2024 Orientation Leaders
Nathan Duke | Wild One
Major: Marketing
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Americus, GA
Involvement: Greek Life; Student Government
UGA Bucket List: Cheer on the Dawgs from in the student section at Sanford Stadium.
Zoe Jordan | Turnt Two
Major: Int. Management Information Systems
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Barnesville, GA
Involvement: Greek Life; ELS Peer Leaders Program; PSO (Public Service and Outreach) Scholars Program; Georgia Ready Summer Institute; LEADS Fellow; UGA MathCounts; Xtension; Multicultural Services and Programs
UGA Bucket List: Eat at the Niche!
Valeria Suarez | Triple Threat
Major: Exercise and Sports Science
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Dacula, GA
Involvement: TRIO Ambassador; Shop with a Bulldog; UGA Bookstore; UGA Red-Hotz; Wesley Foundation; Athens Church
UGA Bucket List: Check out North Campus! Whether its ringing the Chapel Bell, taking a selfie in front of the Arch, or enjoying the beautiful fountain on Herty Field or the Founder’s Garden, there are so many beautiful places to check out.
Ali Talha | Fantastic Four
Major: Int. Finance and Int. International Business
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Powder Springs, GA
Involvement: Dawg Camp; Redcoat Band; Dean William Tate Honor Society; Muslim Student Association; Pakistani Student Association; Shop with A Bulldog
UGA Bucket List: Go find all the bulldog statues in Athens and stop at local establishments along the way. I have found that these statues are placed in key places around campus and the city. It is the best way to appreciate the city you are going to spend the next 4 years in.
Morgan Treece | Firework Five
Major: Int. Economics
Year: Rising 2nd Year
Hometown: Lake Barrington, IL
Involvement: Greek Life; UGA Red Hotz; Terry Women’s Initiative
UGA Bucket List: Go to all of the Welcome UGA events in the fall! Try to make friends in every situation that allows it! You truly never know who will be the people that change your life here at UGA. Some of my closest friends now are people that I would not have met if I did not make the effort to reach out to them.
Blake Witmer | Saucy Six
Major: Int. Public Relations
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Grayson, GA
Involvement: Student Government
UGA Bucket List: Go to all the dining halls (including the Niche). Trying all the amazing food provided to us by the amazing dining services is so fun. I know that after trying everything at every dining hall I knew what I loved and what I would pass on and it made my life easier when there was a lunch rush.
Katelyn Ruyter | Stellar Seven
Major: Int. Elementary Education
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Odenton, MD
Involvement: Double Dawgs
UGA Bucket List: If you’re able to, go to Jacksonville, Florida for the annual Florida v.s. Georgia game. Even if you can not get tickets, this is such a cool experience and a really fun time!
Luke Krohn | Epic Eight
Major: Ecology
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Athens, Ga
Involvement: Odum School of Ecology Student Ambassador Program, UGArden Club
UGA Bucket List: Go to the Winter Wonderlights at the Botanical Gardens with friends! It’s amazing to see all the lights and spend time with friends. Additionally, you can use campus transportation to get there!
Rayna Carter | Fine Nine
Major: Biology, Psychology, and Sociology
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Monroe, GA
Involvement: Student Government
UGA Bucket List: Take a selfie with Hairy Dawg!
Anna Edwards | Perfect Ten
Major: Communication Sciences & Disorders
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Pike County, GA
Involvement: Greek Life
UGA Bucket List: Snellebrating with your friends! The french toast sticks after midnight can’t be beat.
Alex Audrain | Elite Eleven
Major: International Affairs and Women’s Studies
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Involvement: Greek Life; Student Government; Study Abroad
UGA Bucket List: Ring the Chapel Bell! Find a reason to celebrate, big or small.
Kaylyn Contreras | Dynamite Dozen
Major: Elementary Education
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Hawkinsville, GA
Involvement: Double Dawgs; UGA Minorities in Education; Shop With A Bulldawg; UGA Miracle; Mary Frances Early College of Education Student Ambassador; Student Government; Hispanic Student Association; UGA Collegiate 4-H Member
UGA Bucket List: Sit with someone random in the dining hall; this could be your best friend! I speak from experience, I did this and now have my roommate and best friend all in one.
Praneet Venigalla | Thriving Thirteen
Major: Management Information Systems and Economics
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Rising 3rd Year
Involvement: Residence Life; Student Government
UGA Bucket List: While UGA football is great, I encourage you to check out one of our other 19 NCAA sports teams, whether it’s the swim team, the tennis team, the Gym Dawgs, or even the equestrian team.
Matthew Turnipseed | Fearless Fourteen
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Stockbridge, GA
Involvement: GAAME – Georgia African American Male Experience; CURO – Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities; Georgia Daze Minority Recruitment – Football Ambassador; BMLS – Black Male Leadership Society; Piedmont Athens Regional Volunteer
UGA Bucket List: When you’re cheering on the Dawgs in Sanford Stadium, stay until the 4th quarter for Krypton Fanfare and the iconic red stadium lights.
Caylin Payne | Feisty Fifteen
Major: Fashion Merchandising
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Canton, GA
Involvement: Dawg Camp Counselor; Fashion Design Student Association; Strike Magazine; The Agency; Rescue Paws
UGA Bucket List: Whenever their first fall semester is, I would recommend someone to put “North of the Arch” on their bucket list. It helped me and my friends figure out where many stores and places were in Downtown Athens when we just moved here. It was also such a bonding moment for my roommate and our friends!
Corey Jessop | Super Sixteen
Major: Biology
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Roswell, GA
Involvement: Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC); Undergraduate Research; Dawg Camp Counselor; Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA); Redcoat Marching Band; Lab Teaching Assistant
UGA Bucket List: Explore off-campus Athens and all the beautiful things it has to offer. Yummy food! Concerts! Parades! Farmer’s Markets! Local Artists! Running Races!
Jade Ward | Striking Seventeen
Major: Cellular Biology
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
Involvement: Greek Life
UGA Bucket List: Hands down, a must-have on a UGA new student’s bucket list is the legendary late-night breakfast at midnight at Snelling. When you’ve been sitting in the MLC for 5+ hours and caffeine is your only friend, there’s something memorable about the first night hitting up Snelling for breakfast at midnight. It’s like a rite of passage.
JJ Lazo | Electric Eighteen
Major: Political Science
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Auburn, GA
Involvement: TRIO Ambassador; Georgia Commitment Scholars
UGA Bucket List: One that that should be on a new student’s bucket list is definitely taking a bus or driving to the Health Science Campus and trying the Niche. Hands down one of the best experiences from a dining hall.
Swetha Pendela | Nonstop Nineteen
Major: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and International Affairs
Year: Rising 4th Year
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Involvement: Morehead Honors College; Chemistry Learning Assistant; Shop with a Bulldog; UGA HERO; Prelude Dance Company; UGA Science Olympiad; UGA Perfect Pair
UGA Genetics Club
UGA Bucket List: Show off your silliest dance moves or your biggest Dawg spirit to get on the jumbotron at Sanford Stadium.
Sam Ruona | Timeless Twenty
Major: Political Science
Year: Rising 3rd Year
Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA
Involvement: Resident Assistant; Student Government
UGA Bucket List: Go to one football game and really play into the vibe, even if you aren’t the biggest football fan. There is really nothing like a Saturday in Athens.