Page 10 - MGATODAY-Spring2019

Making Connections

For most of MGA’s athletes, the Cochran
Campus is a homey setting for what feels like family.
“We’re like brothers and sisters,” said Johnathan
Barragan, 23, a senior majoring in psychology who
plays soccer for the Knights.
Trevone Sullivan of McDonough found an
unexpected connection to the Cochran Campus
when he first enrolled at Middle Georgia State. The
University athletics department had recruited him
to join the football club, and while he ultimately
decided not to play he ended up staying at MGA.
“Honestly, Middle Georgia State was just so
affordable that I couldn’t see going anywhere else,”
said Sullivan, 23, an aviation science and manage-
ment major.
As a freshman, Sullivan attended the fall club
fair and ended up meeting some members of BOLD
(Brothers of Leadership & Distinction), one of
the University’s most active and successful student
organizations. BOLD is designed to support African
American male students, who statistically are the
least likely to graduate from college, in various ways
that help them remain in school and earn degrees.
Sullivan later served as president of BOLD’s
Cochran Campus chapter. In addition, he attends
many of the Knights basketball, baseball, and
football home games and enjoys what he, like many
other students, calls MGA’s “family atmosphere.”
“It’s not too big or too small,” said Sullivan, who
lives in Regents Hall. “I can focus on my work and
also have fun.”
MGA’s expansion of academic and student life
in Cochran is paying off. After a modest decline
following consolidation, Cochran Campus
enrollment is up again. Fall 2018 saw a 6 percent
increase over the year before.
Arora, the associate provost, thinks the Cochran
Campus is just beginning to realize its post-
consolidation potential.
“The tremendous growth that has occurred
since our transition from the former Middle Geor-
gia College to Middle Georgia State University is
exciting and encouraging,” she said. “I am very opti-
mistic about the future of the Cochran Campus.” ■

10 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY