A mascot has been chosen for the university to be formed by the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College.

The Gainesville Times reports that nighthawks will be the mascot of the new University of North Georgia, which is to form in January.

North Georgia President Bonita Jacobs says selecting a new mascot to is important to build community at the new consolidated university.

The schools' current mascots are the Saints at North Georgia and the Fighting Geese at Gainesville State. Students were given three options for their new mascot: Golden Eagles, Nighthawks or Warriors. With 51 percent of the vote, Nighthawks was the clear winner.

A nighthawk is a bird indigenous to the North Georgia region that typically hunts at dusk and dawn.

Tags: University of North Georgia, Mascot, Nighthawks