ABAC Celebrates Fall 2025 Commencement
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College celebrated 250 graduates during its fall commencement ceremonies Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
ABAC President Tracy Brundage reminded graduates that they are ready for their next step. “Embrace this moment fully, and when doubt whispers that you’re not ready for what’s ahead, silence it with this truth: you’ve earned your place here, and you have everything it takes to succeed.”
The featured speaker for the ceremony was Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes.
Holmes inspired the students by saying, “Bring your whole, authentic self to whatever you do. Take the risks that scare you. Find your people and hold onto them. Nobody does this alone.”
The Fall 2025 recipient of the David and Kim Bridges Award was Theresa Jewell Bowden (pictured below), an Animal Science major from Americus. The award honors a bachelor’s degree graduate who demonstrates scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
Bowden graduated summa cum laude and was a fixture on the President’s and Dean’s lists during her college career. She recently completed a summer internship at Philema Animal Hospital in Leesburg, Georgia, gaining hands-on experience across small animal, large animal and wildlife care. The hospital’s diverse caseload provided opportunities to assist with routine wellness exams, complex surgical procedures such as C-sections and kidney removals, and specialized treatments for livestock, including vaccinations, equine dental floats, hoof care and lameness evaluations
Bowden has been involved in a variety of clubs and activities, including the Pre-Vet Club and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She served in multiple leadership roles while at ABAC, each strengthening her organizational and communication skills. One of her final positions was Cattle Classic Committee Chairman. In this role, she oversaw event scheduling, promoted activities through social media, and secured financial support through sponsorships and fundraising efforts. These initiatives helped fund a scholarship awarded during the Cattle Classic, reflecting her commitment to both community engagement and helping her fellow classmates.
Student Government Association President Jenna Williams concluded the ceremony with remarks that thanked the graduates for their impact on the ABAC community.
“You proved that the true spirit of ABAC is not in its buildings or titles; it’s in the people who bring this place to life,” Williams said. “You may be leaving this campus, but the way you made people feel will walk these halls forever.”