Your impact in action: graduates, growth, and generosity
Greetings as we approach Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial gateway to summer!
May has been a jubilant month at MGA, as some 800 students celebrated graduation and became members of our growing alumni association. Commencement ceremonies are undoubtedly the pinnacle of our work — representing the culmination of years of dedication and sacrifice, and the beginning of lives filled with promise and possibility.
Many of you reading this newsletter help pave the way to these achievements through scholarships, emergency assistance, academic support, student engagement experiences, and more. Thank you for the meaningful role you play in our students’ success. We hope you enjoy the inspiring donor spotlights within this newsletter, highlighting the ways generosity and a passion for higher education continue to transform lives.
This May was especially meaningful because MGA awarded its first honorary doctorate degrees, among the highest distinctions a university can bestow. The Honorary Doctor of Public Administration degree was conferred upon Larry Walker Jr. of Perry, former majority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, and Robert F. Hatcher Sr. of Macon, a distinguished banking executive and influential leader in educational and economic development.
Walker and Hatcher both served on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, where they championed the consolidation of Middle Georgia College and Macon State College. They recognized the tremendous potential of our newly merged institution and helped shape the vision for what would become Middle Georgia State University.
The awarding of honorary doctorates is a proud and prestigious university tradition. It is especially fitting that MGA conferred its first such honors during the institution’s 10th anniversary year, recognizing two extraordinary public servants whose leadership and advocacy have left a lasting impact on our university and the region we serve.
We are also excited to share that the MGA Foundation recently awarded the first scholarships made possible through a partnership with the Delta Air Lines Foundation, supporting Clayton County public high school graduates as they begin pursuing careers in aviation. Five students attending MGA’s School of Aviation received the inaugural awards. These scholarships are part of a larger $2.5 million commitment from the Delta Air Lines Foundation to MGA announced last year. This endowed scholarship program is designed to help build a pipeline of Clayton County students interested in careers as pilots and aviation professionals.
We wish you a safe and happy summer ahead.