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Generous Alumni Donate $3 Million to University of North Georgia for a Cutting-edge STEM Center
University of North Georgia (UNG) was recently the fortunate beneficiary of a major contribution, amounting to $3 million. The donation was made by alumni Stewart Swanson and Carol Barnette Swanson, both notable graduates of UNG from the classes of ’85 and ’86 respectively, to support the construction of a contemporary STEM building at the Dahlonega campus.
The official university report recognizes this robust funding as a “significant leap forward” for their aspirations to create a state-of-the-art STEM facility, set to be dubbed the STEM Excellence Center.
Creating a New Home for STEM at UNG
Slated to be built in place of the historic Rogers Hall, which was constructed in 1948 and serves as the present location for the physics and chemistry departments, the STEM Excellence Center promises to provide an exceptional active-learning environment.
“As the economy continues to grow at a fast pace, there is an increased demand for college graduates who are well-rounded in science, can apply information across disciplines, and possess critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” voiced UNG President Michael P. Shannon. “This new infrastructure is high on our priority list to accommodate future STEM students, and we extend our sincere gratitude to Stewart and Carol Swanson for their support in realizing our goals.”
The Swansons & Their Connection to UNG
With a background in computer science, Stewart Swanson is an ex-ROTC cadet and recently retired technology sales expert. Presently, he presides over the STEM Advisory Board for UNG’s College of Science & Mathematics, and also contributes to the UNG Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Reflecting on the journey, Swanson revealed, “UNG President Owen presented me with a symbolic sheepskin baton in 1985, which I held high for 37 laps around the sun for my personal gain. As the UNG keeps progressing on its 150th journey around the sun, Carol and I have decided to pass on our golden batons back to President Shannon as he and his team Boldly Move Forward. They’ll be handing over the symbolic sheepskin batons to 18,500 deserving UNG students to ensure their personal growth and future accomplishments. We are thrilled to be able to give back to UNG that which was given to us initially.”
The Promising Future of STEM at UNG
Around one-fourth of UNG’s freshman student population choose STEM majors, making the upcoming facility essential for anchoring UNG’s transdisciplinary teaching model and fostering STEM learning communities. Dr. John Leyba, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, shared these insights.
“UNG’s student-centric approach, interdisciplinary learning objectives, and emphasis on STEM resonate perfectly with the university’s esteemed status for efficiently preparing students for their chosen professional careers or higher education. We believe all these future graduates will enter a world dependent on scientific intelligence, data processing, and technology-related skills,” amplified Swanson. He also called upon corporate and personal donors to contribute to this endeavor and collectively transform the concept into a reality.
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