The Svonavecs’ commitment is a lasting legacy
Dr. Stephen Svonavec, Director of Commuter Campuses, and Dr. Kara Svonavec, Senior Lecturer of History, have dedicated more than a decade to supporting Middle Georgia State University. Stephen began his journey at MGA in 2005 as a history instructor on the Dublin Campus before being promoted to Campus Director in 2012. Kara joined the university in 2013 as a history instructor. Both are proud members of the President’s Gold Circle. Members of the President’s Gold Circle have donated more than $5,000 annually and demonstrate a strong and active commitment to Middle Georgia State University. They are the catalysts for progress, helping turn vision into reality.
The Dublin campus holds a special place in their hearts for two meaningful reasons. It is where Stephen and Kara met and later married. In fact, their wedding took place in a classroom—Dublin LIB 202—where Kara still frequently teaches. In 2024, this classroom was named the Smith Svonavec Classroom in recognition of their generous financial support of the Dublin Health Sciences Expansion.
Their connection to Dublin goes even deeper. As their academic home, the campus played a defining role in their decision to support its growth into a regional hub for health sciences. As they shared, "We always look for ways to support our campus and, more importantly, the students who attend classes here."
In 2018, the Svonavecs established the Ginny Svonavec and Janet Horn McDowell Memorial Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship honors Stephen’s mother, Ginny Svonavec, and Kara’s aunt, Janet Horn McDowell—two women who believed deeply in the transformative power of education. Although neither earned a college degree, both provided unwavering encouragement as Stephen and Kara pursued their academic goals.
"They taught us that even when times are really tough, it’s important to keep moving forward," the Svonavecs shared. Through this scholarship, they aim to help students overcome challenges and persist in their educational journeys. Since its founding, the scholarship has supported eight first-generation sophomores from the Dublin campus or Laurens County.
Though they do not have children of their own, the Svonavecs find great fulfillment in supporting the success of others. "We like to think that, in some way, we have helped other people’s children achieve their goals—and that this impact will continue long after we retire from MGA," they said.
When reflecting on what they hope future students will gain from their investment, they added, "Hopefully, they earn a degree from MGA! We’ve watched scholarship recipients walk across the Commencement stage, and we are always proud to know we played a part in their success."
Their own educational experiences also shaped their commitment to giving back. "Both of us received scholarships or grants at some point in our journey," they explained. "We understand the importance of that support, and it feels good to be able to provide it to today’s students."
The Svonavecs exemplify the deep commitment MGA faculty and staff have to the university and its students. Thank you, Kara and Stephen!