When Light the Way: The Campaign for Earned Achievement concluded on Dec. 31, 2025, it marked the triumphant end of a defining chapter for UNCG. With the support of 26,684 donors, the campaign raised $266,186,027 for the University – surpassing its initial goal by more than 33% to become the most successful campaign in UNCG’s history.
That success is already making its mark. By Spring 2026, more than 1,000 students had received scholarships created through the campaign, and thousands more will follow in the years to come.
Like the splash of a pebble, Light the Way’s impact continues to ripple outward to strengthen families, community members, employers, and the region itself.
“This campaign reflects the grit and determination of our University community,” says Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. “Launched amid a pandemic and sustained through significant headwinds in higher education, we remained nimble, steadfast, and focused on our mission. Our community, including our corporate partners, stood with us because they understand that the success of UNCG is deeply connected to the prosperity of the Triad.”
That connection is measurable. UNCG generates more than $1 billion in economic impact across the Piedmont Triad. Ranked No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report, UNCG also continues to create a ladder to greater opportunity for current students and those who follow them.
See The Impact
Next stop: Dental school
One alumni conversation changed everything. Through UNCG’s Student Leadership Program, Malachi Ward connected with dentist Jamel McDuffie ’93, an opportunity that led to an internship and a clear path toward dental school.
Future in Dance
A $1 million gift from alumna Mary Jean Pyatt ’49 is transforming opportunities for dance students at UNCG. The inaugural Pyatt Scholars are now beginning their own artistic journeys, supported by a scholarship rooted in a lifelong devotion to dance and education.
Fulfilling a Dream
Candy Chambers’ dream of becoming a teacher started in childhood—and took years of perseverance to reach. With support from the Eloise N. Eller 1965 Scholarship in Education, this first‑generation Spartan is graduating and preparing to be the kind of teacher who changes lives.
Evensons fund educators
The largest gift in UNCG’s history will transform its School of Education and elevate Jewish Studies.
Music Makers
Connie Kotis ’65, ’77 MM, ’25 LittD (Hon) and her husband, Bill, have stood by this University for more than four decades.
Theater Troupers
Charlene Moskal-Burges, a 1961 graduate of Woman’s College, spent her life uplifting the arts.
A Week at the G captures both everyday life and once-in-a-lifetime events. This spring, UNCG celebrated the record-breaking Light the Way campaign.
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This Spartan’s next stop? Dental school
Sometimes alumni connections can give an aspiring health care worker the perfect boost to propel them into their careers. UNC Greensboro’s Health and Human Sciences Student Leadership Program prepares undergrads for success after graduation. It does this through a variety of leadership,…
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UNCG alumnus is creative leader of The Pyrle
A new live-performance venue in Greensboro has a Spartan connection. In February, the much-anticipated space opened in the South Elm Street building formerly occupied by Triad Stage. Its name – The Pyrle –…
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Alumnus directs Raleigh museums
For Ernest Dollar ’93, director of museums for the City of Raleigh, the way to engage visitors is to make history personal. “I can tell you facts about the Battle of Gettysburg, but…
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Every Commencement, I’m reminded that the moment a Spartan tosses their cap into the air is more than a celebration, it’s a beginning. It marks the point where potential meets direction, and where the experiences, mentorship, and opportunities found at UNCG begin to take shape as purpose.
I was struck by this recently while listening to three seniors from the Bryan School of Business and Economics reflect on their journeys. They arrived on campus as talented students, but like many, they were still exploring what their futures might hold.
Through programs like the Bryan School’s Blueprint Series, that exploration became intention. What started out
as curiosity and promise evolved into goal-oriented preparation for their careers, guided by hands-on experiences and real-world skills that set them apart from friends at other schools.
This kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident. It is made possible by a community of supporters who invest in our innovative programs that help drive our students’ success. As we celebrate the impact of the Light the Way campaign, in this issue and beyond, I’m reminded that when Spartans cross the stage to take their well-earned diplomas and toss their caps in the air, their accomplishments
are a source of pride for all of us.
FRANKLIN D. GILLIAM, JR.
CHANCELLOR
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Career retrospective of Spartan sculptor James Barnhill
James Barnhill ’82 MFA first sculpted the human form while a UNC Greensboro graduate student, learning from esteemed artists on the UNCG faculty. Barnhill’s career as a sculptor, with works prominent in Greensboro and…
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Greensboro’s Dance Project sparked by Spartans
Dance is continuous motion, and the Spartan-led Dance Project has continuously led dance programming at the NC Folk Festival from the start. Anne Morris ’11 MFA studied dance at UNCG under Jan Van…
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The Studio: Arts at UNCG
In Fall 2025, UNCG Magazine celebrates students, alumni, and faculty of the performing arts. • Before landing his starring role in the HBOMax series “The Pitt,” a hyper-realistic drama set in a Pittsburgh emergency…