University of North Georgia athletics announces 2015 Hall of Fame class

DAHLONEGA -- The University of North Georgia department of athletics is honored to announce the five outstanding individuals who will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at a luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Those individuals include Jason Elkins ('02), Courtney Hester Dwyer ('02), Irina Watkins ('06), Jimmy Williams ('89) and Beth Willis Burke ('05).<br /> <br /> The induction ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the university's Dining Hall Banquet Room. Tickets are available for $45 per person, or a table of eight for $500, with guests encouraged to reserve by phoning 706-864-3212 or online at ungalumni.org/HOF.<br /> <br /> The induction ceremony will precede a Peach Belt Conference basketball doubleheader against Montevallo set to tip off at 1:30 p.m., in Memorial Hall. The UNG Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2015 will be recognized alongside the 17 previous inductees at halftime of the women's game.<br /> <br /> "Our annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony is one of our most anticipated events of the year," North Georgia Athletic Director Lindsay Reeves said. "Our fifth annual class brings great honor and pride to the University with their distinguished achievements and we are pleased to be able to recognize these five former student-athletes who have contributed so greatly to the lasting legacy of North Georgia Athletics."<br /> <br /> Jason Elkins was a primary reason that the North Georgia baseball program saw early success when it was reinstated as an intercollegiate offering in the early 2000's. He earned NAIA All-America honors in '02 and is North Georgia's single season (17) and career (40) saves leader. The two-time All-Conference selection made a record 95 appearances and holds the mark for lowest season ERA (1.32) and career ERA (1.58). Elkins currently lives in Cumming and works as a voice actor.<br /> <br /> Women's basketball standout Courtney Hester Dwyer made her legacy as a three-time All-American, including twice being named as a first team Kodak All-American. She was named All-Conference in each of the three seasons that she represented North Georgia, including being named the league's Freshman of the Year in '00. Hester Dwyer is a member of the 1,000-point club and still holds the school record for career scoring average (23.4 ppg). She currently teaches Special Education and coaches cross country at Johnson High School in Gainesville.<br /> <br /> Women's cross country runner Irina Watkins is the only person in the history of the Peach Belt Conference to earn a championship at two different schools (North Georgia and Kennesaw State). At North Georgia, she was crowned the '05 PBC champion with a 5K time of 17:53. Watkins is a two-time NAIA Region XIII Champion and represented North Georgia at the 2004 NAIA National Championship where she finished 36th with a time of 18:39. She is currently working as North American Sales Support for a Finnish LED lighting company.<br /> <br /> Jimmy Williams is one of the all-time greats in North Georgia men's basketball history. He led the Saints to four consecutive postseason conference tournaments from '86 to '89 and scored 561 points during his senior season (18.7 ppg). Williams averaged a double-double (points and rebounds) for his entire four-year career, and is believed to be the only North Georgia men's basketball player to accomplish the feat. He is employed as the assistant principal and head boy's basketball coach at East Lauren High School in Dublin.<br /> <br /> Beth Willis Burke made her mark in the softball pitching circle from '02 to '05 highlighted by earning NAIA All-American status in her final season. She is a three-time All-Conference and All-Region (NAIA) selection and was voted as the league Pitcher of the Year in '04 and '05. Willis Burke remains the program's combined shutout record holder with 20 and holds the opponent single-season batting average record (.139, '03). She works as a Lead Business Analyst at Connecture, Inc.<br /> <br /> The UNG Athletics Hall of Fame honors individuals who have earned outstanding athletic achievement or made substantial contributions to the university. A nine-member Board of Directors is responsible for operations of the Athletics Hall of Fame and serves as selectors for all honorees, based upon nominations.<br /> <br /> Single game tickets for the Hall of Fame Basketball doubleheader against Montevallo are available the day of the game at the main entrance to Memorial Hall Gym. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for youth and free to all UNG faculty and students with valid UNG ID.

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