The University of North Georgia (UNG) raised roughly $8,000 for student scholarships at the third annual Cumming Campus Backyard Bash held April 29. Those funds will support scholarships for 16 students.

The Cumming Campus General Scholarship was established in 2024 to provide financial assistance to students attending the campus who have specific financial needs that make it harder for them to focus on their academic success.

If students are responsible for some component of the cost of the UNG education, they are eligible to apply for up to $500 per semester from this scholarship. On the Cumming Campus, 75% of students receive some level of aid, and of those, 38% of students are eligible for the Pell Grant, which can go to students in the lowest-earning households.

Ashleigh Sanchez, a freshman from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in management, wasn't sure what to expect when she first set foot on UNG's Cumming Campus. But Sanchez, the Student Government Association vice president in Cumming, was blown away by the tight-knit community and support she found. Sanchez thanked donors for the role they play in creating that environment.

"You're building leaders, and you're creating futures. Your generosity sends powerful messages to our students like me that they are seen and that they matter and that our goals are worth fighting for," Sanchez said. "Scholarship funding isn't just about the dollars. It's about the people. It's about the students who will one day become educators, nurses, doctors, and even entrepreneurs. Your support turns potential into progress. Thank you for showing up and believing in us and for helping us become who we're meant to be."

UNG also honored Dr. Ken Crowe, retiring executive director of the Cumming Campus, at the bash.

"Ken put the Cumming Campus on the map in Forsyth County," Shawna Cohen, assistant director of enrollment services at the Cumming Campus, said. "We appreciate you. We will miss you, and we are forever grateful we had the chance to work alongside you."

Crowe worked much of his career in facilities, from Georgia Power to the University of Georgia, University System of Georgia, and then UNG. He began leading the Cumming Campus in September 2022, and Crowe thrived on his opportunities to encourage students in his final role at UNG.

"To see them actually realize their dreams, that’s what this is all about," Crowe said.