Building Brighter Futures Together

Author: MGA Foundation
Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2026 12:00 AM
Category: Foundation

Macon, GA

L to R: MGA President Dr. Christopher Blake and Dr. Andrew Ollikainen, Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient; Mr. John Phillips, President Blake, and Mrs. John (Grace) Phillips, Legacy of Leadership Award recipients.

The 2026 President’s Gala is in the books—and what a night it was! Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration and our Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser a success.

An evening of this magnitude would not be possible without our sponsors. I encourage you to take a moment to recognize the businesses featured in this newsletter. Through their investments, they are helping us develop the skilled workforce our region needs while strengthening their own organizations and our broader community. Most importantly, they are helping change the trajectory of individuals and families through the power of education.

While numbers are not yet finalized, it appears to have been the most successful Gala in recent years! The Cochran community turned out in remarkable numbers to celebrate Grace and John Phillips, recipients of our Legacy of Leadership Award. Longtime leaders in Bleckley County, the Phillips have supported MGA for decades.

In accepting the award, John shared that his mother served for many years as librarian at what was then Middle Georgia College. He also spoke to MGA’s indispensable role in the Cochran community, highlighting the many MGA graduates who strengthen our public schools as educators. His remarks served as a powerful reminder that MGA’s impact extends far beyond our campuses, enriching the communities we serve for generations.

Our Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient, Andrew Ollikainen, offered another compelling perspective on that impact. He shared how MGA gave him his start as a pre-engineering student and how scholarships helped him along the way. After accepting his award, he reflected:

"Sometimes we think making a difference requires doing something enormous. My experience taught me otherwise. A scholarship doesn’t have to pay for an entire education to change someone’s trajectory. It might pay for a book, a class, transportation, or simply give a student enough breathing room to make it through one more semester."

John and Grace Phillips and Andrew Ollikainen reminded us, in deeply personal ways, why our Foundation’s work matters. Their stories reinforce a simple truth: philanthropy creates opportunities that can change lives, strengthen families, and benefit entire communities. We are grateful for the generosity that makes this work possible—and inspired to build on that impact.

Another October highlight was welcoming trustees of the New Jersey-based E. J. Grassman Trust to campus. For several years, Grassman has invested in our School of Computing, helping equip students for careers in a rapidly evolving field. During their visit, we toured the Computer Science Innovation Lab, where our guests saw firsthand the equipment their generosity helped provide. Perhaps the most meaningful part of the visit was hearing directly from three computer science students, who shared their experiences as IT majors. Their perspectives brought the impact of Grassman’s investment to life and underscored the importance of preparing our students to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world.

As we approach the final two months of 2026 and the holiday season, MGA is bustling with activity across our five campuses and online. This fall, our enrollment surpassed 10,000 students—a milestone that reflects the growing demand for the opportunities MGA provides. Your support of the Foundation helps students overcome financial barriers, persist toward graduation, and prepare for meaningful careers. Every gift helps make that possible.

Thank you for believing in MGA, investing in our students, and helping us build a brighter future for Middle Georgia.