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News from |
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Michael
D. Chason Director
of Public Relations ABAC 30, 2802 Moore Hwy |
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For IMMEDIATE
Release
COMMERCE STUDENT WINS TOP AWARD AT ABAC COMMENCEMENT
TIFTON
- Sara C. Ervin, a Rural Studies major from Commerce, received the prestigious
George P. Donaldson award at the fall commencement ceremony on Friday at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Ervin
completed all requirements for her Associate of Science degree in Agriculture,
while she continues her education for an ABAC bachelor's degree in Rural
Studies.
A
total of 136 graduates participated in the ceremony. Fourteen students received
Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Diversified Agriculture and Turfgrass and Golf Course Management, the most in the
history of the college.
Commencement
speaker Javier Gonzalez told the graduates that "on your career journeys
you may find it necessary to change directions several times. Like any journey, you will need to carefully
create a good map to help you chart the course that will carry you effectively
and efficiently toward your defined goal," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez,
Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and the High School
Equivalency (HEP) program at ABAC, said he grew up in a family of nine
children. His parents were migrant farm
workers, and he had to drop out of high school to help his family
financially. He later received his GED
en route to a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.
"My
journey from an undereducated farm worker to a commencement speaker has not
been an easy one," Gonzalez said.
"I challenge you to use your diploma as a springboard to success. You must be prepared to meet the challenges
and remove the obstacles that could stand in your way."
Ervin,
President Pro Tempore and a senator in the Student Government Association, was
selected for the Donaldson Award based on a combination of academics and
extracurricular activities. The award
included a plaque and a check for $500 from the ABAC Alumni Association.
Donaldson served as president of ABAC from 1947-61.
The
daughter of James and Saundra Ervin of Commerce, Ervin was the co-founder and
President of the Rural Studies Club. She is a past state FFA Vice-President and
served as the President of the ABAC collegiate FFA chapter in 2008. She will serve as the first ABAC/Staplcotn intern on Capitol Hill with United States Senator
Saxby Chambliss during the spring semester.
Spring
term classes begin at ABAC on Jan. 11.
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