We are excited to welcome future Terry alumni to campus as we get "Back to Business" at the BLC!

Managed by the UGA Entrepreneurship Program, the Georgia Kickstart Fund aims to  promote interconnectivity amongst the University of Georgia and the greater Athens community, to provide unique and stimulating educational experiences to the members of the fund, and help promote Athens and the University of Georgia as entrepreneurial hubs on a regional and national scale.

The Georgia Kickstart Fund was established in 2017 with the financial support of private donors, including a major gift from the SunTrust Foundation (now Truist Foundation). 

In the six years the student board has screened applicants and awarded grants, it has distributed more than $160,232 to 49 student startups, said Garrett Williams (BBA ’22), who served as managing partner of the Kickstart Fund during its 2021-2022 funding year. Kickstart grants range from $500 to $10,000, with the average just over $3,000. 

“We look for revenue potential or profit potential — just the core financials. We ask, ‘Could this business sustain the founders in a full-time job,’ ” Williams said about the fund’s investment criteria. “The second thing we look at is value creation. We ask, ‘Do they create value for a specific community or a certain set of stakeholders?’ And the third thing we look at is innovation. Are they providing any new proprietary production process, or are they solving a problem that a specific community or group of stakeholders is feeling?”

To read more about the Georgia Kickstart fund, please read here.

PERRY APPOINTED AON'S CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

Aon appointed Rachel Perry to chief innovation officer for commercial risk in North America. In this new role, Perry will use her proven leadership skills and expertise to work across commercial risk to accelerate innovation and better address unmet client needs. 

Rachel has over 25 years of insurance experience and has been part of Aon since 2012. She currently serves on the Terry College Alumni Board. 

TERRY ALUMNUS RECEIVES CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR STOPPING GUNMAN

Tucker Shields (BBA '22) was interning with a political advocacy group in Washington, D.C. the summer before returning to Athens for his senior year when he happened upon an unexpected encounter involving a gunman harassing a couple.

For his actions during these moments, he was awarded the prestigious Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. This honor is awarded four times a year to a select few that "risk their lives to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others." To read more about Tucker's story, please read here.

TERRY STUDENT DOMINATES ON THE TRACK AND ON CAMPUS

Third year student Hayden Swank is studying marketing through the Terry College of Business and advertising through the Grady College of Journalism. Many students find themselves racing between classes, socializing, and studying, but Swank is interested in a different race. He spends his free time donning a fireproof suit in his car, trying to shave .03 seconds off his race time.  

Swank’s ultimate target is to race in the NASCAR Cup Series, a future goal that his team says Swank is always working toward. While being a student and managing a racing career is challenging, Swank sees the value in pursuing his degrees. “I think being one of the very few drivers pursuing a degree that’s very relevant to what we do on a day-to-day basis does give me an edge,” Swank said. “I take a lot of what I learn in my advertising and marketing classes and apply that to the racing industry, like the pitches I make when I have to approach a company for the funds to keep the team alive and actually go racing.”

To learn more about Hayden Swank's journey, please read here.

Join fellow alumni and fans at Truist Park on Tuesday, August 30 to cheer on the Atlanta Braves as they battle the Colorado Rockies at 7:20 p.m. When you purchase the specialty ticket package, you’ll receive a Braves/UGA co-branded stadium seat! Ticket packages are limited, order yours today!

Who's that coming down the track?! Football season is quickly approaching. We hope you will make plans to enjoy a tailgate buffet, live music and the camaraderie of the Terry College family before the Bulldogs take on the Vanderbilt Commodores between the hedges!  Registration opens September 1st.  

Be on the lookout in your mailbox and inbox for registration details next month.

As we welcome students back to campus for the beginning of another academic year, we are thankful to alumni and friends who support our mission of educating future business leaders each year. Your support of the Terry College opens doors for experiential learning opportunities, high-impact immersion programs, and continued program innovation. Please consider making a gift this fall to have a positive impact on Terry students, preparing them to lead and serve in their communities.

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