Four students at the University of North Georgia will begin their final academic year this fall by participating in the capstone year for the university's ROTC Chinese Language Flagship Program.
Hutch Crawford, a cadet from Dalton, majoring in international affairs and Chinese, looks forward to being more adept at Chinese than in his previous trips abroad.
"I'm really excited [to go back to China] now that my proficiency is a lot better," Crawford said. "I'm looking forward to spending 10 months there and hope to become part of the community and meet other local students to get a Chinese experience."
In addition to Crawford, the other UNG seniors chosen for the capstone year are:
Jaz Bridgeman, a cadet from Savannah, majoring in Chinese with a minor in leadership
Taylor Burgess, a student from Adairsville, majoring in Chinese with a minor in computer science
David Hagler, a student from Grayson, majoring in Chinese with a minor in business
UNG's Chinese Flagship Program is funded by the Defense Language National Security Education Office and is administered by the Institute of International Education. UNG's program is designed to provide intensive Chinese language and culture education in conjunction with ROTC requirements and is the only ROTC-designated Flagship Program in the nation. These students mark the fifth cohort to attend the capstone program since the program's inception in 2011.
