Calendar of Events

Tuesday, May 27

9:00 a.m.-Institutional SAT (Student Life Hearing Room)

6:00 p.m.-On Campus Evening New Student Orientation (Cordell Conf. Room A)

Wednesday, May 28

8:00 a.m.-Women’s Seminar (Cordell Conf. Room B/C)

Thursday, May 29

Today-Maymester Classes End

7:30 p.m.-Older Americans Banquet (Dining Hall)

Friday, May 30

Today-Final Exams

5:00 p.m.-Wright/Lewis Wedding Rehearsal (Chapel)

Saturday, May 17

5:00 p.m.-Wright/Lewis Wedding (Chapel)

6:00 p.m.-Wright/Lewis Wedding Reception (Dining Hall)

Monday, June 2

Today-New Student Orientation

Tuesday, June 3

Today-New Student Orientation

Wednesday, June 4

Today-Summer Term Classes Begin

10:30 a.m.-Summer Educators Academy (Cordell Conf. Room A)

Thursday, June 5

1:00 p.m.-TRIO Legislation Satellite Program (Cordell Conf. Room C)

Friday, June 6

6:00 p.m.-Edwards/Dunnum Wedding Rehearsal (Chapel)

Saturday, June 7

8:00 a.m.-National SAT

2:00 p.m.-Walker Shower (Magnolia Room)

3:00 p.m.-Edwards/Dunnam Wedding (Chapel)

Sunday, June 8

Today-Natural Resources Conservation Workshop

Noon-Lee Saye Sunday School Class (Magnolia Room)

Monday, June 9

Today-Natural Resources Conservation Workshop

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Daniel Fills Two Jobs

President Mike Vollmer has announced that Bertha Daniel will continue to serve as Director of College Services as well as Director of Human Resources during the next year. If you have Human Resources needs, please contact Bertha or Jane Thompson at 3491.

Applications on the Rise

Admissions Director Angie Palmer reports that at the present time applications are up 7.8 percent over this time last year, and the number of accepted applicants is up 29 percent. Financial Aid Director Jenelle Handcox reports that financial aid applications are also up over this time last year. Hopefully these two projections will point to another record enrollment during the fall term of 2003. Last year’s fall enrollment of 3,033 students set an alltime record.

Memorial Day Program Today

Please join other ABAC faculty/staff members and students at the flagpole in front of Tift Hall at 8:30 a.m. today for the annual Memorial Day observance.

Board Approves $32 Million Project

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved on May 21 the largest residence hall construction project in the history of public two-year colleges in the state of Georgia by giving the go-ahead for $32 million in residence hall construction at Abraham Baldwin.

Funded by private bonds and supported by the ABAC Foundation, the project also represents the second largest building project in the history of Tift County, topped only by a $35 million Tift Regional Medical Center renovation.

“These residence halls will change the face of ABAC forever,” Abraham Baldwin President Mike Vollmer said. “I have to give all the credit to ABAC Foundation Chair Butch Davis, Foundation Trustees Dale Pflug and Pait Willis, Development Director Melvin Merrill, and many other hard-working members of the Foundation who gave some unbelievable hours putting this mammoth project together.”

Place Properties will develop 835 new rooms on the campus with construction assistance provided by Alcon Associates from Albany and Jones Construction from Tifton. Most of the units will be four-bedroom, two-bath with a full kitchen and living area. Each student will have a private room complete with Internet, phone, and cable television access.

An 8,500 square feet clubhouse will be in the center of the complex and will feature a kitchen, an exercise room, recreation and television space, a study lounge, a computer lab, a large meeting room, and management offices. The clubhouse will be directly linked to ABAC’s new Pedestrian Mall, a 12-feet wide brick walkway which extends through the center of the campus.

Vollmer said construction will begin as soon as the tax exempt bonds are sold. In fact, the college hopes to have 200 beds available for the spring term which begins on Jan. 12, 2004. The remainder of the rooms are scheduled to be ready for the 2004 fall semester.

A per month lease price has yet to be determined but Vollmer said approximately $345 a month for a 12-month lease would be “somewhere in the ballpark.” The rent will include cable, water, and electricity.

Bennett Named Director

Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services Tom Call has announced that Phyllis Bennett will become ABAC’s new Director of Learning Support. She has served as the interim director in that position since December, 2001. Bennett joined the ABAC staff in 1994.

Stallions Finish Second

For the second year in a row, the Golden Stallions’ tennis team of Coach Alan Kramer finished second in the nation. Tyler won the national championship followed by a second place tie between ABAC and Georgia Perimeter. Ironically, those same two schools tied for the state title as well. Congratulations to the Stallions on another terrific year.

Fillies Wind Up Fifth

The Golden Fillies of Coach Alton Hudgins wound up fifth in the national women’s tennis tournament. Congratulations to the Fillies on another fantastic season. The Fillies won their 10^th consecutive state title this year.

Fillies Named Academic All Americans

Coach Donna Campbell reports that the 2003 softball Fillies have been named an NJCAA Academic All American Team. The 15 members of the Fillies had an overall GPA of 3.10 after the spring term. This GPA qualifies the Fillies as an Academic All American Team

Next FOCUS June 9

If you have information for this prized publication, please email it to the Public Relations Office by noon on June 5. The next edition will appear in your boxes on June 9.

Dining Hall to Reopen

The Donaldson Dining Hall will reopen June 2 for the summer term. The Snack Bar will reopen on June 4 at 9 a.m. for the summer.

Construction Update

Please keep in mind that Perimeter Road is closed from the Moore Highway entrance for the next two weeks while the Pedestrian Mall is being constructed. Also, please be sure to watch your step in front of the Donaldson Dining Hall as the Pedestrian Mall is also under construction at that site.

Summer at PSBOC

Summer is just around the corner, and the Public Service and Business Outreach Center at Abraham Baldwin has a wide-ranging lineup of classes for kids and adults on ABAC’s Tifton campus, at ABAC on the Square in Moultrie, and at various locations in the surrounding counties. Call 3267 to sign up.

ABAC/Macon State Program Grads

Ann Jones and Reina Patel, both from Tifton, are the first two students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology (IT) from the degree program offered at Abraham Baldwin through a partnership with Macon State College (MSC). The program, which began in the spring of 2002, allows students to earn their bachelor’s degrees at ABAC without having to transfer to another institution.

ABAC Employees Get ‘Fit for Life’

Faculty, staff, spouses, and students at ABAC can get “fit for life” without ever leaving campus. The Fit for Life Program, ABAC’s new Health Club, began in January and has 130 members.

Coordinated by the Public Service and Business Outreach Center (PSBOC) at ABAC, club membership is free and includes confidential health assessments and monthly wellness and nutrition seminars and activities provided by the ABAC nursing faculty. Other services include weight management classes conducted by the UGA Extension Service and ABAC’s Nursing Division; fitness training opportunities provided by ABAC’s Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; and a low-cost, “heart-healthy” breakfast and lunch provided daily by ARAMARK. Call 3267 for info.

Congratulations!

Lori and Brent Pearman are the proud parents of a new baby girl born May 9. Marissa weighed six pounds, four ounces. She is the granddaughter of ABAC retiree Vivian Pearman. Congratulations to all!

Celebrating

Birthdays

May

29 Tamara Dennis

31 Donnie Thompson

June

2 Murray Fender

3 Laura Tucker

6 Ronnie Hall

6 Jenelle Louder

6 Earl Steffens

8 Howard McCrary

8 Cathy Newton

8 Chrystle Ross

Care and Concern

Verlin Scott was hospitalized at Tift Regional after the removal of a toe due to infection in the bone. Calvin Lee will undergo surgery on June 9 to remove a malignant tumor found on his kidney.

Ray Wells is being treated for a ruptured disk. Floyd Wright’s wife, Dianna, is recuperating after having extensive knee surgery on May 19. Cindy Sparrow’s father, J.C. Moore of Sylvester, was diagnosed last week with acute leukemia.

Please keep all these members of the ABAC Family in your thoughts and prayers.

Note of Thanks

Dear Faculty & Staff,

Thank you for the silver baby spoon and bracelet. These are special gifts that honor the arrival of our baby girl, Marissa.

Thanks again,

Lori Pearman

Note of Sympathy

The ABAC Family expresses sympathy to Jerry Davis whose mother-in-law passed away on May 12. The ABAC Family also extends sympathy to Reba Selph whose grandmother, Ruth McBrayer, passed away on May 15. She was also the great aunt of Teresa Williams, Nancy Brannen, and Judy Perry. Please keep all these families in your and prayers.

Positions Open

ABAC:

■ Residence Hall Director (BA/BS degree required)

Salary starts at $22,000

Contact Bernice Hughes for more information.

ABAC Family

Dr. Caroline Helms presented three scholarships on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Berrien High School graduation Friday night.

Kay Powell presented one scholarship on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Colquitt County High School Honors Night on May 13.

Dr. Chrystle Ross presented one scholarship on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Tiftarea Academy Honors Night on May 13.

Dr. Donna Miller presented one scholarship on behalf of the ABAC Foundation at the Worth County High School Honors Night on May 13.

Mike Chason served as Judge Heartless for the American Heart Association at its annual luncheon on May 15. He passed sentence on such ABAC shining stars as Dr. Ed Seagle and Dr. Jonathan Harrington.

Dr. Charlotte Pfeiffer, Professor Emeritus, has written a review of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King which appears in the May/June 2003 issue of Georgia Writers News/Magazine.

Dr. Maggie Martin administered the ISAT to one student on May 19 at ABAC on the Square in Moultrie.