News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE MAY 18, 2007

SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED IN HONOR OF EUNICE MIXON

TIFTON – Future teachers can get a financial boost toward their college education thanks to a new Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College scholarship in honor of longtime educator Eunice Mixon.

The Eunice Lastinger Mixon Scholarship endowed by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) is a scholarship for future teachers. Mixon served on the GSFC Board of Commissioners for 23 years, as well as serving on over 15 other boards in the educational, business, and political fields.

The GSFC Board of Commissioners held a reception for Mixon to announce the scholarship on Friday in the Pattie Garrett Clark atrium of the ABAC Health Sciences Building.

“At GSFC, Eunice Mixon is truly a beloved institution," said Tim Connell, President of the Georgia Student Finance Commission. "Miss Eunice served on our Board for 23 years, longer than any other Board member. Through those years, all of us at the Commission came to rely on her wisdom and perspective, as well as her trademark humor.

“She is absolutely committed to providing financial aid to Georgia students who want to continue their educations beyond high school, and her leadership and dedication have helped generations of Georgia students pursue their higher education dreams."

The scholarship is designed for ABAC students who are in the Social Science Education Preparatory program. They must be residents of Georgia and maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

“We are very excited about this scholarship,” said Missy Hutto, ABAC Foundation Development Resources Coordinator. “The college only has two education-related scholarships at present so it is especially exciting for ABAC’s future teachers.”

Mixon attended ABAC before transferring to Norman College and then on to Valdosta State College, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She taught science in the Tift County School System for 30 years. She was also an ABAC instructor, teaching human anatomy and biology classes.

She has been active in politics for the last 30 years. Mixon planted her political roots as the Tift County campaign chairman for George Busbee in 1974. Since then, she has been an active voice in the Georgia Democratic Party, serving on the Democratic Party State Committee and as a delegate to the 1988 National Democratic Convention.

The Georgia House of Representatives has named her one of the 25 distinguished Georgia women for the 21^st century, along with Coretta Scott King and Rosalyn Carter.

Hutto said that interested persons who would like to support the Mixon Scholarship may do so by sending a contribution to The ABAC Foundation, ABAC 13, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton, GA 31793.

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