News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5051 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE April 27, 2009

Dr. Eddie Seagle

ABAC PROFESSOR SELECTED FOR GOVERNOR’S AWARD

TIFTON - Dr. Eddie Seagle, professor of Agriculture and Environmental Horticulture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been chosen as this quarter’s recipient of the 2009 Governor’s Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service. Seagle will attend a ceremony at 9 a.m. on May 28 in Atlanta.

            The Governor’s Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service was established in 2006, along with the Office of Customer Service, that grew out of Governor Sonny Perdue’s goal for Georgia to have the best customer service of any state in the nation.

            The award was designed to recognize employees who go “above and beyond” while serving customers and demonstrating Georgia’s five customer service commitments – courteous, helpful, accessible, responsive, and knowledgeable.

            Seagle was nominated for the award for his outstanding service to ABAC and the state of Georgia for his work in taking eight ABAC students to China for a 15-day trip in March.  During the trip, Seagle and the students, who are all majoring in the new bachelor’s degree in Turfgrass and Golf Course Management at ABAC, taught classes for 32 Chinese golf course managers and 22 Chinese students interested in the turf industry. 

Diane Kilgore, ABAC’s Customer Service Champion and the Director of the Public Service and Business Outreach Center, nominated Seagle for the honor.

            “I think it’s an awesome award, and I am very appreciative to be a recipient,” Seagle said.   “My commitment to customer service has always been a top priority.”

            Seagle has been a member of the ABAC faculty for 32 years. He is a Regents Distinguished Professor for Teaching and Learning, received honorary American and Georgia FFA degrees and FFA’s Blue & Gold Award, and was named three times as an Outstanding Educator in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He was recently recognized as a BMI China professor through Golf China, Club Managers Association of America and Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.

            At ABAC, he advises the Turf and 4-H clubs, is the supervisor of the college’s golf course at Forest Lakes; has been a recipient of the ABAC Impact Award and the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. He is also co-author of the number one-ranked horticulture textbook in North America, now in its revised fourth edition.

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