TIFTON—Hannah King has been named the 2019-2020 president of the ABAC Ambassadors, one of the most prestigious student leadership organizations at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
King, daughter of David King and MeLisa King, is a senior biology major at ABAC. She is a Tifton native who grew up aspiring to be an Ambassador.
“I actually remember as a child seeing the Ambassadors in their green blazers and always thought they looked so professional,” King said. “It was a dream that I had as a child that has become a reality. I am so honored to have this experience to serve on this team for a third year.”
For that childhood dream to come true, King’s first step was to make ABAC her college of choice. Growing up in Tifton, she was familiar with the ABAC campus.
“I knew that ABAC was the perfect school for me, and I knew that I did not want to go anywhere but ABAC,” King said. “So many different qualities made me fall in love with the school. The campus is so beautiful, and the class sizes are smaller which allowed me to form great relationships with my professors.
“ABAC has a family atmosphere, and there is something for everyone to make ABAC feel like home.”
While attending ABAC, King has been involved with many activities and clubs on campus. In the fall, she will serve as the Historian for the TriBeta Honors Biological Society. She has also served as a Stallion Society Leader and as a member of the Inter Club Council Board of Directors. She is also a mentored research student.
King began her mentored research with Dr. Christopher Beals, an Associate Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences. She will start her third year of researching how different chemicals affect different plant species. Her mentored research earned her the honor of being the first winner of ABAC’s Student Engagement Programs Symposium.
“I can remember the moment that I was told I had won first place,” King said. “I was beyond surprised. That was my first big achievement in college.”
In her research, King looked at how different copper concentrations affected different plant species. This research is still being conducted, and the findings will be used to see how different chemicals can be removed from the environment.
This summer, King used an internship to shadow employees in every department at Phoebe Putney Health System.
“This experience will help in making my decision for my ultimate career goal,” King said. “My dream job is to become a pediatric physician assistant.”
As president of the Ambassadors, King plans to continue the success of the very popular program. She also hopes to get the Ambassadors involved with new organizations in the community.
King will officially begin her term as president of the Ambassadors when fall semester classes begin at ABAC on Aug. 13.
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