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 MARCH 24, 2008

Homecoming Centennial Celebration April 3-5

TIFTON – Fireworks, reunions, and special entertainment will highlight the Centennial Celebration on April 3-5 at the 2008 Homecoming at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

ABAC began celebrating its 100^th birthday at Homecoming 2007 on March 31, 2007, and the celebration will continue through 2008.  The Centennial Celebration Week on Feb. 18-22 included a tribute on Feb. 20, marking the first day of class for the first students at the original Second District A&M School on Feb. 20, 1908.

Director of Alumni Relations Nancy Coleman said this year’s Homecoming will have something for all alumni and friends of the college.

“We wanted to go all out for the 100^th birthday,” Coleman said.  “I have already had a lot of people from several different states tell me this is the year they are coming back to the campus.”

Coleman said all the events are aimed at friends of the college as well as alumni.  Except for the meal functions, all the events are free of charge.

Activities begin on April 3 with a Golden Anniversary Dinner for the Classes of 1957-59 and another Homecoming Dinner for the Classes of 1951-52.   On April 4, the annual Golden Alumni luncheon will be held in Gressette Gym, and reunions are scheduled all afternoon. 

Also on April 4, the annual Candlelight Remembrance Service will be held in the Chapel, and a Homecoming Dinner and Sock Hop featuring the music of “Starbound” will be held in Gressette Gym beginning at 7 p.m.

ABAC President David Bridges will update all Homecoming attendees on the state of the college at 10:30 a.m. during the annual awards ceremony on April 5 in Howard Auditorium.  A day-long series of events on April 5 will also include an ABAC baseball doubleheader, a horticulture club plant sale, a special birthday luncheon in Gressette Gym and a History of ABAC video presentation at 2 p.m. in Howard Auditorium.

Merriment at the Lake at 4 p.m. on April 5 will provide fun and games for children of alumni and friends on the shores of Lake Baldwin.  A picnic dinner begins at 6 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by the Jukebox Saturday Night Musical Revue.  Fireworks cap off the weekend at 8:30 p.m. over Lake Baldwin.

Persons attending the picnic should bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.  In the event of rain, the children’s activities will be cancelled and the picnic and show moved to Gressette Gym.  The fireworks will still be held over Lake Baldwin.

Coleman said other groups planning reunions during the Homecoming weekend include the Baptist Student Union, Family and Consumer Sciences, athletics teams, and former faculty and staff of the college.

For more information about the Centennial Celebration Homecoming, interested persons can contact the alumni office at (229) 391-4900 or visit the alumni web site at http://www.abac.edu/alumni/homecoming/2008/schedule.htm.