Calendar of Events

Monday, April 28

9:00 a.m.-Ben Hill Middle School Tour

(Cordell Conf. Room A)

3:00 p.m.-Advisors Meeting with Business & Financial Aid

(Cordell Conf. Room A)

5:00 p.m.-ABAC Music Program Recital (Chapel)

6:30 p.m.-Ms. Stallion Rehearsal (Dining Hall)

7:00 p.m.-Gospel Choir

Tuesday, April 29

8:00 a.m.-Financial Assistance Network Meeting

(Cordell Conf. Room C)

7:30 p.m.-Ms. Stallion Pageant (Dining Hall)

Wednesday, April 30

Today-Classes end

8:30 a.m.-Georgia’s Choice Region H Instructional Coaches

Meeting (Cordell Conf. Room)

Noon-Fit for Life (Magnolia Room)

7:00 p.m.-Gospel Choir (Chapel)

Thursday, May 1

Today-Final Exams

11:30 a.m.-Faculty/Staff Luncheon (Magnolia Room)

6:00 p.m.-VSU Early Childhood Info Session

(Cordell Conf. Room A)

Friday, May 2

Today-Love Affair

Saturday, May 3

Today-Love Affair

8:00 a.m.-Dept. of Human Resources Training

(Cordell Conf. Room A/B)

Monday, May 5

Today-Final Exams

7:00 a.m.-AP Exams for TCHS (Conger 109)

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Cordell Conf. Room C)

Tuesday, May 6

7:00 a.m.-AP Exams for TCHS (Conger 109)

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Cordell Conf. Room C)

9:30 a.m.-CAAP Testing (Bowen Hall)

11:00 a.m.-ABAC Graduation Rehearsal (Gressette Gym)

7:30 p.m.-Matt Wilson Elementary Dinner (Magnolia Room)

Wednesday, May 7

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Cordell Conf. Room C)

Thursday, May 8

7:00 a.m.-AP Exams for TCHS (Conger 109)

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Cordell Conf. Room C)

8:00 a.m.-ABAC 1000 Instructors Training

(Cordell Conf. Room A)

6:00 p.m.-ABAC Graduation (Gressette Gym)

Friday, May 9

Today-Maymester classes begin

7:00 a.m.-AP Exams for TCHS (Conger 109/315)

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Cordell Conf. Room C)

7:00 p.m.-Scholarship Benefit Banquet & Show

(Dining Hall)

Saturday, May 10

6:00 p.m.-Spurlin Dinner (Magnolia Room)

Monday, May 12

8:00 a.m.-Ga. Chiefs Management Class (Baldwin Library 202)

8:30 a.m.-Children with Special Needs Training

(Cordell Conf. Room)

Noon-Children with Special Needs Training Luncheon

(Dining Hall)

7:00 p.m.-Area 5 FFA Annual Banquet (Dining Hall)

Gatlins Reunite for Concert at ABAC

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers are reunited for their first national tour in over 10 years, and one of their stops is a May 9 visit to the scholarship benefit banquet and show at Abraham Baldwin.

The 7 p.m. banquet in the Donaldson Dining Hall is sponsored by the ABAC Foundation. Tickets are $125 each. All proceeds benefit student scholarships at the college. For ticket information, call 386-3265. Talk with Melvin Merrill or Betty McCorvey about the easy payment plan.

The Gatlins have 17 Top Ten hits, including “All the Gold in California,” “Broken Lady,” “Houston,” “Love is Just a Game,” “She Used to be Somebody’s Baby,” and “Sure Feels Like Love.” The Gatlins won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song, “Broken Lady;” the Music City News Award for Most Promising Artist/Songwriter of the Year; and the Academy of Country Music Award for Album of the Year, “Straight Ahead.”

Tickets can be ordered online at www.abac.edu/foundation. The evening includes a lavish buffet dinner as well as the entertainment. The event marks the 32^nd year of the program.

Graduation on May 8

Jeanine Dorminey, ABAC’s J.G. Woodroof Scholar, will be the guest speaker at graduation exercises on May 8. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. in Gressette Gym. Approximately 124 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Maymester Begins May 9

The second edition of Maymester at ABAC begins on May 9. At presstime, approximately 363 students had signed up for Maymester classes. The total enrollment for the 2002 Maymester was 239.

Fillies Win Tenth Title

For the 10^th consecutive year, the Golden Fillies’ tennis team of Coach Alton Hudgins is the Georgia state champion. The Fillies defeated arch rival Middle Georgia 8-1 on April 19 for the title at the ABAC Tennis Center. Ingrid Ebensperger was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The Fillies will now travel to College Station, Texas to take part in the national tournament beginning May 4. ABAC is ranked 10^th in the nation.

At presstime, the men’s tennis team and the women’s softball team were participating in their respective state tournaments, and the baseball team was fighting to gain a spot in the state tournament.

Next FOCUS May 12

With the end of the spring term, this prized publication will assume a summer schedule, appearing in your boxes every other week. The next edition will appear on May 12. All information for the FOCUS should be turned in to the Public Relations Office via email by noon on May 8.

ABAC to TCHS on May 8

ABAC faculty members, staff members, and administrators will meet with all juniors and seniors at Tift County High School on May 8. Admissions Director Angie Palmer is coordinating the effort. If you are willing to volunteer, contact apalmer@abac.edu. The group will leave campus at approximately 8:30 a.m. and will return by 10:15 a.m. The classroom session is scheduled from 9-9:45 a.m. The purpose of the visit is to update students on opportunities available beyond high school.

Perimeter Road to Close

Because of construction on the Pedestrian Mall, the area near the Ag Sciences Building on Perimeter Road will close for three weeks beginning on May 8. The remainder of the road can still be used.

Walthour Wins Ms. MASDA

Tammy Walthour, an allied health major from Valdosta, was selected as the winner of the Ms. MASDA Pageant held last week in the Donaldson Dining Hall. Other finalists were first runner-up Tamara Bowens, a medical technology major from Savannah, and second runner-up Ivy Staley, a business management major from Cordele. The pageant was sponsored by MASDA.

Boyd Back at ABAC

Tracy Boyd is back in a temporary secretarial position in the Student Life and Housing Office. Boyd served as secretary in that office for three years before Gillian McWhorter came to ABAC. McWhorter’s last day was April 23.

Hughes Receives Service Award

Sheila Hughes recently received the Distinguished Service Award at the Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Tournament and Convention held in Portland, Oregon. The award, the equivalent of a national educator of the year, is given to an individual based on service to the organization over the years.

Hughes has been involved with the organization since 1983. She has served as a regional governor, national secretary, coordinator of judges, chair for several committees, host of regional tournaments, and host of the 1998 national tournament and convention. She began coaching in 1986.

Congratulations!

Diane and Wayne Kilgore are the proud grandparents of Mason Tucker Kilgore. Mason was born on April 23 and weighed eight pounds, seven ounces. His parents are David and Crystal Kilgore. Congratulations to all!

Ms. Stallion on Tuesday

The Ms. Stallion Pageant will be held on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall. The event is sponsored by the ABAC 4-H Club.

Love Affair This Week

The Love Affair Fine Arts Festival will be held Friday and Saturday in downtown Tifton and Fulwood Park. This annual event features a variety of stage performances and a juried fine arts market plus creative craft offerings. The Abraham Baldwin Arts Connection is the primary sponsor.

Friday’s evening headliner is Al Simmons in the Tift Theatre with two performances combining comedy with song, dance, magic, sight gags and funny one-liners. Dancers from two local studios and the Folkloric Dancers will alternate routines in the Dance Extravaganza. On the Tift Gardens stage, local storytellers and musician Albert Culbreath will entertain along with Jim McGaw on dulcimer and other folk instruments.

In the intimate setting of the Myon Courtyard, perennial favorite Jim Newton and Friends will welcome the night with mellow jazz. Friday evening will conclude with a street dance featuring rock and roll from Groove Pocket. ABAC’s own Sabor Latino will showcase its trendy Latino dances on the 3^rd Street Stage.

Saturday in the park offers five stages of non-stop entertainment. The Arts Circus Stage in the children’s area will feature the play “Ugly Duckling” by GMT. Also appearing on the Arts Circus Stage is RAGGS Kids Club Band, a hip group of costume characters.

The International Stage will host The Mystical Arts of Tibet. Also performing will be Russian musicians and dancers of Troika Balalaika. The Louisiana family band, Linda Lou’s Lucky 4, will play what they call “Rockin’ Beach Cajun Country Motown Blues.” The Fine Arts Gallery will host the classical Mannheim Trio and Jim McGaw playing an assortment of folk instruments. Local storytellers, Albert Culbreath, Granny Press and the Mandala Generations Projects, will be on the Storytelling Stage. The Moo Cow Band will entertain at the picnic concert.

Celebrating

Birthdays

April

29 Marsha Anderson

30 Adrian Salter

May

2 Margaret Brogdon

4 Nancy Brannen

6 Stephanie Coney

7 John Davis

7 Kip Smith

8 Larry Allen

9 Pathelyn Smith

12 Carlos Howard

For the complete story and a detailed schedule, go to www.abac.edu/arts/loveaffair/2003/.

Helen on Tuesday

Publications Specialist Helen Strickland will be in her office on Tuesday from 8 a.m.-noon. If you have publication needs, please contact her at 3599.

Monks in Tifton This Week

Eight Tibetan monks will be in residence beginning today at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage, creating an intricate sand painting. Visit the museum from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. all week. The closing ceremony will be Friday at 11 a.m.

Also this week at the Tifton Museum, Photos of Tibet will feature 21 stunning photos of the people and places of Tibet. This program is supported by the Georgia General Assembly through funds provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Abraham Baldwin Arts Connection is one of the local sponsors.

ABAC Family

Dr. Sue Hammons attended the Conference on Diversity sponsored by Kennesaw State University on April 24-26.

Dr. Ed Seagle and Lorie Felton’s book, Introduction to Horticulture (Prentice Hall Publishers), is now in its fourth edition. The first edition in 1995, the second in 1997, and the third in 2000 were all top sellers for Interstate.