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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

September 6, 2024

ThunderCon 2024: The Return of the Con

TIFTON – Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of fandom and fun at ThunderCon 2024, the second annual pop culture convention at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Scheduled for September 14, this highly anticipated event promises to be bigger, better, and more exciting than ever before.“We are very excited to host ThunderCon again this year,” said Shawn Burnette, Coordinator of Student Activities. “We’ve expanded our offerings, and will have vendors, panels and presentations, and some exciting featured guests.” Hosted in the Carlton Center from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., ThunderCon aims to bring together ABAC students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the Tifton community and surrounding areas to celebrate a wide variety of interests and hobbies, from anime and comic books to video games, sci-fi, fantasy and trading card games. This year’s featured guests include Melissa Sternenberg, a Texas-based voice actor best known for voicing Maria Calavera from RoosterTeeth's RWBY, as well as voice acting for numerous video games such as Memory Trees: Forget Me Not, Edge of Eternity, and Zodiac Axis; the Stars of Kraken Pro-Wrestling, including Hold My Beer Hanson of the All Star Special, the Gods Gift World Champion Josh Breezzyy, the California Nightmare Ehren Black, and the "Original Gothic Gangster" Trever Aeon; Jess Anderson, author of The Source Keepers fantasy series; Carlin Morrison, a local realistic pencil artist and production extra working local productions, mostly notably on AMC's The Walking Dead; and Chris Garrett, an artist, poet, and award-winning writer of the Scairy Tales comic book series, The Finleys.“We’re also planning to have more than 30 vendors with tables and booths,” said Burnette. “These vendors include artists and authors, and Tifton’s own Gray Ghost Comics and The Zone Collectibles will also be here.”According to Burnette, the event will feature several presentations over different topics including “Comic Strips and Relationships,” “Horror Films and the Satanic Panic” as well as workshops including “The Anatomy of Flying Things: Draw Your Wings Right!” and a miniature painting clinic. Additionally, cosplayers of all skill levels are invited to compete in the cosplay contest, showcasing their creativity and craftsmanship.More information is available at link.abac.edu/thundercon.

September 5, 2024

The Breakfast Club concert opens Carter Arts and Lecture Events

BAINBRIDGE – Travel back to the 80s on Thursday, September 26 with acclaimed tribute band The Breakfast Club.Formed in 1993, The Breakfast Club bills itself as the longest running, most recognized 80s tribute band in the United States. The four-person group uses authentic 80s equipment to bring back the authentic sound from the heyday of music television. From modern rock to synth-pop and glam metal to punk, The Breakfast Club hits the highlights of the era, with a song list featuring everything from Bob Jovi, Def Leppard and Van Halen, to Pat Benatar, Duran Duran and Michael Jackson.The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Charles H. Kirbo Center on ABAC’s Bainbridge campus.This concert kicks off the Carter Arts and Lecture Series, which is entering its 12th season. The series is committed to enhancing the educational experience by bringing compelling speakers, distinguished authors, and performing arts to the ABAC Bainbridge campus. These events are designed to bring the campus and wider public together to educate, inspire and spark imagination. This series is sponsored by the Thomas M. and Irene B. Kirbo Foundation. Event sponsors include First National Bank of Decatur County, First Port City Bank, Sun Stop, First State Bank of Bainbridge, Georgia Power, Dairy Queen, Marketing Communications Inc., PeoplesSouth Bank and Bainbridge Family Dentistry. Other events in this series include a lecture from poet Cody Smith on October 29 and a lecture from acclaimed athlete Charlie Ward on November 7. The series continues in 2025 with a lecture from author John B. Edwards on February 11, The Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s performance of Romeo and Juliet on March 13, and a jazz concert in Bainbridge Town Square on April 18 featuring trombonist Robert Edwards and vocalist Vanessa Perea with the ABAC Jazz Ensemble. All events in the Carter Arts and Lecture Series are free and open to the public with no ticket required. For more information visit www.artsatabac.edu

August 28, 2024

Florida students to earn ABAC credit for certifications: College, industry officials sign agreements to make plan official

TIFTON – Florida high school students who earn industry certifications can now receive credits toward their degrees in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources (SANR) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Wednesday morning, ABAC President Tracy Brundage was joined by Jeb Smith, President of the Florida Farm Bureau, and Tal Coley, CEO of the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA), as well as ABAC Provost and interim SANR Dean Dr. Jerry Baker, and Dr. Andrew Thoron, the Department Head for Agricultural Education and Communication, to sign two Memorandums of Understanding that make the agreements official. “Industry partners like the Florida Farm Bureau and the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association strengthen ABAC’s relationships with school-based agriculture programs and teachers in Florida,” Brundage said. “The reputation of our School of Agriculture and Natural Resources draws students from across the country. These agreements will help us continue to attract the best students from the state of Florida.” The agreements state that ABAC will award academic credit for students who complete any of a variety of certifications offered by Agriculture Education Services and Technology, Inc. (AEST), a subsidiary of the Florida Farm Bureau, and FNGLA. All the certifications reflect specific skills identified through a set of technical competencies and validated by industry examinations. “The FNGLA is excited to work with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College as they begin to award college credit to Florida students who hold an FNGLA certification,” Coley said. “We look forward to sharing the ABAC story and this fantastic opportunity for students who wish to pursue a degree in the agriculture sector.” The idea for the partnership began when Dr. Andrew Thoron, the head of ABAC’s Agricultural Education and Communication department, was in Florida assisting at an FFA career development event. He was approached by teachers about the possibility of students receiving ABAC credit for industry certifications. Thoron was involved in the development of certifications while previously teaching in Florida and recognized its potential. “This shows our commitment to Florida’s high school agriculture teachers and their efforts in preparing students to be college and career-ready,” he said. “The certifications represent essential knowledge, developed by industry professionals, and play a crucial role in employment within the field.” ABAC annually draws approximately 250 students from Florida, the most from any state other than Georgia. Thoron added that similar offerings for high school students in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina are being discussed.

August 27, 2024

Arts and Culture events kick off 2024, 2025 season

TIFTON – Tickets for the annual Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Arts and Culture events are now available.The season will kick off with a First Tuesday concert on September 3. The ABAC music faculty will present a classical concert starting at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium. Faculty members Jonathan Thurston, Dr. Andrew Peal, Marti Schert, Christopher Walker, and Dr. Jennifer Huang will perform pieces from the Baroque period through contemporary Broadway productions. On Thursday, September 26, the 80’s tribute band The Breakfast Club will perform at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center at ABAC Bainbridge beginning at 7 p.m. This concert is part of the Carter Arts and Lecture Series and is free and open to the public. The Breakfast Club performs hits by artists such as Guns’ n Roses, Journey, Bon Jovi, and Queen. The members of The Breakfast Club have shared the stage with numerous music legends including Whitesnake, The Romantics, Poison, Drivin’ n Cryin’, Hootie and The Blowfish, White Lion, The Smithereens, Edwin McCain, and many others.“This is one of the most celebrated groups performing 80s music on the road today,” said Wayne Jones, Arts Connection director. “It’s going to be a fun time for anyone coming to this concert.”The opening concert of the ABAC Presents! series is scheduled for Thursday, October 3 in Howard Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Acoustic band Young Original brings a unique fusion of jazz, classical, folk, and pop influences to classic American music. Formed in 2022, Young Original has performed across the United States and their original song “Doubt Your Love” was featured on NPR.“Young Original is one of the most musically dynamic groups I’ve seen in a long time,” Jones said. “These are all tremendous musicians whose dynamic take on this kind of music you really can’t miss.”The ABAC Tribute series will open on Tuesday, October 22 with 70s Rock Revival: The Troubadour Project. This six-person band performs favorites by Carole King, The Eagles, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Foreigner, Queen, the Rolling Stones, and more. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. at Howard Auditorium. “This group is one of the most dynamic celebrations of the music of the 70s I’ve ever seen,” said Jones. “It’s a fantastic production and phenomenal music.”ABAC Presents! and the ABAC Tribute Series are ticketed events. Tickets for Young Original are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. A subscription to all ABAC Presents! events is $80 for adults and $45 for youth. Tickets for 70s Rock Revival, Troubadour Project are $35.Tickets are available online at link.abac.edu/artsandculture24. A complete listing of events for the 2024-25 season can be found at https://www.artsatabac.com.

August 15, 2024

ABAC Welcomes Freshmen and Expands Offerings for Fall 2024

TIFTON – The bells in Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Driggers Hall belltower chimed merrily on Monday, welcoming the freshman class of 2028 to its Convocation Ceremony which signaled the beginning of a new academic year.New and returning students began classes on Tuesday.“We are excited to welcome the class of 2028 to campus and are equally thrilled to see our returning Stallions back for another year,” said Dr. Alan Kramer, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “Our welcome weekend was a huge success, filled with engaging activities for students, and we have a full slate of events planned for the semester.” ABAC President Tracy Brundage expressed her gratification with the college's continued growth, highlighting significant achievements beyond the classroom.“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made, particularly with the addition of four-year athletics, which has seen our student-athlete numbers more than double this semester,” Brundage said. “By allowing students to participate in sports throughout their entire degree program, we not only support their athletic and academic goals but also strengthen our community ties.” In response to rising student demand, ABAC has also increased the number of course sections offered this fall, rising from 1,299 to 1,340, a 3.16% increase.“This expansion in course sections reflects our commitment to providing a flexible and accessible education for all our students,” said Brundage. “With more sections available, we are able to accommodate more students and reduce scheduling conflicts, ensuring a smoother and more efficient learning experience.”The strategic growth in both athletic programs and academic offerings underscores ABAC’s dedication to enhancing the student experience and supporting the educational needs of its community. As the college continues to expand, it remains focused on delivering affordable, high-quality education and fostering an inclusive and vibrant campus environment.

August 15, 2024

ABAC officer completes ‘POST’ Certification Course

TIFTON – Sgt. Mike Tompkins of the ABAC Police Department recently completed the Georgia School Safety Specialist Certification program.The certification course, recently approved by the Georgia Peace Officers and Standards Training (POST) and hosted at the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, equips law enforcement officers with the necessary skills to identify potential threats and address safety issues on campus.“I’ve taken a lot of certification courses,” Tompkins said. “This class taught me things I’d learned nowhere else.” Tompkins, who has been with the ABAC Police Department since 2008, was selected by ABAC Police Chief Frank Strickland based on his exceptional training and dedication to the college, its students, faculty, and staff. He holds five instructor certifications in POST and serves as the department's training officer. He said that the training dealt with how to respond to an active shooter situation, steps that campuses can take to prevent those situations, and measures to maximize the safety of everyone on campus. “One of the things they taught that I’d never thought of was to have classroom numbers on the inside of the rooms, not just the outside,” he said. “In the event of an emergency, it’s not likely that anyone is going to remember the room number they’re in, so we don’t want people to have to unlock the door and look out into the hall to be able tell first responders what room they’re in. That’s an idea I’d never heard in any other training, and it makes sense.”The certification course, taught by industry experts John Anderson, Vice President of C. Anderson and Associates, LLC, and Colonel Chris Owens, First Line Security and Training, also provided Tompkins with knowledge on identifying potential threats before they escalate into violence. Additionally, officers were trained to recognize red flags and missed signals, enabling them to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. "Based on his tactical experience and leadership as the head of the SRT team, he was the perfect candidate to attend this important certification class," Strickland said.