The University of North Georgia (UNG) launched its first What Comes Next Hub on Feb. 28 at Gilmer High School in Ellijay, Georgia.

Located about a half hour from UNG's Blue Ridge Campus, this hub is a dedicated resource center designed to empower students and their families with the tools, knowledge and resources needed to successfully transition from Gilmer High School to the next step in their educational and professional journeys.

UNG President Michael Shannon also announced that Gilmer High seniors currently dual-enrolled at UNG will receive a $1,000 scholarship if they enroll at UNG for fall 2025.

"This is a really special moment, and it's not really about the University of North Georgia. It's not just about this community," Shannon said. "It's for every student who dreams of a brighter future, every student who dreams of what comes next."

Shannon mentioned how a counselor at his high school told him he didn't have what it took to attend college. Now, he hopes the hub provides the opposite message, inspiring students to step boldly into their calling.

"I want to show that college isn't just a privilege, but it's a pathway to opportunity for everyone," he said.

The What Come Next Hub will offer personalized assistance in areas such as college admissions, financial aid, scholarship preparation, career planning, and workforce development. By fostering strong partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce, and higher education partners Dalton State College and Chattahoochee Technical College, the hub will help students and their families every step of the way as they navigate and plan for their next step after graduation.

"There's a lot of things we can do in a high school environment, but one of the greatest things we can do is try to empower our kids to go to the next step," Gilmer High School Principal Derek T. Bowen said. " And it looks different for every student, and that's what we want them to understand."

With the support of Gilmer County Schools, the hub aims to strengthen the future workforce, promote post-secondary enrollment and create opportunities for Gilmer High School students as they prepare for what comes next.

Kayla Valle, UNG Upward Bound advisor at Gilmer High, is a 2021 Gilmer High graduate and 2024 UNG graduate with a degree in human services delivery and administration. A First-Generation college student, she was part of Upward Bound through UNG while a student at Gilmer High. Upward Bound's mission is to help underrepresented and underserved students prepare for, enroll and graduate from institutions of higher learning. UNG's Upward Bound program serves students from Gilmer High and Johnson High School.

"After graduating from UNG, a university that fully believes in programs like Upward Bound, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and purpose, and I knew I wanted to give back. Today, I have the honor of serving as a senior advisor for the very program that changed my life. I work with high school seniors who are now walking the same path I once did, helping them complete college applications, creating Federal Student Aid IDs and creating workshops that inspire and empower them," Valle said. "Now with initiatives like the What Comes Next Hub, we have opportunities to expand these efforts by creating more resources for mentorship and community support. We can inspire the next generation of students to break barriers, pursue higher education and transform their futures."

The hub ties into UNG's strategic big bets to design and build a Leadership Foundry, supercharge workforce development, and expand the STEM value proposition.

Some of the offerings of the Gilmer High School What Comes Next Hub will be:

• Academic and admissions support.
• Supporting First-Generation & Hispanic students.
• Student organization and technology initiatives.
• Volunteer and leadership opportunities.
• Lunch and learn sessions.
• Financial aid and scholarship resources.
• Higher education partnership collaboration.
• Community partnerships with the Gilmer Chamber, CORE, Optimist, Faith, Hope & Charity, Rotary, Gilmer Family Connections.