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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Maddy Elledge
(706) 379-5319, [email protected]

Young Harris College Welcomes 2017-2018 Academic Year

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The Young Harris College academic year opened for learning on Aug. 15 during the annual Convocation Ceremony, where more than 1,200 traditional and dual enrollment students were welcomed.

During the Convocation Ceremony, students had the opportunity to hear from faculty, staff and the YHC Student Government Association president. Students were empowered and challenged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones during this critical first year of college.

“Your faculty here at YHC are passionate about helping you,” said Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Benny Ferguson, Ph.D, during the ceremony. “You have a tremendous opportunity here for growth. To develop talents, you must be willing to invest in them.”

Student Government Association President and senior business and public policy major Elli Flaig, of Odessa, Fla., reiterated Dr. Ferguson’s comments to her peers during the ceremony.

“YHC is full of amazing people and amazing moments,” said Flaig. “Remember that college is fun, take advantage of the services offered to you here, and get involved on campus. More importantly, get to know your professors because they want to know you as an individual.”

The Division of Student Development kicked off the year with their annual Welcome Week, a week full of activities designed to engage students socially on campus.

“Welcome Week is an important start to the new year for both new and returning students,” said Campus Activities Board President and senior biology major Meghan Tonnesen, of Buford, Ga. “It allows everyone to come together to reunite while meeting new students.”

In addition to Convocation, activities during the week included the annual Student Organization Fair, Resident Assistant Lip Sync, The ThinkFast Gameshow, service opportunities, field games and a movie on the Lawn.

“This year’s Welcome Week was one of the most fun and successful I’ve been a part of,” said Tonnesen. “YHC’s Welcome Week is particularly special due to the small and tight knit community we have. Everyone is incredibly welcoming, and you never feel like you’re lost in the crowd.”

From distinctive field experiences and undergraduate research to leadership opportunities in various student organizations, YHC is committed to providing the most diverse liberal arts education possible to prepare students for their next steps after graduation.

“We’re pleased to welcome this class of outstanding first-year students to the YHC community,” said Interim President and CFO Brooks Seay, Ed.D., J.D., M.B.A., C.P.A. “As we continue to look towards the future of Young Harris College, I am excited to see how these students will learn from others and how we will learn from them.”

About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, baccalaureate degree-granting college located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires and empowers students through the highest quality liberal arts education. The College currently has more than 1,200 students across five divisions—Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The historic campus in Young Harris, Ga., has completed major campus improvements to accommodate the College’s growth. Recent LEED-certified campus improvements include the 121,000-square-foot Rollins Campus Center, new residence facilities, and a 57,000-square-foot recreation and fitness center. The College is an active member of NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the prestigious Peach Belt Conference. YHC is among fewer than 300 colleges and universities nationwide named to the 2017-2018 list of Colleges of Distinction and is listed as a “Best National Liberal Arts College” by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit yhc.edu.

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