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

For IMMEDIATE Release July 9, 2009

Whitney Mitchell

NASHVILLE STUDENT READY TO BEGIN SECOND YEAR AT ABAC

TIFTON—Whitney Mitchell of Nashville has been familiar with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College all her life.

“My daddy and uncles went to ABAC,” Mitchell, an ABAC agriculture education major, said. “And now my brother and I are attending.”

Mitchell loves that ABAC is so close to home and likes the small-town feel the college provides for her.

“I love the fact that I can feel at home and still go home,” said Mitchell.

She also likes not having to worry if she will know anyone when she enters a classroom. She has made a lot of friends at ABAC and enjoys the friendly interaction with instructors.

“Dr. Tim Marshall has influenced me so much,” Mitchell said. “I can go to him when I have doubts about my major, and he motivates me to follow the path I’m on.”

Marshall is the Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the largest school of study on the 421-acre campus.

Mitchell is very active on the campus outside the classroom. She is a member of the Collegiate FFA, the Campus Activities Board, and Team Sunshine, her intramural softball team.

Last year, she served as a state FFA vice president for the Georgia FFA Association. She has been an active member of the FFA since middle school, when a teacher encouraged her to enter a public speaking contest.

“My FFA involvement has always been more about the leadership aspect the association provides,” Mitchell said. “I like serving as an ambassador for FFA. It’s the foundation of the organization. ABAC is an awesome resource for FFA.”

When Mitchell completes her ABAC degree, she won’t have far to go since she plans to attend the University of Georgia on the Tifton campus to obtain both her B.S. and M.S. degrees in agriculture education. She also wants to attain her Agriculture Leadership certificate while there.

“The certificate involves taking some extra classes but it will allow me to teach a wider variety of agriculture classes once I have my degree,” said Mitchell.

Her future plans are focused on a career as an agriculture teacher and working closely with kids involved in FFA.

“I would love to teach agriculture at the high school level in the South Georgia area,” Mitchell said. “Back in Berrien County would be ideal.”

She also plans to get married and raise a family someday, and just like her dad, send her kids to ABAC.

The deadline for applications for the fall term at ABAC is Aug. 1. Fall semester classes begin Aug. 17.

###