From Opportunity to Legacy: The Ollikainens create a legacy for engineering students
Dr. Andrew C. Ollikainen and Mrs. Stephanie Ollikainen, proud MGA alumni, continue to make a lasting impact on future engineers through their generosity and personal story of perseverance. Andrew began his journey at Middle Georgia College, earning his AS in Engineering in 2003 before transferring to Georgia Tech. Today, he is an engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation. Stephanie, a 2011 MGA graduate, is the owner of Tactical Aesthetics, a successful boutique skincare studio.
Inspired by the opportunities that shaped their lives, the Ollikainens established the Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Ollikainen Engineering Pathways Scholarship in 2021 to support nontraditional students in the Regents Engineering Pathway Program. Their scholarship has already supported more than 29 students, helping future engineers follow the same path that once transformed their own lives.
Andrew is also an alumnus of the Association of Old Crows Scholarship and recalls that a $500 Dixie Crow Club scholarship allowed him to stay in school during a critical moment. Today, he and Stephanie pay it forward by helping engineering students.
The Ollikainens share heartfelt encouragement for future engineers:
"Progress doesn’t have to be perfect to count… steady effort matters."
"If the path feels uncertain, it usually means you’re doing something that matters. Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep moving forward. We’re rooting for you!"
Above all, they remind students:
"Where you start doesn’t determine where you can end up."
MGA Foundation sincerely thanks Dr. and Mrs. Ollikainen for their continued support, generosity, and commitment to our students. Their impact will be felt for generations.