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The University of North Georgia's (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) Oconee Campus won the Best Use of the Theme award for the second year in a row in the Watkinsville Christmas Parade.

The theme for the Dec. 1 parade was "Candyland Christmas."

Thomas Burson, groundskeeping supervisor for ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's Oconee Campus, built the float. He incorporated poles with directional signs for ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee campuses.

Faculty and staff on ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's parade committee made ornaments for the tree and decorations for the float and gingerbread house, as well as putting together a music playlist.

The Art Club, led by faculty member Stacy Koffman, made candy canes and gingerbread men, women and children.

"It's a lot of fun to come up with ideas and hear others' ideas and work together to make the float," Burson said.

Students walked along the route in pouring rain handing out candy.

"We're so pleased that our creativity and hard work were rewarded for the second year in a row with a Best Use of Theme prize," said Dr. Cyndee Perdue Moore, executive director for ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's Oconee Campus. "The best prize, of course, was the way faculty, staff, and students worked together from across all departments to bring our version of 'Candyland Christmas — ºìÁ«ÉçÇø edition' to life."