Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to graduate 267 in Dec. 14 commencement ceremonies

TIFTON — Two hundred and sixty-seven new graduates of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will receive their diplomas in two ceremonies during the school’s commencement exercises on Dec. 14.

Campus Communications Coordinator Jordan Beard, who coordinates the ceremonies, 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.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences will hold its pinning ceremony at noon. All commencement exercises and ceremonies will be held in Gressette Gymnasium.

“Graduation day is one of my favorite days of the year,” ABAC President Tracy Brundage said in a news release. “It’s a special day for the graduates, for their families, and for all of us. I’m looking forward to presenting their diplomas as a reward for their hard work in the classroom.”

A total of 123 graduates are scheduled to participate in the morning ceremony, while 106 graduates are expected to participate in the afternoon ceremony.

Cathy Cox, the president of Georgia College and State University and an ABAC alumna, will be the commencement speaker at both ceremonies. She earned her associate’s degree at ABAC before attending the University of Georgia and then Mercer Law School. She practiced law in Bainbridge and Atlanta for 10 years, during which time she was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives and was the first woman to be elected as Georgia’s Secretary of State.

ABAC Student Government Association President Brooke Patry also will speak at the commencement exercises.

Other participants in the ceremonies will include interim Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Amy Willis; Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences Jeffrey Ross; Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Matthew Anderson; Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Mark Kistler; and Dean of the Stafford School of Business Renata Elad.

Melissa Pierzchajlo, the president of the ABAC Alumni Association, will induct the graduates into the association. Director of Public Relations Emeritus Mike Chason will call the graduates’ names as they receive their diplomas.

The ceremonies can be viewed online at watch.abac.edu and the ABAC Facebook page.

Spring semester classes will start on Jan. 9.

Special Photo: ABAC