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‘Starting as a Stallion’ Orientations Begin June 8 at ABAC

TIFTON—Students who are beginning their college careers at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this fall semester can engage in a new and different orientation process. Donna Webb, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, said the “Starting as a Stallion” optional in-person orientation sessions will begin June 8. “I think our incoming freshmen will enjoy these sessions,” Webb said. “Like most everything else in this pandemic era, we are trying something we have never attempted before, but I believe we can accomplish the purpose and practice social distancing at the same time.” Webb said the in-person orientation sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. “Students will receive an email invitation for the in-person sessions which are limited for social distancing,” Webb said. “One guest will be allowed to attend with each student.” Each session will serve as a complement to ABAC’s online videos which are also a key part of the orientation process. In the summer of 2020, all orientation sessions were online because of the pandemic. “This is our attempt to offer interested students a more hands-on transition to ABAC,” Webb said. “All of our key offices will be open so that after the session, students can visit with financial aid, student accounts, accommodation services, and other offices.” For more information about “Starting as a Stallion,” students can contact Webb at dwebb@abac.edu. Fall semester classes begin at ABAC on Aug. 11. ###

ClicRtechnologies Donates Livestock Weighing Technology to ABAC

TIFTON–New technology is at the fingertips of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students thanks to a $40,000 donation to the ABAC Foundation from ClicRtechnologies. A ClicRweight Bovine Solution System will be utilized at the Beef Unit at ABAC’s J.G. Woodroof Farm. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of ABAC’s School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is excited about the partnership with ClicRtechnologies. “The ClicRweight Bovine Solution System will provide valuable data for the management and operation of our Beef Unit,” Kistler said. “More importantly, it will be utilized by many of our academic programs such as Animal Science and Livestock Production as well as Agribusiness and Agricultural Technology and Systems Management.” Kistler said having students use the latest in technology will help them have the knowledge and skills they need for future employment. Joseph Spicola Sr., Chairman and CEO of ClicRtechnologies, believes ranchers need to embrace technology or get left behind because technology is the future of agriculture. “We hope to emphasize skills gained in the different degrees and tracks offered at ABAC to encourage people to pursue an education in agriculture,” Spicola said. “We believe ABAC will give ranchers and small family farms an opportunity to see this revolutionary technology firsthand.” ClicRtechnologies creates technology that obtains weights in challenging situations. The ClicRweight Bovine Solution System uses 3D imaging technology that reads cattle, pig, and alligator weights without disrupting the routine of the animals. “The School of Agriculture and Natural Resources is thankful for the generosity of Mr. Spicola and all of the folks at ClicRtechnologies,” Kistler said. “We are looking forward to a long partnership.” ###

ABAC Plans Return to Normal For 2021 Fall Semester

TIFTON—To use a couple of time-honored expressions, Dr. David Bridges does not want to jump the gun, but he does want to be ahead of the curve. Bridges, the president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College since 2006 and the longest serving president in the University System of Georgia (USG), says ABAC students can expect a return to normalcy for the 2021 fall semester. “Our plan is to return to normal operations in the fall,” Bridges said. “I want our existing students to know that, and I particularly want incoming freshmen to know it.” Like all the other 25 institutions in the USG, ABAC offered only online classes for the final weeks of the 2020 spring semester and the entirety of the summer term because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students during the 2020 fall term took a mix of online classes and in-person classes. Now in the middle of the 2021 spring semester, ABAC students take mostly in-person classes with some online classes. “I want students taking in-person instruction in a safe environment this fall,” Bridges said. “We will make available a limited number of online classes for those students who still may not feel comfortable sitting in a lecture hall.” Bridges is even thinking beyond the classroom. “I want students living in on-campus housing, going to club meetings, playing sports, and eating in the dining hall,” Bridges said. “Give our students what they deserve, the total college experience. “ABAC has always been known for its friendly atmosphere and a quality education that prepares students for life. Even during the pandemic, we have not backed off that premise.” ABAC enrolled 3,990 students during the 2020 fall term, the second largest enrollment in the history of the college. Those students came from 155 of Georgia’s 159 counties, 53 of Florida’s 67 counties, 19 states, and 24 countries. A record 2,353 of those students enrolled in the 12 bachelor’s degree programs that ABAC offers. Classes are scheduled to begin for the ABAC fall semester on Aug. 11. ###

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Portrait of Kim Spinks Award Winner

Spinks Selected for Roy R. Jackson Award at ABAC

TIFTON—Kim Spinks has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Roy R. Jackson Award for Staff Excellence, presented each year to the top staff member at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Presented in memory of Roy R. Jackson, Sr., award recipients must have completed at least 10 years of continuous full-time service to ABAC. Award criteria states that the staff member must be dependable, loyal, reliable, and one who contributes to the growth and development of the college beyond the normal call of duty. Now serving as the Office Coordinator for the Office of Academic Support, Spinks has been an ABAC staff member for 22 years. A coworker states Spinks is always pleasant and professional, whether her focus is on a recruit, applicant, student, graduate, parent, alumnus, visitor or an ABAC employee. She has proven to be flexible and adaptive at ABAC, serving in various positions and working well as a team member or alone, depending on the task, and is always ready and willing to assist any co-worker when needed in a pinch. Another coworker writes that Spinks processes graduation applications promptly and adds a personal touch by sending a lovely congratulatory note to the soon-to-be ABAC alumnus as well as to their advisor. In so doing, it keeps both the advisor and student up-to-date and informed. One colleague says Spinks is service-oriented and “others-minded, always going above and beyond to assist ABAC students. I believe our students, faculty, and staff would all agree that this year’s awardee has a genuine desire to make the ABAC experience positive.” ###

portrait of Dr. Farish Mulkey Award winner

ABAC Faculty Member Selected for Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame

TIFTON—Dr. Farish Mulkey, an assistant professor of agricultural education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been selected for the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame. Mulkey joins two current ABAC faculty members, Dr. Frank Flanders and Von Peavy, in the Hall of Fame. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Mulkey and the fact that ABAC now has three active faculty members in the Hall of Fame,” Dr. Andrew Thoron, Head of the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at ABAC, said. “I think this proves without a doubt that ABAC is vested in agricultural education in Georgia.” Mulkey began his 32-year career in agricultural education as a classroom agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Macon County High School in 1988. His career continues today at ABAC where he advises, teaches, and prepares the next crop of agricultural educators. In a career that saw him teach both middle and high school in Macon County, Worth County, Bainbridge, and Stephens County, Mulkey and his students have achieved a great deal of success. He served as advisor to 61 state degree recipients, 14 American Degree recipients, 18 state and four national Career Development Event winners, and nine state proficiency award winners. The role of an agricultural education teacher is very diverse. In addition to teaching and guiding students, agriculture teachers are expected to make an impact on their community and their profession. Just as he did as an FFA advisor, Mulkey excelled at those expectations. Mulkey served as a Young Farmer advisor, providing instruction for adults in his community, was named Teacher of the Year in his school system, participated on local Farm Bureau boards, and served on committees within the Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association. A Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame spokesman said that Mulkey's very decorated and successful career was not highlighted by the many plaques, trophies, and ribbons that his students earned; rather his career is highlighted by the character that he exhibited and instilled in the young people he taught in class. ###

Portrait of Dr. Audrey Luke-Morgan award winner

Luke-Morgan Receives Teaching Excellence Award at ABAC

TIFTON—Dr. Audrey Luke-Morgan has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Teaching Excellence at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. First awarded in 1965, the purpose of the prestigious award is to publicly recognize superior instruction and exemplary service to the college by honoring one faculty member each year, as chosen by a special representative committee of faculty and students. The recipient is honored with a recognition plaque and a monetary award. To be eligible for consideration for the Donaldson Teaching Excellence Award, a faculty member must be a full-time instructor with five or more years of continuous service to the college. An Associate Professor in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Luke-Morgan has taught at ABAC since 2012. She received an associate degree from ABAC, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Georgia (UGA), a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from UGA, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. To best meet the needs of her students, Luke-Morgan has each student complete a biography and self-assessment so that she can tailor each course to target skills such as public speaking or use of spreadsheet software. “I believe that you must move out of your comfort zone to reach your full potential to learn and grow,” Luke-Morgan said. Several letters of support reference Luke-Morgan’s passion and fire for her subject matter. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said, “she strives to kindle each student’s curiosity for lifelong learning.” A peer recommendation states that she peaks the students’ interest in introductory classes where they often struggle with terminology with “practical and everyday examples to demonstrate use and application. She then pushes her juniors and seniors to rise to a much higher bar of performance in her classes.” A former student writes, “It is very easy to lecture about all of the things you know, but to translate that knowledge into a conversation that everyone can understand is a special gift that makes the best professors.” Luke-Morgan was the 1992 valedictorian at Fitzgerald High School. In 1994, she was selected as the top academic student at ABAC, receiving the J.G. Woodroof Scholar award with a 4.0 grade point average. ###

Museum Curator and Student Intern

ABAC’s Polly Huff Receives Top Honor from Georgia Association of Museums

TIFTON—The Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) recently honored Polly Huff from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with the Museum Professional Award, the industry’s top honor for a museum professional currently serving in the state of Georgia. Huff, the curator at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture (GMA) in Tifton, received the award at the virtual meeting of the Georgia Association for Museums Conference. “The Middleton Shoe Shop,” an original exhibition at the Museum curated by Huff, also won the Exhibit Award in Category 2, which encompasses project budgets below $25,000. Nominating Committee Chair Virginia Howell, Director of the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, and members April Moon Carlson, Independent Museum Consultant; Christa McCay, Curator of the Marietta Museum of History; and Holly Beasley Wait, Director of the National Civil War Naval Museum, singled out Huff for “more than two decades of producing innovative exhibits, maximizing limited resources in incredibly creative ways, and being an advocate for the museum field.” In her role as the ABAC curator, Huff oversees a collection of more than 100,000 GMA artifacts. She has designed and installed over 100 significant exhibitions at the GMA, the Art Gallery, and satellite locations; oversees the institutional archives on campus and at the Museum; handles the curatorial duties at ABAC’s Fulwood Garden Center; and is the staff liaison for Tifton’s Wiregrass Farmers Market. “The Middleton Shoe Shop” project took the Museum’s curatorial staff on a journey across the country and back to the 1800s when a cache of mysterious shoe shop artifacts donated by an Indiana resident was discovered at the GMA 40 years after the donation had taken place. Months of intense research with the assistance of museum colleagues from across the country eventually identified the shoemaker in the lone photograph stored with the artifacts as James Middleton, a Tifton shoemaker who lived and worked in the area in the late 1800s-early 1900s. Huff and restoration specialist David King built an exhibit duplicating the exact scene of Middleton’s shoe shop depicted in that lone photograph. Working with local restoration photographer Charles Styer, Huff recreated a life size rendering of the shop complete with a wall mural of the Middleton wagon, a lifelike museum figure replica of Middleton himself, and a display of several hundred shoemaking artifacts. The exhibit’s wooden shoe forms were treated with a special museum wax, which infused the nostalgic scent of shoeshine paste into the experience. When the pandemic brought everything to a halt in 2020, Huff and her senior media intern, Tristin Clements from Tifton, filmed the exhibit installation and converted the opening into a virtual event, offering it to Museum guests in the early days of the pandemic to the sound of a nostalgic 1890s tune. Huff was recently elected for a third term on the GAM Board of Directors. She is a frequent panelist and presenter for the state organization and its membership. ###

Faculty presenting to students

ABAC Begins Four-Day Work Week

TIFTON—For the second consecutive summer, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will utilize a four-day work week. ABAC President David Bridges said ABAC’s hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on a Monday through Thursday basis. The college will be closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “Closing three days a week will save energy during the hot months of the summer,” Bridges said. “Employees can also enjoy a three-day weekend with their families during this time.” The four-day ABAC work week began May 17 will continue through July 24. Summer term classes begin at ABAC on June 1. The fall semester opens Aug. 10. ###

Meredith McGlamory award winner and Dr. David Bridges

Abbeville Graduate Receives Top Award at ABAC Commencement

TIFTON—Meredith McGlamory, an Agricultural Communication major from Abbeville, received the ABAC Alumni Association Award as the top graduate participating in the commencement ceremony on Friday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Because of social distancing guidelines, ABAC hosted three commencement ceremonies, two in Tifton and one in Bainbridge. A total of 302 graduates participated in the ceremonies. McGlamory received a plaque and a check for $500 from the ABAC Alumni Association, which sponsors the award and conducts the interviews which lead to the selection of the winner. The recipient of the award must participate in the commencement ceremony. The award recognizes scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. From her role as Homecoming Queen to the time she rode on horseback carrying the flag for the Alpha Gamma Rho Breast Cancer Barrel Race, McGlamory has experienced all sides of ABAC. A stellar academic student with a 3.73 grade point average, McGlamory was a Distinguished Honor Student and made the Dean’s List and the President’s List. She interned with Bayer Crop Science where she worked on experimental chemical plots in row crops. She also went on a study abroad trip to Belize and took part in a mission trip to Bolivia. At one point in her ABAC career, McGlamory was the Social Media Intern for the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition. She also served as an active member of the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow. McGlamory has worked at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show, and she traveled with other ABAC students on the annual Farm Tour when they visited Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Closer to home, McGlamory has guided visitors on the Sunbelt Expo trams, dealt with small animals at Branch’s Vet Clinic, and worked in Plant Pathology at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station. A Ms. ABAC Finalist, she often helped to recruit new students at Stallion Day. One of McGlamory’s references said, “she strives for success in everything she does and always represents ABAC in a positive manner.” McGlamory plans to travel to New Zealand after graduation to take part in an outreach ministry program. Summer term classes begin at ABAC on June 1, and the fall semester opens Aug. 10. ###

News Archive

ABAC names Woodroof Scholar, Students of Distinction winners

TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Annah Williams, an Agribusiness major from Lenox, was chosen as this year’s J.G. Woodroof Scholar, the highest academic honor the college awards each year.Williams was among four students honored during a ceremony at ABAC Thursday afternoon. Williams was also selected as the Student of Distinction for the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.Also winning Student of Distinction honors in their respective schools were Tucker Parrish, a Business major from Adel, for the Stafford School of Business; Janeth Ovalle, a Nursing major from Douglas, for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; and Delaney Garcia, a Writing and Communications major from Albany, for the School of Arts and Sciences.According to Dr. Amy Willis, interim Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, the students are chosen by faculty in each school from the list of Superior Honor and Distinguished Honor students, who are classified by their earned hours and grade point averages at the end of fall semester 2023. Many other factors are considered during this selection, including but not limited to involvement in engaged learning activities, participation in clubs and school and college-sponsored activities, service in their communities, leadership among peers, and strong interpersonal skills.“These students are considered our top students and are sure to become role models in their communities and serve as leaders in their professions,” Willis said.The Woodroof Scholar, named for the first president of ABAC, is also honored at the University System of Georgia’s Academic Recognition Day. Criteria from the University System includes a 4.0 GPA (or close to it) and qualities characteristic of outstanding scholastic achievement at the institution. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of ABAC’s School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said Williams is a natural born leader who is dedicated to agriculture and goes above and beyond to take the lead on projects. He added that she displays admirable commitment to operating and managing her family’s farm, church, and community.She has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her academic career, making the President’s List every semester she has taken 12 or more hours. She has participated in group projects, oral presentations, and research activities that are built into many courses in the Agribusiness curriculum and has completed an internship at Atlantic and Southern Equipment, Williams also attended Woman in Agriculture and Natural Resources Club and Agripreneurs Club meetings, and was selected to serve as a SANR Leader, providing student leadership and recruitment at key events such as the Ag Expo and Stallion Days.Parrish has been active in the Student Government Association, the men’s cross country team, and has served as President of both the Entrepreneurs Club (Enactus) and the Circle K International Club. He was a founding member of the ABAC Homelessness Club and served as a Stafford Scholar, all while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.Dr. Renata Elad, Dean of the Stafford School of Business, said Parrish is engaged in the classroom, anxious to soak up a full, well-rounded experience, is kind, thoughtful, judicious, and always quick to point out the achievements of his peers, who highly respect his insight.Dr. Jeffrey Ross, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, said Ovalle is known for communication and collaboration in the online classroom environment, excelling in course assignments, being remarkably active and responsive in activities and discussions, and demonstrating synthesis of course materials in her critical thinking and scholarly writing.Ovalle is a non-traditional student who maintains a full-time course load while also working both in the Intensive Care Unit at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta and in the Medical/Pediatrics Unit at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas. She was recently named Caregiver of the Month at Coffee Regional, recognizing her commitment to being a team player by assisting both coworkers and patients.Dr. Matthew Anderson, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, said Garcia excelled in many roles and set herself apart by being unafraid to ask critical questions, capable of expressing contrary views diplomatically, and able to articulate her thoughts clearly.Garcia has been active with ABAC’s school newspaper, The Stallion, where she rose from staff writer to editor-in-chief; hosted “Horsin’ Around” on the ABAC radio station WPLH, and assisted with producing the Pegasus literary magazine. Her work has been featured on the cover of Georgia Magazine, and she is currently interning at WALB.

ABAC Spring Commencement Set for May 9

TIFTON —Georgia Supreme Court Justice John Ellington will address nearly 360 Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduates during two commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 9. The ceremonies will be held at the college’s Gressette Gymnasium.Campus Communications Coordinator Jordan Beard said the 10 a.m. event will include graduates from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences. The 3 p.m. event includes graduates from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Stafford School of Business.A pinning ceremony for nursing graduates will begin at noon and the Agricultural Education pinning will begin at 5 p.m.“This is always the most special day of the year,” Brundage said. “It is exciting to me that at ABAC, these graduates received a fantastic education at an affordable price. We know they are ready for whatever their next step will be. They’ve worked hard for this achievement, and we can’t wait to celebrate with them.”Ellington, an ABAC alum of the class of 1979, was elected to the Georgia Supreme Court in 2018. He was recently awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award at ABAC’s 2024 Homecoming.Brooke Patry, the outgoing president of ABAC’s Student Government Association, will also address students at both ceremonies.The commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed by visiting watch.abac.edu or the ABAC Facebook page.

ABAC’s Garcia awarded Georgia Power scholarship

TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College junior Stephanie Garcia, a nursing student from Cairo, was the selected recipient for the Georgia Power Foundation Scholarship for the Spring 2024 semester.The scholarship is designated for a full-time ABAC student from an underrepresented population with financial need.Garcia has a goal to get her bachelor’s degree in nursing and become a traveling nurse. She said it will combine her love for traveling to new places and caring for others.“I attended ABAC because it was close to home and had a great reputation for their nursing program,” Garcia said. “And so far, I agree.”“It was such a privilege to meet and spend time with Stephanie,” said Georgia Power’s Tifton Area Manager Toni Reid. “She is a first-generation college student making straight A’s. She is driven and very deserving of this scholarship provided by the Georgia Power Foundation. Supporting our future leaders is how we demonstrate action in our community. We do so by way of scholarships, educational programming, and educator training. I look forward to continued partnership with ABAC and the Tifton community.”The Georgia Power Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is the third-largest corporate giving foundation in Georgia. The Foundation provides grants to organizations that are enriching communities across the state and is part of Georgia Power’s philanthropic focus to empower Education, Environmental Stewardship and Communities.

ABAC hosts Student Art Show

TIFTON - Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is hosting a Student Art Show to feature the diverse range of creative talent on campus.The exhibition, organized by Dr. Chris Beals, associate professor of biology, features a collection of original 2D and 3D art, including pencil and ink drawings, photorealism, paintings, sculptures and photography.The Student Art Show provides a platform for students from various majors to display their original works, highlighting the diverse creative talents within the ABAC community. A committee comprised of ABAC faculty and staff will review the submissions and select one piece as "Best in Show," which will be announced at a later date.Among the students whose works are currently on display are: Elliot Amos, Stella Humphlett, Cass Uchida, Madison Crosby, Jermaine Robinson, Andrew Jimenez, Brooklyn Cersey, Savannah Merritt, Izzy Sauls, Brooklynn Sullivan, Miguel Escobar, Hannah Jones, Turner Conger, Lilly Bailey, Jeffrey Holland and Bethany Rentz.“Dr. Beals serves as a great example to students in this way,” Dr Jennifer Huang, head of the Fine Arts Department, said. “In addition to teaching both lower and upper division courses in ABAC’s Department of Science and Math, he also serves as an art faculty member in ABAC Arts Academy.”The ABAC Arts Academy provides drawing, painting and music lessons to students of all ages through both group and private sessions. Those interested in exploring their artistic talents can find more information on the ABAC Arts Academy website or by contacting Huang.The Student Art Show is currently open to the public until April 30. The exhibition can be viewed from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at Edwards Hall, ABAC's Fine Arts Building, located on the front circle of the campus.For more information about the Student Art Show or ABAC's Fine Arts programs, please visit the ABAC website at www.abac.edu/fine-arts-academy/.

Farmland enclosure subject of April 25 Usher Lecture Series event

TIFTON – The enclosure movement and its effect on Mississippi’s farmers will be the topic for the next installment of the Jess Usher Lecture Series at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on April 25. Dr. John Cable, an assistant professor of History in ABAC’s School of Arts & Sciences, will be giving the lecture. In the mid-20th century, mechanization and consolidation of cotton farming left no place for sharecroppers, tenants, and small landowners. To understand how and why southern elites and farm leaders displaced so many people in such a short time, the presentation will look at how settler invasion and Indian removal should inform today’s view of the so-called "southern enclosure movement." Cable recently launched a book on the subject, “Southern Enclosure: Settler Colonialism and the Postwar Transformation of Mississippi.” His book examines the mechanization and consolidation of cotton farming between World War II and the 1960s. The lecture is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at ABAC’s Howard Auditorium. Each Usher Lecture Series event is free and open to the public.The Jess Usher Lecture Series features a carefully curated slate of dynamic presentations, drawn from a wide range of disciplines and delivered by distinguished members of the ABAC faculty as well as distinguished guest lecturers. Formerly known as the ABAC Lecture Series, this special collection has been renamed in memory of Dr. Jess Usher, an ABAC professor and former lecturer in the series, who passed away in June 2021.

Annual ABAC Jazz Festival scheduled for April 18

TIFTON – The annual Jazz Festival at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is scheduled for April 18.High school bands from across the state will gather to perform mini-concerts on ABAC’s campus from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The community is invited to attend at no charge.Sponsored by the Department of Fine Arts and the ABAC Arts Connection, the festival promotes jazz and jazz education in South Georgia. The bands will perform in The Meadows in the center of the ABAC campus. The entertainment will continue into the evening when the ABAC Jazz Ensemble performs along with The Jim Gasior Trio in a concert beginning at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium.Gasior is the Associate Professor of Jazz and Instrumental Studies at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. As a pianist and keyboardist, he has performed and/or recorded with international pop artists and groups such as Ricky Martin, Kelly Clarkson, Alih Jey, and Chayanne as well as jazz artists like Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, and others.The Jazz Ensemble performs a broad range of music encompassing styles such as swing, bebop, Afro-Cuban, bossa nova, fusion, and more. The group has done three European tours, performed for the opening of the Olympic Games, jazz festivals, and two World’s Fairs.