Calendar of Events

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)

Tuesday, May 13

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

11:30 a.m.-20^th Century Library Club Luncheon (Magnolia Room)

11:30 a.m.-Tift Co. YMCA Board (Georgian Room)

7:00 p.m.-Tiftarea Academy Honors Banquet (Dining Hall)

Wednesday, May 14

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

1:00 p.m.-Implementing CAS TRIO Satellite Program (Cordell Conf. Room A)

Thursday, May 15

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

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

Friday, May 16

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

7:00 p.m.-McEntyre/McMurphy Wedding Rehearsal (Chapel)

Saturday, May 17

2:00 p.m.-McEntyre/McMurphy Wedding (Chapel)

Monday, May 19

5:30 p.m.-Tiftarea YMCA Dinner (Dining Hall)

Tuesday, May 20

10:00 a.m.-Procurement Vendor Presentation (Cordell Conf. Room A)

Thursday, May 22

7:00 p.m.-PLIGHT Banquet (Magnolia Room)

Friday, May 23

6:00 p.m.-Kendrix/Sims Wedding Rehearsal (Chapel)

Saturday, May 24

2:00 p.m.-Kendrix/Sims Wedding (Chapel)

Johnson Named Coordinator

Dr. Caroline Helms has announced that Susan Johnson will serve as coordinator of faculty development. She will take over the work begun this past year by Dr. Gail Dillard.

Johnson will continue to teach psychology, but will have one course release time each semester to devote to her new duties. Please let her know of any ideas you have for faculty development in general or for education related to your specific discipline.

Baseball, Softball Wind Up

The baseball team of Coach Steve Janousek wound up with a conference record of 10-14 and an overall record of 20-25 this season. The women’s softball team of Coach Donna Campbell wound up with a conference record of 16-6 and an overall record of 29-23. The Fillies finished second in the state tournament.

At presstime, the tennis Fillies of Coach Alton Hudgins were participating in the national tournament, and the tennis Stallions of Coach Alan Kramer were about to depart for the national tournament.

Dorminey Wins Donaldson Award

Jeanine Dorminey of Tifton received the highest honor presented to a graduating student from Abraham Baldwin at Thursday’s graduation ceremony. On behalf of the ABAC Alumni Association, ABAC President Mike Vollmer presented Dorminey with the George P. Donaldson Award for outstanding scholarship and leadership.

Donaldson served as president of ABAC from 1947 - 61. Dorminey's award included a plaque and a check for $500 from the ABAC Ag Alumni Council.

Dorminey, a mathematics major, received the J. G. Woodroof Scholar Award at ABAC’s Honors Day ceremony in April. She also received the Divisional Award of Distinction for the Division of Science and Mathematics and the Mathematics Divisional Discipline award. A member of the ABAC Fillies’ basketball team, Dorminey received All-Conference Honorable Mention.

“I would love to finish my education and move back to Tifton to begin teaching, in the hope that I can contribute to a child’s life in the same way the professors and coaches here at ABAC have contributed to mine,” Dorminey said. “My past two years at ABAC have certainly been a life-changing experience, and I know my character, along with my future plans, have been molded as a result of this fine institution.”

Maymester Now Underway

At presstime, approximately 371 students were enrolled in Maymester classes which began on Friday. The total enrollment for the 2002 Maymester was 239.

Next FOCUS May 26

The next edition of this prized publication will appear in your boxes on May 26. All information for the FOCUS should be turned in to the Public Relations Office via email by noon on May 22.

ABAC Visits TCHS

ABAC faculty members, staff members, and administrators met with all juniors and seniors at Tift County High School last Thursday. Admissions Director Angie Palmer coordinated the effort.

Those participating were Dr. Gail Dillard, Wendy Harrison, Dr. Luke Vassilou, Diane Jackson, Dr. Larry McGruder, Dr. Caroline Helms, Dr. Joseph Njoroge, Vickie Walker, Dr. Jonathan Harrington, Annie Sims, Jenelle Handcox, Lyn Smith, Dr. Paul Foote, Dr. Herb Shippey, Jewrell Rivers, Traci Bryan, Mary Rootes, Geoff Clement, Gary Dicks, Wasdon Graydon, Stephanie Holcombe, Beth Thornton, Vonda Doss, Katrina McCrae, Joy Shurley, and Dr. Ray Barber.

Also assisting were Dr. Ed Seagle, Alan Murphy, Kathy Moreno, Tom Call, Bruce Applewhite, Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Angie Palmer, Abul Sheik, Wanda Golden, Lori Pearman, Dr. Renata Elad, Darby Sewell, Shirley Wilson, Ali Csinos, Dr. Maggie Martin, Robert Moore, Mike Chason, Tawana Ford, Herb Hendrix, Carlos Howard, and Julie Conner.

Thanks to all who participated.

Alpha Beta Gamma Wins Awards

The Sigma Chapter of Alpha Beta Gamma (ABG) at Abraham Baldwin recently received five national awards at the National Alpha Beta Gamma Leadership Conference in Miami, Fla. Advisors for the group are Kathy Moreno and Joy Godin.

Six ABAC students attended the conference, including Mitzi Marshall, a wildlife management major from Dahlonega; Jackie Honeycutt, a business administration major from Tifton; Allen Hutto, an information technology major from Tifton; Alice Watson, a business information technology major from Tifton; Vanisha Crowell, a business administration major from Cuthbert; and Shine Rankin, a business information technology major from Tifton.

ABAC’s chapter won the most prestigious award, the Golden Key Award. This award is presented to the chapter that displays overall excellence and serves as a model chapter for others to emulate. It is the highest award that any chapter can receive nationally.

The chapter also won the Best Student Presentation Award. The students presented a workshop, “PDAs in the Classroom: A Student Perspective,” in which they described the PDA pilot project at ABAC. They also gave demonstrations of how PDAs can be used to enhance the academic experience.

Three ABAC students also received individual awards at the conference.

Marshall received the Cerrone Award. This award is presented to a chapter president who has done an outstanding job of rejuvenating a chapter. Hutto received the Professor Steve Graham Memorial Award. This award is given to a student who is nominated by a faculty advisor in attendance at the Annual Leadership Meeting. Watson received the Eva Bobrow Memorial Medallion of Excellence. This award is presented to one outstanding member of ABG who, in serving as an officer of the chapter, has contributed in an outstanding fashion and achieved excellent results for the chapter.

Celebrating

Birthdays

May

12 Carlos Howard

13 Debra McCrary

15 Stacey Hall

16 Barbara Snyder

17 Lee Hodges

17 Betty McCorvey

21 Calvin Lee

Athletes, Educators Unite

Due to the efforts of Abraham Baldwin’s tennis team, the Stallions’ basketball team, and the Student Georgia Association of Educators (SGAE), Davis Road in Tifton is a lot cleaner. For several years, SGAE has been responsible for the Adopt-a-Mile project on that road, which extends from Moore Highway to Carpenter Road on the south side of the ABAC campus.

This semester, ABAC’s athletes wanted to become more involved in community service activities and assisted with the clean-up project. Basketball coach Robert Moore and 14 members of the basketball team devoted their time to helping eight SGAE members pick up litter, collecting a total of 11 bags of trash. Earlier this semester, 14 members of the ABAC tennis team helped pick up nine bags of trash.

Pool is Open

The ABAC Pool is now open from 3-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 1-6 p.m., Friday-Sunday. Get your pool passes from the Business Office.

Care and Concern

Don Coates’ son, Brad, underwent major knee surgery on April 29 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

The homes of Bernice Hughes’ mother and sister were damaged when a tornado hit Jackson, Tenn., on May 5. Please keep all these families in your prayers.

Note of Sympathy

The ABAC Family expresses sympathy to Nancy Brannen, Judy Perry, and Teresa Williams whose uncle, Donald Tawzer, passed away recently. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

TCHS Teacher Wins Statewide Award

Sonya May, an Abraham Baldwin alumna who currently teaches economics, civics, and honors civics at the Northeast Campus of Tift County High School (TCHS), is living proof that students in learning support classes can overcome their academic hardships and achieve educational success.

May has done just that. In honor of her accomplishments, she recently received the Outstanding Alumnus of a Learning Support Program Award. The award, which recognizes a graduate of a learning support program who has distinguished himself/herself in other areas of life, was presented at the University System of Georgia’s 27^th Annual Learning Support Conference, co-sponsored by the Georgia Association for Developmental Education.

May first enrolled at ABAC in the fall of 1991 in a learning support (formerly called developmental studies) math class. By working hard in her learning support courses, May was able to overcome her difficulty in mathematics. After graduating from ABAC in 1993, she continued her education at Valdosta State University where she earned a B.S. degree in secondary education and an M.A. degree in history. In addition to teaching at TCHS, May has also taught part-time at ABAC.

Stephanie Holcombe, associate professor of mathematics at ABAC, was one of several former professors who nominated May for the Outstanding Alumnus of a Learning Support Program Award.

Note of Thanks

The National SAT was administered to 123 students from over 16 different schools on May 3. Thanks to the following for helping make the administration a success: Dr. Jonathan Harrington, Bernice Hughes, Rita Wade, Arlene Bailey, Ellen Resta, Debbie Riner, Becky Esco, Jack Larry, Bernice Corbin, Kim Scarborough, and Jared Vickers.

Dr. Maggie Martin

ABAC Family

Tom Call presented three scholarships on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Turner County High Honors Ceremony on May 6. He also spoke to the Cordele Kiwanis Club on May 8 on ABAC’s proposed new housing facilities.

Mike Chason presented a scholarship on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Cook High School Honors Ceremony on May 7.

Bertha Daniel presented three scholarships on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at Irwin County High School’s Honors Ceremony on May 8.

Dr. Ed Seagle, Danny Cravey, and ABAC student Heath Chambers worked the 2003 LPGA Chick-fil-A Charity Championship on special invitation as volunteers at Eagle’s Landing Country Club in Stockbridge on April 25-27. Their duties included mowing greens, tees, and fairways; raking bunkers; whipping tees; dragging fairways; and other general maintenance activities. Their days started at 3:30 a.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m.