Page 9 - AnnualReport_1-2

Scholar-Athletes Winning Preparing Students
at Work and Play for Today’s Job Market

Our successful history in athletics includes alumni playing baseball in According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, by
the year 2020, 60 percent of jobs in the state will require a post-second-
the major leagues, four Junior College National Championships, and 14 ary credential. Moreover, according to a study by Georgetown
University, employees with a baccalaureate degree earn 84 percent
Junior College World Series appearances before ascending to the more on average than those who only have a high school diploma.

four-year National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), where While the value of a credential is clear, employers consistently cite
the need for soft skills in today’s rapidly changing job market. To meet
we had a 2016 Baseball National Tournament appearance. The NAIA that need, we worked to turn Middle Georgia State's Career Services
approach to athletics is grounded in its Champions of Character office from an admittedly underused resource to an essential service for
program, which holds us accountable for putting the values of integrity, every student and alumni.

respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership into play.

Our Women’s Tennis team made it to the second round at the 2016 Career Services has organized four
NAIA National Championship, while the Men’s Team missed NAIA career fairs, with more to come. The
National Tournament by just one spot. And, our Club Football team won team has hosted at least one activity,
the national championship in the National Club Football Association such as Resume Review Day, on all five
(NCFA). campuses each month and recruited
area employers to conduct mock
Five of our Softball players earned • Baseball interviews with students to help them 6,143
year-end NAIA Southern States • Softball practice their skills.
Athletic Conference (SSAC) awards. • Basketball (men/women) student-employer
Women’s Soccer player Sam Silva • Soccer (men/women) While many of our students are the
was the 2015 CoSIDA Academic • Tennis (men/women) first in their families to go to college, connections
All-American, making both the 2015 • Volleyball (women)* others are non-traditional students
2nd Team All-Conference and the • Cross Country (women)* transitioning into new careers or made in 2015-16
President’s List (3.8-4.0 GPA) all of graduate programs. This makes the
last year. Meanwhile, our Men’s Soccer *starting in 2016-17 work of Career Services at once critical
team features players like Carlos to our students’ success, and incredibly
Sandoval-Blanco, a senior in the varied.
Honors Program who has made the
Dean’s List every semester for the Through MGA CareerLinks,
past two years and represents the employers can access resumes
Cochran Campus on the President’s of students and alumni. Matching
Torch Society. employer needs to student
experience and skills is an
Nearly one in five of our athletes ongoing service to employers
received NAIA academic awards last in search of talent.
year. In short, our teams are not just
winning on the field of play—they are
made up of hard-working scholar
athletes.

MGA students network with employers
at a Career Fair on the Macon Campus