COLLEGE NEWS

Abraham Baldwin College President David Bridges recently was selected to receive the Honorary American Future Farmers of America Degree from the National FFA Organization. The award is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment.
The Honorary American FFA Degree recognizes people who have “gone beyond the valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturists,” a news release stated.
Bridges received the honor during an onstage presentation at the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 507,763 student members — all preparing for leadership and careers in science, business and technology of agriculture — as part of 7,439 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Darton College placed third in recent the Center for Digital Education and Converge magazine’s fifth annual Digital Community Colleges Survey. Darton ranks third among mid-sized colleges — between 3,000 and 7,500 students.
The survey showcases and rewards community colleges around the nation that provide a high level of service to their faculty, staff and students through information technology. Community colleges were placed in three categories based on size of enrollment for the 2008-09 academic year. The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute providing education and industry leaders with decision support, research and educational services to help them effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.

ENROLLMENT DEADLINE

The application deadline for the spring term at Abraham Baldwin College is Dec. 1. Classes will begin Jan. 11. There is an application fee of $20 to apply for admission to ABAC.
“We encourage all prospective students to apply online,” said Donna Webb, director of enrollment services. “The site, www.abac.edu, gives step-by-step procedures on how to apply for admissions, as well as financial aid and other services.”
All information and fees required for entry into ABAC must be completed by Dec. 1 to ensure that the Enrollment Service office has time to process the application. Applications received after Dec. 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

APPOINTMENTS

Cassandra Smith was recently appointed Albany State University’s associate vice president in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.
Smith is a graduate of Stillman College, where she majored in biology. She obtained her doctorate in medical and molecular microbiology and immunology from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. She received postdoctoral training at the National Institution for Occupational Safety and Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Morgantown, W.Va.

— The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia recently named Brooks A. Keel as the new president of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Keel, 53, was the vice chancellor for research and economic development and professor of biological sciences at Louisiana State University.
“Dr. Keel has Georgia roots, and is a graduate of two USG institutions, so he is an outstanding success story for the University System and the state. He brings tremendous academic credentials, understands our state challenges on all dimensions and has the experience to link industry and the academy together in creative and compelling ways,” Chancellor Erroll Davis said. “I have no doubt that he will be a great partner for the board while leading Georgia Southern to the next level.”
Keel earned a Ph.D. in reproductive endocrinology from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and a bachelor of science in biology and chemistry from Augusta College (now Augusta State University) in Augusta.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

The Georgia School Public Relations Association recently presented five awards to the Dougherty County School System’s Public Information staff of R.D. Harter, director, Lana Stuart, webmaster, and Sonya Spillers, administrative assistant.
The school system won the Gold Award of Excellence for its Web site, its Choice Opportunities television and brochure marketing campaign, and its the Back to School newspaper supplement, which is printed and distributed by The Albany Herald. The system’s back-to-school tabloid “From the DCSS to You!” received the Best in Category Award in the special publications category. The school system also won the Bronze Award of Merit for its weekly update system newsletter.

— “Target Loves Libraries,” a national promotion by Target Corp., recently selected the Dougherty International Education Middle School media program to receive a “day of service” from Albany Target store employees. The program puts employees in local school libraries to help promote the importance of reading.
Amy Clark with the Albany Target, along with several Target employees came to the Dougherty Middle to provide help with installing two magazine racks they purchased for the media center. They also assisted with processing reading sets that were purchased for classroom libraries.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

More than 100 students from Dougherty Comprehensive High School and Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany recently participated in technology workshops inside Fort Valley State University’s Mobile Information Technology Center.
The center is a high-tech computer classroom housed in a 72-foot semi-trailer. It holds 20 individual training stations and an on-board 35-kilowatt generator.
Charlie Grace, FVSU’s Dougherty County extension agent, coordinated the visit with Dougherty County School System officials.
“I wanted to expose students in Southwest Georgia to advance technology, while simultaneously introducing them to FVSU programs,” Grace said. Juniors and seniors who participate in the Career Technology and Agriculture Education Program attended the workshop. The program consists of hands-on courses pertaining to areas such as construction, technology and entrepreneurship. It’s designed to prepare students for continuing their education at universities and technical schools.

GRADUATES

Arthur Jones, 83, graduated from Albany Technical College’s GED program in April 2008 and recently was awarded the Golden Eagle GED Student of the Year by the Technical College System of Georgia at the GED awards luncheon in Atlanta.

BOOK SIGNING

South Georgia Regional Achievement Center social studies teacher Bill Lightle will sign copies of his second book “Mill Daddy: The Life & Times of Roy Davis” at 7 p.m. Thursday at LaGrange College, 505 Byron Plantation Road in Albany. He will also read selections from the book as well as from his previously released book titled “Made or Broken: Football & Survival in the Georgia Woods.”

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