2016 and she earned multiple All-Conference honors and was crowned the 2017 Peach Belt 8000 meter champion and the 2018 Peach Belt 5000 meter champion.
 
After graduating, Truitt would go on to earn her master's degree in Kinesiology & Exercise Science from UNG, while serving as the graduate assistant coach for the Nighthawks. Today, she has continued her running career, and still trains competitively, and runs for Nike's Dreamweaver's team, Nike's professional women's running team.
 
"I feel honored to be inducted into the North Georgia Athletics Hall of Fame. My individual accomplishments do mean a lot to me, but what is more meaningful was the light that shined on our team and program. I am thankful to share this experience with my coach for whom I would not have accomplished any of this without."