News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5051 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE April 15, 2009

OLGUIN WINS TOP ACADEMIC AWARD AT ABAC HONORS DAY

TIFTON— Hector Olguin, an engineering major from Ty Ty, was named the top academic student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at Wednesday’s Honors Day ceremony.

Olguin received the J. G. Woodroof Scholar Award, given annually to the student who is recognized in a proclamation by the Georgia General Assembly. Woodroof was president of ABAC from 1933-34. Each of the 35 units of the University System of Georgia select a top student as the Academic Recognition Day Student of the Year.

Olguin also received the discipline award in Physics from the School of Science and Mathematics. During his time at ABAC, Olguin has recorded a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Also during the ceremony, Awards of Distinction were presented to the students with the greatest overall positive impact in each school of study, both academically and through college service.

Award of Distinction winners for each school included School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tim Rutland, a forest technology major from Lenox; School of Business, Frank J. Jones, a business administration major from Tifton; School of Health Sciences, Collette L. Summers, a nursing major from Hahira; School of Human Services, Amy J. Bradford, an early childhood education major from Tifton; and School of Liberal Arts, Jessica E. Fuller, an English major from Sycamore. Fuller also won the Liberal Arts discipline award in English.

The Award of Distinction for the School of Science and Mathematics was presented to Bryan M. Summerford, a pre-pharmacy major from Moultrie. Summerford also received the discipline award in Chemistry.

The Cooperative Degree Award goes to a student who successfully completes work in the joint degree program from one of the technical colleges and at ABAC. The 2009 Cooperative Degree Award went to Kimberly A. Swain from Sylvester.

A total of 41 Discipline awards were also presented to students who excelled in their individual disciplines. Discipline award winners from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources included Jacob M. Griner of Taylorsville, Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics; John D. Kimbrell of Moultrie, Agricultural Education;, Sean A. Blankenship from Nicholls, Agricultural Engineering Technology; Caroline K. Black of Commerce, Agriculture; Joshua M. Brannen from Register, Agricultural Production Technology; Mark R. Allen of Beaufort, SC, Agricultural Engineering Technology; Rachel C. West of Tifton, Animal Science; and Dana R. Sires from Gray, Agricultural Business Technology.

Other discipline award winners were Linsey R. Johnson of Rebecca, Family & Consumer Sciences; Joshua D. O’Neal of McCaysville, Forest Technology; Jonathon A. Marchant from Tifton, Forest Resources; Michael Brandon Wilson from Rossville, Golf Turf Management Technology; Robert L. Herndon of Quitman, Landscape Design and Grounds Management Technology; Matthew C. Brotzman from Thomasville, Ornamental Production Technology; Mary Rebekah Estes of Conyers, Agriscience and Environmental Systems; John Joseph Wengert of Fort Oglethorpe, Commercial Turf Management Technology; and Jonathan M. Owens of Macon, Wildlife Technology.

In 2008, ABAC began offering upper level courses for those students enrolled in the new bachelor’s degree programs. This year’s discipline award winners in those categories were Jenifer A. Crafton of Fitzgerald, Diversified Agriculture, and Richard W. Irvin of Tifton, Turfgrass and Golf Course Management.

In the School of Business, the Business Administration award was presented to Jaclyn R. Lumpkin of Ashburn. Brenda N. Doss of Tifton received the Information Technology award, and the Economics award went to Zachary T. Ellis of Tifton.

Discipline award winners in the School of Liberal Arts included Susan C. Westberry of Fitzgerald, Art; Lindsey N. Roberts of Tifton, Communication; Jessica M. Padgett of Sylvester, Journalism; Meagan L. Royal of Tifton, Music; and David A. Garrison of Fitzgerald, Spanish.

The School of Science and Mathematics presented Jayme M. Merchant of Americus the Biology award. The discipline award in Mathematics went to Gustavo Tovar-Banda of Douglas. The Pre-Professional award was presented to Steven D. Cox of Tifton.

Discipline award winners from the School of Human Services included Suzanna I. Clack of Rochelle, Early Childhood Education; Annie S. Dorminy of Tifton, Middle Grades Education; and Raymond S. Beasley of Tifton, P-12 Education. Heather M. Garrison of Rutledge received the Criminal Justice award, and the award in Psychology went to Ashley A. Massey of Lakeland. Cristel R. Bender of McDonough received the award in History, and the Political Science award was presented to Alexander F. Lawhorne of Ty Ty. The Human Services and Sociology award went to Carol B. Mathis of Moultrie.

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