The University of North Georgia (UNG) awarded roughly 985 degrees and certificates to students this fall, and it honored more than 650 of those graduates in a pair of Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies in the Convocation Center at UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Tracy Amaya, a Gillsville, Georgia, resident who earned a degree in political science with a pre-law concentration, served as one of two student speakers. As an immigrant and First-Generation college student, Amaya expressed gratitude for all the support she has received and encouraged her classmates to embrace what comes next.

"As someone who believes in lifelong learning, I would  like my message to you all to be that this is only the beginning," Amaya said. "As you leave here today ready to turn to the next chapter in your life, remember that hard work does pay off. My hope to you all would be that you never lose your will to learn and keep growing."

Charlotte Sims, a Cleveland, Georgia, resident who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management, was also a student speaker. She emphasized the importance of resilience and reminded graduates UNG has given them a strong foundation.

"We are a generation of confident minds who are not easily bent or swayed by the world around us. And we have shown this not with banners or shouts of victory, but with wisdom and grace," Sims said. "We are level-headed leaders and encouraging followers who do not give time and place to the unnecessary hatred so prevalent in the world around us."

Shawn Mullins '91, an award-winning singer, songwriter-producer and recording artist, expressed gratitude to Dr. Joe Chapman, a professor of music who has worked at UNG since 1983 and taught Mullins when he was a student.

"He's one of my heroes," Mullins said in his keynote address. "Remember the ones who help you along your way: your parents, your mentors, your teachers."

Marvin Vines, vice president of industry leadership and retail for Coca-Cola North America Operating Unit and a UNG Foundation trustee, also served as a keynote speaker.

Vines encouraged graduates to find their "superpower" within unique strengths they have and develop key relationships as they navigate both their personal and professional lives. 

"The key is to stay ready. This means continuously learning, staying curious and being willing to step out of your comfort zone," Vines said. "Develop a mindset that embraces change and sees challenges as growth opportunities. Always be ready to seize the opportunity when it comes."

Paloma Barron-Galvan is one of the graduates who has already begun seizing opportunities and is looking to the future with optimism. The Gainesville, Georgia, resident who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is a Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Georgia scholar who said the $10,000 REACH Georgia scholarship she received was life-changing.

Barron-Galvan, an active participant in UNG's First-Gen programs serving First-Generation college students, is especially grateful for her nursing faculty members.

"I'm so blessed to go to UNG and be part of such a great program," she said. "The professors care about you. They will take time in their day to help you understand the content. They really want you to be a good nurse."

Barron-Galvan has served as a patient care technician at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville for the past three years and has also gained a variety of experience in her nursing clinical rotations. She is preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and is scheduled to begin a nursing residency in the cardiac observation unit at NGMC Gainesville in March.

She looks forward to the way she can brighten people's day and particularly appreciates it when patients come back to thank her.

"That puts such a smile on my face and lets me know I'm doing my job right," Barron-Galvan said. "I want patients to feel loved and taken care of and safe and secure."