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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 graduates 350 at spring commencement

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduated 350 students during its Spring Commencement ceremonies Thursday. Georgia State Supreme Court Justice John Ellington, an ABAC alumnus, was the featured speaker. “First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be a graduate of ABAC and congratulate you on your graduation,” Ellington said. “The education, the values, the experiences you learn at ABAC prepare you for success in life. What impressed me most about ABAC was the opportunity to grow intellectually and as a person. Life is a team sport. At ABAC, along with critical thinking and curiosity, you learn to respect other people. You learn leadership and communication skills; you learn to value honesty and hard work and how to collaborate with other people, all while having fun.”The 2024 recipient of the David and Kim Bridges Award was Ivey Cook, an Agricultural Education major from Ty Ty. The award recognizes scholarship, leadership, and citizenship to a graduate receiving a four-year degree. Cook graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Georgia Teaching Certificate. She has been on the President’s List and the Dean’s List. She was also the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Student Spotlight for the Board of Regents meeting on ABAC’s campus. She served as an ABAC Ambassador, a School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Leader, an SGA Senator, an ABAC Peer Educator, and a member of the Collegiate FFA, the Horticulture Club, the Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, Agripreneurs, Women in Ag and Natural Resources, the Stallion Society, and the Agronomy Club.She also participated in the Green and Gold Gala, the Fall Festival, Homecoming, Freshman Move-In, Sunbelt Expo, Halloween Festival, SGA Easter Egg Hunt, AET Truck and Tractor Pull, An Evening for ABAC, Family Weekend and many more.“Many former students often say had it not been for their ABAC experience, they would not have achieved the personal and professional accomplishments they have enjoyed,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “We hear those stories, and we love them because they demonstrate the value of your time spent here with us on this incredible campus. It is our hope that we have inspired you with the qualities of resiliency, curiosity, determination, and the ability to share your own personal story that will unfold from this day forward.”Brooke Patry, Student Government Association President, urged her fellow graduates to take the ABAC spirit with them as they take the next step in their personal journeys.“As your SGA President, I have had the opportunity to witness the incredible spirit that defines our student body,” Patry said. “As we step into the next chapters of our lives, let us carry that spirit and those values with us. I am confident that each of you will achieve remarkable things. Our potential is limitless. Let’s go out into the world and show them what the ABAC spirit is all about – perseverance, determination, and the commitment to making a difference.”

ABAC Payment Plan offers financial relief

TIFTON – As stories of rising college costs nationally and frustrating delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process continue to concern prospective students and their families, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is touting a program to provide financial relief.The ABAC Payment Plan allows students to defer a portion of the payment for a semester or their account balances, whichever is less, until up to 60 days after the semester begins. Jessica Miller, ABAC’s Bursar, said the plan has proven popular with students and hopes more people take advantage of it.“The cost of attending ABAC offers exceptional value for a high-quality education,” she said. “This doesn’t happen by chance. Our focus is always on the students, exploring ways to support them and their families. As an ABAC alumna, I know first-hand the outstanding college experience ABAC delivers, and we aim to make it accessible to as many students as possible.”A student’s deferrable balance is calculated after all actual and expected financial aid is applied to the student’s account. At least half of the deferred balance is due before classes begin and the remaining amount is due approximately 60 days into the term. The timing is compressed during the Summer semester due to the shortened nature of the term. Miller added that freshmen planning to enroll this fall can enroll in an estimated payment plan, allowing them to extend their payments before they are officially registered.ABAC is the only state college in Georgia to offer an exclusive institutionally managed tuition payment plan. Students can choose from a variety of plans, each with different variables depending on enrollment date, percentage of down payment, number of payments, etc.“This is one of the many reasons that ABAC is so often recognized for being a great value while offering a fantastic education,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “Our tuition is among the lowest in the state, we award over $1.1 million in scholarships annually, and 59 percent of our graduates leave ABAC with no college debt. It’s an exciting time to be at ABAC and our payment plan is another way to assist our students and their families.”For more information on the ABAC Payment Plan, visit www.abac.edu/affordability .

Ellis receives teaching excellence award at ABAC

TIFTON — Diantha Ellis has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Teaching Excellence at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College."To be presented with this award by my dear English professor, Mrs. Rosalyn Ray Donaldson, who is the very incarnation of an exemplary teacher, is a true honor,” said Ellis. “Equally special to me is the strong support of both my colleagues and students. Our students are the reason the ABAC faculty strive every single day for teaching excellence."The purpose of this award, which originated 59 years ago, 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. To be eligible for consideration for the Donaldson Teaching Award, a faculty member must be a full-time instructor with five or more years of continuous service to the college. Ellis is a professor in the Stafford School of Business. She earned an Associate of Science degree from ABAC before heading to Georgia Southwestern for her BBA in Accounting and Management, and then to Valdosta State University for her MBA with a concentration in Accounting and Economics. Her educational journey continued at Mercer University School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor degree, with a concentration in Legal Writing. She also earned her Master of Laws degree, with a concentration in Business and Healthcare Law, from Emory University School of Law before circling back to ABAC, where she has taught since 2008.“She consistently demonstrates innovative teaching methods and a genuine passion for inspiring students,” one student said. “Her many degrees and certifications show her dedication not only to being a teacher but also continually being a student. All of this keeps her knowledge and skills relevant and up to date.”A peer said that her “learner-centered approach incorporates giving the students voice, choice, and ignites classroom participation. As a credentialed attorney, she advocates free speech and the exchange of ideas in a civil manner. Guided by ABAC pride and a commitment to her profession, her demeanor is always on proper display in all areas of her engagement."

Malinowski selected for Roy R. Jackson Award

Sara Malinowski, Program Support Specialist in the Office of Housing and Student Affairs, has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Roy R. Jackson, Sr. Award for Staff Excellence, presented each year to the top staff member at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.Award recipients must have completed at least 10 years of continuous full-time service to ABAC and be dependable, loyal, reliable, and one who contributes to the growth and development of the college beyond the normal call of duty.“I am honored to have been chosen for the Roy Jackson Staff Excellence Award,” said Malinowski. “I have worked with so many deserving and dedicated people during my 10 years at ABAC that I would have chosen over myself! I am incredibly thankful for my ABAC family past and present."Malinowski has had a variety of duties during her time at ABAC, from working in the bookstore to the cashier’s office, from technical support to the Office of the Dean of Students. She is currently responsible for the customer service training of the Housing staff, coordination of ABAC Housing’s room assignments process, and management of the StarRez Housing Management system. Also, she often aids with communication efforts for ABAC’s Orientation program.One of her nomination letters stated that she “always has a smile on her face and is willing to help no matter what. She goes above and beyond her duties.”Malinowski’s supervisor said that she “has demonstrated incredible customer service and dedication to ABAC during her time here. In her transition into the ABAC Housing office this year, she has built incredible relationships with students, and continues to make a positive impact. This role can often be the first line of communication for both parents and students and her smiling face and patient demeanor lend itself very well to effective office management.” "I am grateful to work at an institution that consistently makes a difference in the lives of our students” Malinowski said. "It's humbling to see them go forward and use the things they have learned here, both academically and personally, to better themselves and the world.”

Miller selected for E. Lanier Carson Leadership Award at ABAC

Jessica Miller has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the E. Lanier Carson Leadership Award at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Miller has served as Bursar and Director of Student Accounts at ABAC since 2015. Established in 1973 as the Carlton Award for Administrative Excellence, the award’s purpose is to recognize leadership contributions of an ABAC administrator who is not eligible for one of the faculty or staff awards. Each year, the recipient is selected by a campus-wide committee. “Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me on a personal level,” Miller said. “But it's also a testament to the amazing coworkers who support and inspire me. I could not accomplish what I do without them. Our ABAC team is amazing!” Miller came to ABAC in 2013 as the Student Accounts and Veterans Benefits Coordinator. She was promoted to Bursar and Director of Student Accounts in 2015, becoming the first Bursar in the college’s history. She streamlined processes within the Office of Student Accounts, developed comprehensive training programs and instituted audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. She was instrumental in implementing the ABAC payment plan in 2021, which offers students and parents the chance to pay for college over time instead of in one lump sum. Miller has also been a consistent champion for student veterans, serving as an advisor to the Student Veterans Organization and playing a key role in the creation of the Melvin L. Merrill Veterans Center. She is an ABAC graduate, receiving her Associate Degree in Business Administration before going on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Georgia Southwestern University. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in Education from Columbus State University.

Green & Gold Gala honors ABAC leaders

TIFTON – Leaders from various clubs and organizations at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College were honored Tuesday night during the college’s annual Green & Gold Gala, hosted by ABAC’s Student Government Association (SGA).For the second consecutive year, the college’s Pre-Vet Club was honored as the Club of the Year. With 72 active members, the Pre-Vet Club is comprised of ABAC students interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Along with its participation in several campus events, the club spent over nine months planning its first “Cattle Classic” last September. The event drew dozens of 4-12 grade students from four states that showed 110 cattle.“The club had 135 ABAC students that helped pull the event off,” said Shawn Burnette, ABAC’s Coordinator of Student Activities. “Their roles included seeking sponsorships, setting up social media accounts for the event, establishing an online registration process, designing and ordering items, reserving the facility, cleaning the facility before and after the event, organizing all of the volunteer efforts and so much more.”The staff of “The Stallion”, ABAC’s student newspaper, also honored the annual Pacesetter Award winners, selected annually from ABAC students, faculty, and staff members for their outstanding service to ABAC and its students. Abby Clark, the Marketing Media Coordinator in the Office of Marketing & Communications, was named this year’s Superior Pacesetter. Also receiving awards were students Izzy Altieri, Nicolas Johnson, and Jenna Williams; Dr. Joseph Devaney, an Associate Professor of History and Political Science, Career Center Coordinator Rachel Frantz; Studio & Media Coordinator Jarroid Johnson; Von Peavy, a Lecturer of Agricultural Engineering; Dr. Jewrell Rivers, a Professor of Sociology and Director of ABAC’s African-American Male Initiative program; Dr. Hans Schmeisser, a Professor of History and Political Science; and Shirley Wilson, an assistant in the Student Affairs Office.Burnette also presented the “Cabbie Awards”, presented annually for leadership and dedication with the Campus Activities Board. Anslee James received the Cabbie of the Year for Leadership while Taylor Lucas won the Cabbie of the Year for Dedication.Sunny Sparrow and Clark, advisors for the ABAC Ambassadors, honored three students for their involvement throughout the past academic year. Jenna Williams was named Ambassador of the Year, Reanna Brown was presented with the Advisor Award, and Laurie Jo Burt was named the Rookie of the Year. The Ambassadors, who conduct campus tours and represent the college at functions throughout the year, are selected for their enthusiasm, leadership ability and communication skills.Two SGA members were lauded for leadership in that organization. Vice President Tucker Parrish presented Jenna Williams with the President’s Award while Cierra Boney won the Star Senator Award. Advisor Diantha Ellis presented incoming SGA members – Rebecca Perez and Tori Wilson from the Stafford School of Business, Reanna Brown and Jeffrey Holland from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Wendy Gonzalez and Laura Wiley from the School of Arts and Sciences, Judiciary Christopher Marsh, Vice President Laurie Jo Burt, and President Jenna Williams.Greek Council President Trevor Douthit awarded Hayden Roberts as the Greek Man of the Year while Emma Harris was named Greek Woman of the Year. Also honored were this year’s Vice President Sydney Barry and 2024-25 President Abi Lampp and Vice President Jordan Hurley.