News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-4781 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE AUGUST 22, 2007

COLLINS TO SPEAK AT FALL CONVOCATION FRIDAY

TIFTON— An ABAC alumna honored by President George W. Bush will be the guest speaker for the annual freshman convocation ceremony at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Amber Davis Collins, ABAC Class of 1998, will speak at the 11:15 a.m. ceremony on Friday (Aug. 24) in Gressette Gym.

Bush presented Collins with the President's Volunteer Service Award in March of 2006 for her work with the Peace Corps, Hurricane Katrina response, and the Cool Girls, Inc. Collins’ work with Hispanic farmworker issues earned her a bronze medal award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005 and an Environmental Justice Award in 2007.

A native of Eton, Collins earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Georgia. As an undergraduate student, Collins interned at Escuela de Agricultura de la Región Tropical Húmeda (School of Agriculture for the Humid Tropical Region) in Costa Rica as a curriculum development specialist for teaching English through agricultural concepts.

In graduate school, she was awarded a College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences scholarship to study ecology in Brazil. Along with her Master’s Degree, Collins also earned a Certificate in International Agriculture.

Collins was also recognized with the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Young Alumni Achievement Award and the Atlanta Federal Executive Board Volunteer Service Award, both in 2006.

Collins now resides with her husband, Scott, in Smyrna. She is employed as a Life Scientist in the Pesticides Management Section of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Collins works with Hispanic farmworker issues, pesticide inspector training, and is a project officer for the state of North Carolina. Previously she served as a crop extension volunteer with the Peace Corps in Honduras. For the two years that she was there, Collins worked with women's groups to improve nutrition through crop diversification. Her experiences are chronicled in the book A Life Inspired: Tales of Peace Corps Service.

Following the convocation, the annual President’s Picnic, sponsored by ABAC President David Bridges, will be held outside the gym. The event also features wax hands, inflatables, and homemade ice cream.

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