T he Georgia College Middle Georgia Alumni Chapter will hold its first event of the year May 22, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Fall Line Brewing Company in Macon. Some of the proceeds will go towards the creation of a scholarship for Georgia College students living in the middle Georgia region.

“Our goal for the event is for alumni in the area to come together, network and support small businesses in Macon,” said Middle Georgia Alumni Chapter President Joseph “Tyler” Kemp, ’13. “We hope to raise about $10 per ticket purchase to go towards a scholarship.”  

The chapter will also hold a get-together for the Macon Bacon game July 15. Refer to a future issue of eConnection for event details.

The chapter formed in summer 2019. Its kick-off event was held at Just Tap’d, also in Macon, which boasted an ample attendance.

The chapter planned events in 2020, but due to the COVID Pandemic, they were canceled. It hosted a virtual networking event last year which yielded a low turnout. However, the chapter is excited about its May 22 event and to have the opportunity to gather with its community in a safe, outdoor area.

This year, the chapter is also planning for a Macon Bacon Baseball game July 15, Macon Mayhem Hockey game, Halloween events and some philanthropic events. These events and more will take place over the summer and during Alumni and Homecoming Weekends.

Chapter leaders are also open to ideas of how to bring in more middle Georgia alumni.

Kemp formed the organization for Georgia College graduates to network with fellow alumni. The counties covered include: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Laurens, Houston, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Washington and Wilkinson Counties.   

“There are a lot of alumni in Middle Georgia who don’t realize there are fellow Georgia College alumni around them,” he said. “It’s really formed to help establish the transitioning students in the area. So, students who’ve moved from Macon or Warner Robins may not really know anyone. Here, they can meet fellow Bobcats to gain friendships.” 

The chapter started by using Facebook to gain interest of other alumni. 

“Once we met and created this interest page, we had over 100 alumni within 72 hours join this group,” he said. “Today, we have 205 members on our page.”

The goal for the May event is to reintroduce the chapter’s leadership and let everyone know what the plans are for the year including the creation of the Middle Georgia Chapter Scholarship Fund for local students. Kemp encouraged input from alumni to gage interest in participating on its subcommittees to help with community needs or alumni events, such as the golf tournament to be held during Alumni Weekend to raise funds for the scholarship.

The chapter’s goal is to raise $10,000 as soon as possible to establish an endowed scholarship. 

“All four of us on the leadership team donated up to $500 to create this scholarship fund,” Kemp said. “There’s a need for student scholarships, especially, now with the COVID pandemic. We’re all working in this area too, so we all understand there’s a need.”

Kemp received the Pell Grant to have the opportunity to go to Georgia College during the recession, as his parents were unemployed during that time. In addition, he was involved in a work-study program working as a monitor at the Centennial Center.

“Without that grant and the work-study program, I would’ve never had the opportunity to attend college, because my parents didn’t have any money to give me,” he said. “I received that scholarship to get to Georgia College and become established to where I could get a job and make extra money. If I never had those extra funds up front, then I wouldn’t have had those roots and be able to say, ‘I’m established here.’”

Chapter leaders look forward to raising funds for the scholarship.

“I think a lot of people in Middle Georgia don’t go to college,” Kemp said. “We want this scholarship to create an awareness about Georgia College and hope to be able to give back to the people who really need it.”

See how you can support the Middle Georgia Alumni Chapter Scholarship. To learn more about the Middle Georgia Alumni Chapter, contact Tre' Johnson at trejuan.johnson@gcsu.edu.