The University of North Georgia (UNG) held a beam-signing Nov. 7 in anticipation of the upcoming completion of David E. Ralston Hall on UNG's Blue Ridge Campus. Conducted as part of the annual Tomato Sandwich Supper, the event served as a chance to celebrate both a larger opportunity to serve the community and the legacy of Ralston, the late Georgia House of Representatives speaker and UNG alumnus.

"We will be forever grateful to Speaker Ralston for his support of UNG and our Blue Ridge Campus," UNG President Michael Shannon said. "He was a tireless advocate for the transformative power of higher education, and thanks to his vision, multiple generations of students will have a chance to change the trajectory of their families."

State Sen. Steve Gooch, the Senate majority leader and a two-time UNG alumnus, also lauded the Blue Ridge Campus expansion.

"The Blue Ridge Campus has seen impressive growth over the past several years, and I'm proud to support the expansion of educational opportunities to this community and rural north Georgia," Gooch said. "These facilities will give students a chance to pursue their dream of attaining higher education that maybe didn't exist before, and it will deliver desperate workforce needs through degree offerings such as nursing."

State Rep. Johnny Chastain pointed to the important role UNG's Blue Ridge Campus plays in the region.

"Students are able to continue their education while remaining in the area. They can continue to be sons and daughters, mothers and fathers contributing to their families and our community. A key benefit has been the opportunity for students at Fannin High and area high schools to participate in dual enrollment. Students can get a head-start on college, and grades earned through dual enrollment can impact college admission, scholarships and high school graduation," Chastain said. "The world and our local community have and will continue to be the beneficiaries of the continued association between the University of North Georgia and Fannin County."

Ralston was the driving force behind securing funding for the creation of UNG's Blue Ridge Campus in 2015, UNG's move to a stand-alone Blue Ridge Campus in 2020 and now the $15 million expansion of the campus. The new building is 22,427 square feet and features four new classrooms, three new simulation labs and a large multipurpose room.

"The beam signing of David E. Ralston Hall at this year’s event is so fitting because of Speaker Ralston's vision for education. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Investing in education is investing in the future," Sandy Ott, executive director of the Blue Ridge Campus, said. "David E. Ralston Hall and the scholarships awarded today will have a lasting impact on the students, their families and the region for years to come."

Matthew D. Ralston, David Ralston's son, is grateful to see the new building on the Blue Ridge Campus named for his father. 

"Dad was a long-time believer that there should be a permanent base of higher education within the Fannin County community. For generations, schools have temporarily invested in our community and our students only to move on, and our students have been faced with the reality that they must leave the community to pursue higher education options," Matthew Ralston said. "For future generations of Fannin County students and students along Ga. 515, they now have the option to pursue advanced education while staying close to home."