Oconeefest kicks off this week, fundraises scholarships for University of North Georgia
The University of North Georgia’s Oconee Campus will host the 10th annual Oconeefest scholarship fundraiser on Thursday.
The two-hour event begins at 5:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the campus off Experiment Station Road in Watkinsville. A main fundraiser at the event is a silent auction featuring merchandise donated by numerous businesses. There is a suggested $25 donation and anyone can bid on the merchandise.
The event raises money for two scholarships.
The Oconee County Resident Scholarship is awarded to a resident of Oconee County who is an incoming freshman on the Oconee campus. UNG awarded four of these $1,000 awards this year.
The Oconee Annual Scholarship awards $1,000 to students from Oconee, Walton, Oglethorpe, Barrow, Clarke, Greene, Morgan and Madison counties who are enrolled at any of the UNG campuses. Two such scholarships were awarded this year.
“What I get excited about is sitting down and reading the scholarship applications of students. I get a better understanding of the needs of the students, some of the circumstances from which they come, where they want to be, what their hopes and dreams area, and how we as an institution are meeting and supporting their needs,” Russell Willis, executive director of the Oconee Campus, said.
The theme for this year’s festival is “Lights, Camera, Action,” with a Hollywood Walk of Fame feel.
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The sponsors this year are Peach State Federal Credit Union, Oconee State Bank, Haynes Enterprises Inc., Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, BankSouth, and Jarvis Estate Winery.
“The scholarship is extraordinarily wonderful. It takes a lot of the pressure off for paying for classes and books,” said Ashley Lundy, a student from Watkinsville, who is pursuing an associate degree in behavioral sciences. She has a goal to become a school social worker.
Isaiah Dunn, a sophomore from Watkinsville who is studying at the Dahlonega campus, said he is grateful that UNG understands that many students still need help affording college.
“Anything I can get helps. I wasn’t even aware it was an option until I got an email notification about applying for the scholarship,” said Dunn, who is pursuing a degree in computer science.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Oconeefest kicks off scholarship fundfraisers at UNG Oconee campus
