Connecting, Creating, and Celebrating UGA’s Campus Community
Shevlin Harley, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Lamar Dodd School of Art, English and Art, 2nd year undergraduate
Dawg Days is an innovative platform designed to foster friendships, creativity, and tradition-building within the University of Georgia (UGA) community. This project aims to connect UGA students—whether local or from out of state—by offering opportunities for them to engage in campus events, create new traditions, and interact with one another in meaningful ways. Drawing inspiration from UGA’s rich history and the vibrant culture of Athens, Dawg Days blends technology, creativity, and community-building into a dynamic platform for social and cultural engagement.
At its core, Dawg Days is both a mobile app and a website designed to help students find, create, and attend a variety of events based on their personal interests. Whether you’re into music, art, sports, or simply looking for a way to meet new people, the app and website provide an easy-to-navigate event calendar featuring everything from UGA traditions like the Dawg Day Parade and Game Day Tailgates to smaller, student-led meetups in local Athens cafés or parks. Students can RSVP, sign up for events, and get notifications to stay up to date with what’s happening on and off-campus.
A unique feature of the app is the “Event Canvas,” an interactive space where students can see upcoming events, interact with visuals that reflect the creative energy of Athens, and even join events based on shared interests. For those without the app, the Dawg Days experience remains highly accessible. Physical Dawg Days booths around campus, QR codes on posters and flyers, and an event calendar on the website make it easy for students to participate in the UGA community—no app required.
Dawg Days also serves as a platform for creating new traditions. Students can propose their own ideas for new campus events or initiatives, engage with others to bring these ideas to life, and vote on which ones should become a part of UGA’s culture. By encouraging students to shape campus life, Dawg Days empowers them to leave their mark on UGA’s rich history.
In addition to fostering new traditions, Dawg Days emphasizes long-term friendship-building. The app
includes features like interest-based matchmaking, speed-friending events, and a friendship tracker that shows how connections grow through shared experiences. Whether through casual meetups or seasonal events like the Fall Pumpkin Festival or Spring Picnic, Dawg Days provides plenty of opportunities for students to bond, create lasting memories, and cultivate friendships that will last beyond their time at UGA.
By seamlessly integrating UGA’s campus culture, the arts of Athens, and technology, Dawg Days is a celebration of what makes UGA special—its students, traditions, and vibrant community. Whether you’re a freshman, a transfer student, or a graduate student, Dawg Days is the space where friendships are rooted, and UGA’s culture is made.