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Ethan Griffith has experienced both sides of a National Leadership Challenge (NLC) weekend at the University of North Georgia (¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ).

Griffith attended NLC in spring 2025 as a high school senior with his younger brother before deciding to use his ROTC Scholarship to attend ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ. He was then able to help lead the event as a cadet that fall. Now he will witness the more than 250 high school students have the chance to gain a similar big-picture view of life in ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ at the upcoming March 27-29 NLC weekend.

"NLC provides connections for high school students and helps them see the types of leaders who attend ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ," Griffith said.

As a freshman from Fort Stewart, Georgia, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, Griffith has already joined a fraternity, spent a semester on ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's rowing team and served in the Chaplain Corps. He appreciates the way ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ facilitates growth.

"I wanted to come here and challenge myself," Griffith said.

NLC includes rappelling from a 60-foot rock face at Camp Frank D. Merrill, home of the Army's 5th Ranger Training Battalion, and leadership obstacle courses at Pine Valley Recreation Complex, both of which are a short drive from ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's Dahlonega Campus.

The Legacy of Gold ceremony, where high school students learn about the ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ, is also part of the experience. This includes learning about specialty units and other opportunities available to cadets at ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ.

NLC is open to all high school students interested in becoming a cadet. Current college students who are looking to transfer to ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ can also attend this event.

The cost for the weekend is $149 per student.

Schools have the opportunity to partner with ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ for a discounted NLC rate. Current schools with such an arrangement are:

• Army and Navy Academy, Carlsbad, California.
• Mountain Area Christian Academy, Morganton, Georgia.
• Murfreesboro High School, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
• Oak Ridge Military Academy, Oak Ridge, North Carolina.
• Riverside Military Academy, Gainesville, Georgia.
• Southern Preparatory Academy, Camp Hill, Alabama.
• Tuscola High School, Asheville, North Carolina.
• Valdosta High School, Valdosta, Georgia.

¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ is also willing to work with schools, students and families to bring students to NLC by offering a shuttle from the airport as well as scholarships for those with financial need.

For more information, contact wyatt.campbell@ung.edu or visit the National Leadership Challenge webpage.