The University of North Georgia won the 2017 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence, an annual accolade recognizing positive campus and community engagement events. UNG was selected as one of 25 national finalists for its Operation Nighthawks of Honor initiative, which the university's athletics department announced on the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The initiative enables each of the university's sports teams to annually celebrate men and women of the military, paying specific tribute to service members who have a distinct connection to UNG.