ABAC Spring Commencement Set for May 8

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will hold two spring commencement ceremonies on Thursday, May 8. 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.”

ABAC alumnus Dr. Jeremy Paradice will be the commencement speaker at the morning ceremony, and alumnus Walter Rabon, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will be the speaker for the afternoon ceremony.

Paradice received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2023 and currently serves as chief resident in internal medicine at Atrium Health Navicent. He plans to return to Tifton to practice medicine with Southwell.

Rabon started with DNR in 1993 and has served in various roles in the department throughout his 32-year career. He was appointed as the seventh commissioner in 2023 and oversees approximately 1,700 employees who carry out the department’s statewide responsibility for the management and conservation of Georgia’s natural, historic, and cultural resources, including fish and wildlife, land conservation, and coastal resources.

Jenna Williams, 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.