Volume XL, Number 38

www.abac.edu

May 6, 2002

Monday, May 6

Today-Maymester Classes Begin

8:00 a.m.-TCHS AP Testing (Conger 109)

8:30 a.m.-Coastal Plain RESA Workshop (Cordell Conf. Room)

Tuesday, May 7

8:00 a.m.-TCHS AP Testing (Britt (103/105)

8:30 a.m.-Coastal Plain RESA Workshop (Cordell Conf. Room)

7:00 p.m.-Annual FFA Banquet (Dining Hall)

Wednesday, May 8

8:00 a.m.-Mauldin & Jenkins Training (Cordell Conf. Room A/B)

Thursday, May 9

8:00 a.m.-TCHS AP Testing (Conger 319)

Friday, May 10

8:00 a.m.-TCHS AP Testing (Conger 319)

Saturday, May 11

10:00 a.m.-ABAC Graduation (Gressette Gym)

Monday, May 13

7:00 p.m.-Tift Regional Medical Center Annual Awards Banquet (Dining Hall)

Sue Wilson, an assistant professor of education, was recently appointed to the position of Interim Chair in the Division of Social Science. She will begin her new position June 1. Wilson replaces Dr. Caroline Helms, who was appointed to the position of Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs at ABAC.

Wilson holds an Education Specialist degree in Education Administration and Supervision from Valdosta State College and an M.S. degree in textiles and a B.S. degree in vocational home economics, both from Colorado State University.

Wilson came to ABAC in the fall of 2000. Her current responsibilities include teaching several classes, including Introduction to Education, Teaching Exceptional Children, and Introduction to Human Growth and Development. She is also an advisor for many of the 125 early childhood education majors on campus. Wilson is also club advisor for Student Georgia Association of Educators. In addition, Wilson serves on the Instructional Effectiveness and Assessment Committee and has assisted in the establishment of the Valdosta State University Early Childhood Education four-year degree program on the ABAC campus.

ABAC 1000 Retreat Friday

The third annual retreat for freshman seminar instructors will be held Friday. First time ABAC 1000 instructors will meet from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Veteran instructors will meet from 10:15 a.m.-3 p.m. All meetings will take place in the fellowship hall of St. Anne's Episcopal Church at 2411 N. Central Avenue in Tifton. A continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Contact Phyllis Bennett at 7252 for more information.

Graduation on Saturday

The spring graduation will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Gressette Gym. Faculty and staff participating in graduation should assemble in the Student Center at 9:15 a.m. for a light continental breakfast. We will march from the Student Center to Gressette Gym. This year's faculty marshals are Dr. Gaye Elder and Dennis Bush. This year's graduation speaker is Ann Brown, an early childhood education graduate from Ashburn. Approximately 130 students are expected to participate in the ceremony.

TCHS on Tuesday

The faculty and staff of ABAC will have a great opportunity on Tuesday to meet some of our future students face to face as we visit Tift County High School. Vonda Doss has coordinated the visit. Those who have signed up should meet in the Dining Hall parking lot at 9:30 a.m. to board the bus. We should return to ABAC by 10:45 a.m.

Information packets will be sent to you. If you wish to review those packets, there will be a meeting at 4 p.m. today in the Student Center Courtroom. Representatives from admissions and financial aid will be available to give you pointers for your presentation. We will spend 28 minutes with the students in the sophomore and junior classes. As you recall, we met with the seniors during the fall term.

Maymester Begins Today

ABAC's first try at a Maymester begins today. The Maymester will extend through May 24. Final exams will be held on May 27. At presstime, 265 students had signed up for Maymester classes. A total of 214 of those students are registered for regular summer term classes as well, bringing the regular summer term total to 1,002 students.

Line Dance Today

Andrea Willis will offer free line dancing classes from 5-6 p.m. today and also from 5-6 p.m. on May 13 in Thrash Gym. There is no need to preregister, but email Herb Hendrix or Andrea if you would like to attend.

Golden Fillies in Texas

The Golden Fillies' tennis team of Coach Alton Hudgins is in Texas today participating in the national tournament. The Stallions' tennis team of Coach Alan Kramer will depart on Wednesday for Dallas, Texas, for the national championship, and Coach Donna Campbell and the Fillies' softball team will head to Kissimmee, Fla., on May 14 for the national playoffs.

All three teams won state championships this year, along with the basketball Fillies of Coach Julie Conner. Coach Steve Janousek's baseball team played Georgia Perimeter over the weekend for a bid to the state tournament. Congratulations to all these teams and their coaches. Let's bring home a national title or two!

Select a New Logo

The ABAC Arts Station and the Fiesta Del Pueblo Board announce an art contest to select a logo for this year's festival. Participants are all students grade four though high school. The selected logo will appear on all the festival publicity, T-shirts, etc. The first, second, and third place winners will receive savings bonds for $100, $75, and $50 respectively.

Drawings can be done in pencil, marker, pastel, ink, or paint, and should reflect the richness of the Hispanic culture and the growing role of Hispanics in south Georgia. Entries should be turned in by May 17 to Polly Kalinova. Call 3558 for details.

Pool Opens Today

The ABAC Pool is scheduled to open today. There is no charge for pool passes for ABAC faculty, staff, and administrators, however, you must pick up your passes at the Business Office in Tift Hall. Pool hours are Monday-Thursday 3-7 p.m. and 1-6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

At the present time, lifeguards are needed. If you know of someone who wants to make some extra money as a lifeguard, contact Shirley Wilson at 3272.

Media Classes this Summer

Student Media Director Eric Cash said WPLH 103.1 FM Workshop will be offered this summer for one hour of credit on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. He said Video Production will also be available for one hour of credit from 12:30-2 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Flex Time on the Way

President Mike Vollmer sent out a recent email detailing the opportunities available with flex time. Remember that flex time is not mandatory, but can be scheduled within individual office areas. The flex time policy has been developed for 12-month staff. This policy will be in effect May 13-Aug. 9. This will give us time to see how it works and to make adjustments as necessary.

Landscape Certificates Awarded

The first group of students enrolled in ABAC's new 30-hour landscape certificate program completed course requirements on April 25. A total of 19 students received certificates, including three ABAC Physical Plant employees. Congratulations to Curtis Billings, David Keller, and Bobby Mathis.

Notes of Thanks

Dear ABAC Faculty and Staff,

Thank you so much for the beautiful aglaonema plant you sent to Dave. It is wonderful to know that you are thinking of him and caring about him as he recovers from his stroke. Your kindness and encouragement have already helped him on his way to making a full recovery!

Appreciatively,

Susan (and Dave) Groff

Thank you for all the cards, flowers, care, and prayers during my recuperation period. They all helped with my speedy recovery. Thanks again.

Ja'Nay Windmoller

Care and Concern

Calvin Lee's wife, Shirley, suffered a stroke on April 26 and was hospitalized at Tift Regional Medical Center. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

ABAC Generates $41 Million Impact

ABAC's economic impact on the Tifton area reached the incredible figure of $40.7 million during the last fiscal year, according to a new study released recently.

ABAC President Mike Vollmer said the study conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business shows that ABAC's influence zooms to $56 million when various multipliers are considered.

In terms of employment, the study showed that the college created 783 total jobs in the area. That included 262 positions at ABAC. The remainder of the jobs resulted from the fact that the college is located here.

The $40.7 million figure represented the second largest impact of any two-year college in Georgia. Georgia Perimeter with several campuses in Atlanta led the way with $164.1 million.

Abraham Baldwin Family

Anthony Fitzgerald spoke to the Tifton Kiwanis Club on April 19 on the current Middle East situation.

Garth Webb and Carlos Howard attended the Turner County High School Teen Expo on April 29.

Garth Webb and Tracy Bryan represented ABAC at the Tiftarea Academy College Night Program on April 30.

Bruce Applewhite visited Twiggs County, John Milledge Academy, Baldwin, Appling County, Evans County, and Dodge County high schools in recent weeks. He also represented ABAC at Career Fairs at Taylor County, Tift County, Jeff Davis, and Bonaire schools. He attended the District V Ag Education Teachers Meeting in Pelham, the District VI Ag Education Teachers Meeting in Waycross, and the Wilkerson County High School Senior Breakfast. He presented Careers in Agriculture programs at Appling County and Johnson County high schools.

Bruce Applewhite, Lee Petitgout, and Robin Poor were in the ABAC booth at the Georgia State FFA Convention in Athens on April 25-27. They were assisted by ABAC Ambassadors Joel McKie, Brett Tucker, Candice Clark, and Graham Floyd, as well as Richard Freeman, Chris White, Caci Cook, and Stacey Jones from the Collegiate FFA.

Carlos Howard represented ABAC at the Turner County High School Career Fair on April 29. He also visited Randolph Clay, Macon County, Lamar County, and South Atlanta high schools last week.

Mike Chason served as the master of ceremonies at the Tift County High School Academic Honors Night on April 30.