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 JULY 25, 2008

FIVE ABAC PLAYERS SELECTED FOR ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA STATUS

TIFTON-Five student athletes at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College have been selected for Academic All-America status by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

Natalie Barber, a medicine major from Tifton, Casslin Couch, a biology major from Tifton, Chelsea Nash,a psychology major from Fitzgerald, and Ester Howell,an English major from Columbus, for the women's soccer team and Brazzle Young, a criminal justice major from Elberton, for the golf team were named for the prestigious honors because of their superior academic standing.

ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer said the athletes deserved special recognition because of their extra effort, both on the field and in the classroom.

"All these students are extremely dedicated to their sport but as this award shows, they are also committed to the academic side of their college careers," Kramer said. "Playing sports is fun but the real reason these students come to college is to get a great education."

To make the Academic All-America team, the students had to participate in at least one season at the varsity level, maintain a grade point average of

3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours, and complete at least three semesters at the college.

Young and Howell received special recognition as Distinguished Academic All-Americans since they both had above a 3.8 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours.

Classes begin for the fall term at ABAC on Aug. 18.

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