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Maryann Bates                                           Carlee Simmons

                                                       Maryann Bates

              Maryann Bates

students,” said Mallory Miller, an admissions          operated by a student organization; for the past
recruiter for MGA. “As a recruiter, I feel that it is  two years, that organization has been the Gay-
important not only for me to share information         Straight Alliance.
about the University but to be actively involved in    	 “Getting to work with my fellow students and
the community representing MGA.”                       represent the University on the race track was
	 Now in its third year, the Gravity Racing            awesome. I really enjoyed it,” said GSA President
Challenge has expanded to include high schools         DeMarcus Beckham, “and the food trucks.”
from Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Jones, Laurens,        	 Experiential Learning@MGA, the University’s
Macon-Bibb, Monroe and Twiggs counties.                experiential learning program, even found a way
	 “When you race down the hill, you get                to further MGA’s connection to the derby this
tunnel vision like riding a motorcycle,” said James    year.
Mann, a senior at Westside High School. “It’s an       	 “More than a dozen MGA undergrads worked
exciting environment where you can meet others,        with regional high school race teams to support
get pumped up and compete but also admire the          build days and educate students about STEM
other teams’ art and soapbox cars.”                    careers and STEM programs at MGA,” said
	 Race teams from participating high schools           Experiential Learning@MGA director Chris Tsavatewa.
build and maintain their derby cars as a part of       “Those students earned Experiential Learning
their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering           designation.”
and Mathematics) curriculum. This year more            	 Middle Georgia State and the Magnolia Soap
than 250 regional high school students                 Box Derby have enjoyed this STEM educational
participated in the race.                              collaborative for three years and look forward to
	 The University has an official MGA derby car         continuing it next year at the 10th anniversary of
that runs in the Professional Class. MGA’s car is      the derby.

Spring 2017	                                                          MGA TODAY 21
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