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 9, 2009

ATKINSON COUNTY VALEDICTORIAN FIRST IN FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE

TIFTON—Leandra Gonzales, the 2008 valedictorian at Atkinson County High School, had always wanted to go to college. She just didn’t know how to go about it. That is, until representatives from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College paid a visit to her school talking about the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).

“They convinced me to come to ABAC,” Gonzales said. “I really like the small town feel of the campus.”

Because of the CAMP program, the Willacoochee native became the first person in her family to attend college. Her sister, Melissa, who graduated this spring, will be the second when she attends ABAC when classes begin on Aug. 17.

“The CAMP program has helped me so much. And I love the helpfulness of the staff and faculty. Hopefully Melissa will get into the program as well,” said Gonzales.

CAMP assists migrant first-year college undergraduates.  The program provides funds for tutoring, counseling, assistance with special admissions, and some financial assistance to enable migrant youth to successfully complete their first year of post-secondary education.  Students also receive assistance with securing financial aid resources to help with the remainder of their undergraduate academic careers.

At ABAC, Gonzales is a tutor, works at the campus information center, and is in the Honors Program. She also does community service with the Girl Scouts of America through the Honors Program at ABAC.

“I really like the honors classes,” Gonzales said. “It’s like a learning community because we in the program have all been friends for a year.”

Gonzales represented the ABAC freshman class at the annual convocation ceremony last fall when she spoke on behalf of over 1,000 freshmen at the beginning of the fall term.

The determined scholar is taking a full course load this fall, with each class pertaining to her computer science major. She will graduate with her associate’s degree in the spring of 2010.

Gonzales plans to further her academic career by attaining her bachelor’s degree in computer science.

The deadline for applications for the fall term at ABAC is Aug. 1.

###