Calendar of Events

Monday, January 6

Today-New Student Orientation

7:00 p.m.-Basketball: Stallions vs. Seminole (Gressette Gym)

Tuesday, January 7

Today-Registration

Wednesday, January 8

Today-Spring Semester Classes Begin

Noon-Fit for Life (Magnolia Room)

5:30 p.m.-Basketball: Fillies vs. Andrew (Gressette Gym)

7:30 p.m.-Basketball: Stallions vs. Andrew (Gressette Gym)

Thursday, January 9

11:30 a.m.-Faculty/Staff Luncheon (Magnolia Room)

7:30 p.m.-Tifton-Tift Co. Chamber of Commerce Banquet (Dining Hall)

Friday, January 10

10:00 a.m.-Alumni Board Meeting (Alumni Office)

Saturday, January 11

8:00 a.m.-Southeastern GLRS Training (Cordell Conf. Room C)

Sunday, January 12

3:00 p.m.-HEP Orientation (Cordell Conf. Room A)

Monday, January 13

7:00 p.m.-Baldwin Player Auditions (Conger 319)

Nelson, Owens Win Donaldson Award

Reba Nelson of Tifton and Lisa Owens of Wales, United Kingdom, both received the highest honor presented to graduating students from Abraham Baldwin at the fall graduation ceremony. The ABAC Alumni Association presented both students with the George P. Donaldson Award for outstanding scholarship and leadership. The award includes a plaque and a check for $500. Donaldson served as president of ABAC from 1947-61.

A total of 105 students participated in the ceremony, which was presided over by ABAC President Mike Vollmer. Tifton businessman and Board of Regents member John Hunt served as the guest speaker.

Nelson, a liberal arts major, completed her studies at ABAC with a 3.63 GPA. She is now enrolled at Valdosta State University where she will major in English. Owens, a business administration major, completed her studies at ABAC with a 3.95 GPA. She first graduated from ABAC in May, 2001 with a one-year certificate in Business Information Technology and received her Associate of Science degree in Business Administration during the fall ceremony.

Continuing Ed at ABAC Tops in State

The 2002 annual report from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Activities indicates that Abraham Baldwin has exceeded every two-year college in the state in participants and number of programs offered.

According to Diane Kilgore, Director of ABAC’s Public Service and Business Outreach Center, a total of 19,419 people participated in 1,629 continuing education programs at ABAC last year.

In terms of programs offered, ABAC ranks third in the state among all 34 institutions in the University System of Georgia, finishing below the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University.

Chancellor Here Thursday

University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith will be the guest speaker at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the annual Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet in the Donaldson Dining Hall. Tickets are $25 each and are available by calling the Chamber office at 382-6200.

A native of Owensboro, Ky., Meredith served from 1977-1988 as president and professor of education at Western Kentucky University. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in social studies from Kentucky Wesleyan College, a master of arts degree in education administration and supervision from Western Kentucky, and a doctorate of education degree in administration and supervision with an emphasis in secondary and higher education from the University of Mississippi.

Spring Term Orientation Today

Orientation Coordinators Maggie Martin and Geoff Clement expect over 150 students to be on campus today for the spring term orientation. Kay Powell, Director of ABAC on the Square will be hosting registration tonight at 6 p.m. at ABAC’s Moultrie location. A full day of registration will be held on Tuesday in preparation for the first day of classes for the spring semester on Wednesday.

The spring term will extend through April 30. Final exams are set for May 1-2 and May 5. Graduation is scheduled for May 8 at 6 p.m.

The college will be officially closed on Jan. 20 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Spring break for students and faculty is scheduled for March 17-21.

Highlights of the semester include the President’s Club dinner on Feb. 24, the Winter Open Campus Day on Feb. 26, the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association basketball tournament for men and women here on March 5-8, the Peach State Stampede Rodeo on March 6-8, Homecoming on April 4-5, Honors Day on April 9, the Spring Open Campus Day on April 12, George Scott Day on April 15, and the annual fundraising event for the ABAC Foundation on May 9.

ACE Program Tuesday

A get acquainted session for the Adult College Entry (ACE) Program will be held Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Room 4 of King Hall. Evening and Off-Campus Director Gail Dillard said the purpose of the program is to involve adults who are interested in college, but have been away from the classroom setting. She said the ACE Program itself will be held for nine weeks beginning Jan.14 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

New Calling System January 16

Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Floyd Wright has announced that the college will change its long distance calling service effective Jan. 16. At that time the GIST system that we have used for several years will be discontinued. You will no longer need to dial the number 8 when dialing a long distance number. Simply dial 9, then 1 plus the area code and number. This policy will be in effect for any equipment involving a telephone line on campus.

Basketball Tonight

The Golden Stallions of Coach Robert Moore will take the Gressette Gym hardcourt tonight at 7 p.m. against Seminole. On Wednesday, the Fillies will be at home for a 5:30 p.m. game against Andrew, followed by a 7:30 p.m. matchup between the Stallions and Andrew. Come out and support ABAC basketball. At presstime, the Fillies were 8-1 on the year, and the Stallions were 4-7.

Alumni Board Here Friday

The officers and board of directors of the ABAC Alumni Association will meet in the Development/Alumni Office on Friday at 10 a.m. Please welcome these former students back to their alma mater.

Strickland Here Tuesday

Publications Specialist Helen Strickland will be here on Tuesday. For assistance with any publication needs you might have, give her a call at 3599. Her office is located in the Procurement Office on the second floor of Tift Hall.

Wild Adventures on the Way

Celebrating Birthdays

January

6 Bobby Mathis

7 Jean Hightower

9 Bryan Golden

9 Donna Hatcher

9 Ray Saxon

10 Kirby Ireland

10 Wayne Jones

11 Kenneth Baker

12 Hazel Purvis

12 Anita White

Jane Thompson from the Human Resources Office reports that Wild Adventures personnel will be at the J. Lamar Branch Student Center on Jan. 13 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to sell passes for 2003. The price will be $44.95 per person. This is $10 off the regular price. A parking pass will be available for $20.

Congratulations!

ABAC Family members Paul and Louise Foote are the proud parents of a new baby girl born on Dec. 24. Hannah Renee weighed in at 7 ½ pounds and was 20 inches long. Parttime Biology instructor Brittney Berckman had a bouncing baby boy on Dec. 13. The proud grandmother, Vickie Walker of the Humanities Division, reports that mom and baby are doing fine. Congratulations to all!

Care and Concern

Retired faculty member Dick Payne is recuperating after total knee replacement surgery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Notes of Sympathy

The ABAC Family expresses sympathy to Naomi Sims whose husband, Ernest, passed away on Dec. 10. Sympathy is also extended to Sherin Nixon whose sister, Renata Woods, passed away on Dec. 21.

Sympathy is also extended to the family of retired ABAC staff member Doris Sears who passed away on Dec. 7. She had served as Administrative Secretary to four ABAC presidents. Please keep all these families in your thoughts and prayers.

Turn in FOCUS Info

All information for this prized publication should be turned in to the Public Relations Office by noon on Thursdays. The FOCUS will appear in your boxes each Monday during the semester.

Notes of Thanks

Thank you to the ABAC Family for the beautiful plant, the many cards, prayers, warm wishes, and caring words when my husband, Mike, had surgery. I certainly feel blessed to be a part of ABAC.

Dr. Maggie Martin

I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers, concerns, and support during the recent hospitalization of my wife. Her surgery was successful, and she is now home recuperating. I really had my bout with family sickness last semester, but things are getting back to normal and I have the good people at ABAC to thank for that. Thank you everyone for all that you have done. I would not have made it without you. It is people like you that make coming to work worthwhile.

Thanks again,

Jewrell Rivers

Thank you for your prayers, cards of encouragement, and kind words during this difficult time surrounding my father’s death. I appreciate the beautiful plant. My mother will enjoy it and take comfort in the knowledge that you care. Your thoughtfulness will always be treasured. The ABAC Family is indeed a special group of people, and I am honored to know you. Again, thank you for reflecting God’s love through your concern and actions.

Sincerely,

Jim May

The National SAT was administered on Dec. 7 to 181 students. Thanks to Bernice Hughes, Phyllis Kester, Rita Wade, Annie Sims, Dr. Jonathan Harrington, Arlene Bailey, Margie Senkbeil, Ellen Resta, Bernice Corbin, Jack Larry, Scott Jackson, and Public Safety.

Dr. Maggie Martin

The National SAT was administered on Dec. 14 to 42 students from over 15 communities. Thanks go to Dr. Jonathan Harrington, Arleen Bailey, Bernice Corbin, and Public Safety.

Dr. Maggie Martin

ABAC Family

Shirley Wilson and Andrea Willis judged the All-Star Cheer tryouts for the Crisp County Recreation Center on Nov. 2.

Andrea Willis judged the Falcon Cheer Invitational at East Laurens High School in Dublin on Dec 7. She also taught line dancing to the Science Olympiad classes at Eighth Street Middle School on Nov. 8 and 22.

Dr. Maggie Martin administered the MELAB to 7 test takers and the UGA/Mercer School of Pharmacy non-traditional Ph.D. test to one student during December. She also provided a special administration of the Institutional SAT on Dec. 5.

Robin Poor visited Lyman Ward Military Academy, Dadeville High School, and Horseshoe Bend School in Tallapoosa County, Ala., on Dec. 2, Cherokee High School in Canton on Dec. 4, and Bremen High School in Haralson County on Dec. 12. She also attended Fayette County High School’s Junior Parent Night on Dec. 5 and represented ABAC at the FFA Career and Leadership Conference held in Covington on Dec. 6-7.