The impact of your generosity endures
February brought immense joy and celebration to MGA through the Coach Robert Sapp Baseball Reunion, held February 7 at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Organized by MGA Athletics and Alumni Relations, the evening reunited 70 former Warriors — along with friends and family — who played under Coach Sapp. Alumni traveled from as far as California and Texas to honor the coach who shaped not only their athletic careers, but their lives.
From 1976 to 1996, Coach Sapp built a baseball powerhouse at Middle Georgia College. His teams captured four national championships, made 12 appearances at the JUCO World Series, and secured 11 consecutive state titles. Many of these Cochran student-athletes advanced to professional baseball, with several reaching the Major Leagues.
For the reunion, Athletic Director Michael Brown proudly displayed the national championship trophies, while Coach Sapp shared treasured photo albums and scrapbooks from those remarkable years. The evening was more than a reunion — it was a testament to mentorship, discipline, camaraderie, and lifelong bonds forged on the field.
When Middle Georgia College and Macon State College merged and gave form to Middle Georgia State University, red and blue blended into purple, and the Warriors and Blue Storm united as the Knights. Yet the spirit and legacy of Warriors baseball remain deeply woven into our institution’s identity — a legacy that continues to inspire our student-athletes as they compete in the Peach Belt Conference at the NCAA Division II level.
While we are only two months into our new Foundation year, the University is already just weeks away from celebrating the completion of another remarkable academic year. Time moves quickly — but the impact of your generosity endures.
Thanks to you, during the 2025–26 academic year we awarded 640 privately funded scholarships to deserving students. Behind each of those scholarships is a story — a first-generation college student finding confidence, a future nurse preparing to serve our communities, a pilot training for the skies, a leader discovering purpose.
In 2025 alone, we received 2,900 gifts from 1,838 unique donors. Each gift, regardless of size, represents belief in our students and in the mission of Middle Georgia State University. On behalf of our students and faculty, thank you for investing in their success.
Strong foundations are sustained by strong leadership. This year, the MGA Foundation Board of Trustees welcomes four new members:
- Steve Daugherty, CEO of Piedmont Macon
- Sara Kolbie, Executive Director of the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber Community Foundation
- Henry Oliner, retired President of General Steel Company
- Stuart Walker, Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Appellate Division for the Middle District of Georgia
We extend heartfelt gratitude to Trustees Kathy Allgood and Rudell Richardson as they concluded their service at the end of 2025. We also thank Robbo Hatcher, who completed his two-year term as Board Chair and passed the gavel to Casey Paulk for 2026–2027, while continuing his service on the Board.
Our trustees are more than advisors — they are advocates, ambassadors, and generous philanthropists. Their commitment to higher education and to the distinctive role MGA plays as a public state university serving our region strengthens our ability to transform lives.
As Spring approaches — a season of growth and new beginnings — we are energized in our mission to open doors of opportunity, empower student achievement, and steward your generosity with care and accountability. Thank you for believing in our students and in the enduring promise of Middle Georgia State University.