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 July 7, 2009

FORMER COOK HIGH VALEDICTORIAN LOVES ATMOSPHERE AT ABAC

TIFTON—Alyssa Simmons has always had a history with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. So when she graduated from Cook High School as valedictorian in 2008, she knew exactly where she was heading.

“I had visited the campus many times to attend softball games and just loved the size,” Simmons said. “I come from a small town (Lenox), and I knew I wouldn’t survive on a big campus. ABAC is the perfect fit.”

Simmons received a Foundation Scholarship to attend ABAC as well as an athletic scholarship to play softball with the ABAC Fillies.

“It is awesome that I can receive a top notch education while being a part of an amazing college athletic program and still be close to home,” said Simmons.

The transition to college was not as rocky for Simmons as it is for some.

“I already knew my teammates,” Simmons said. “It is so easy to make friends here. The only real adjustment was learning where to go and what to do.”

Simmons’ activities reach out past the borders of ABAC. She is very active in her College and Career group at the Tift Avenue Church of God. Because of her involvement with the Church of God, she hopes to attend the denomination’s four-year institution, Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn.

“Because it is a Church of God school, I will be able to go on study abroad/mission trips overseas,” Simmons said. “If I could go anywhere through these trips, it would be either to Israel to experience the Holy Land or to the Ukraine to study education and get first-hand experience in student teaching.”

Her experiences at ABAC have reached their halfway point, and she has learned a lot in her first year here.

“While here, I have learned that I can handle an advanced course load, play a college sport, and still manage to make time for family and friends,” Simmons said. “ABAC has definitely prepared me to attend a four year university and one day to have a career while knowing that I will succeed.”

She plans to attain her B.S. in History and her M.S. in History Education.

“I would love to teach at the high school level and then hopefully at a college. Maybe even at ABAC,” said Simmons.

The deadline for applications for the fall term at ABAC is Aug. 1. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 17.

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