By Susanne Reynolds

Special to The Post-Searchlight

From 9 a.m. until noon, ABAC at Bainbridge staff and faculty will be hosting a series of activities at the Student Wellness Center that showcase the many opportunities ABAC has to offer Southwest Georgia. (Please note: Registration will be from 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.).

Students choose to attend ABAC at Bainbridge for a variety of reasons, including affordability and small class sizes. According to student Linda Moore of Climax, one of the most important factors to her was that it was “home.”

“This college is special to me because it is my home. I feel that attending a college in my hometown gives me the option to spend more time and learn new things about the town that I am from,” she said. “This way I can tell others who are not familiar with Bainbridge or ABAC about the campus and community.”

Moore also commented on the affordability and the scholarship opportunities available to students in the community.

“Another factor in making my decision to attend ABAC at Bainbridge was saving as much money as I can in my college career, so I don’t spend the rest of my life paying my student loans off, “ she added. “At ABAC at Bainbridge, the tuition isn’t sky high and there are tons of easy ways to get access to scholarships.”

At “Stallion Day”, information sessions will be held throughout the morning, which include admissions, financial aid, program offerings, study abroad, honors program and more.

Dr. Jenny Harper will be speaking about the opportunities with study abroad.

In May, Harper and other ABAC at Bainbridge faculty members will take a group of students to Central Europe. Students will receive college credit for the summer semester by participating in the program. She plans to coordinate a study abroad experience to Italy and Greece in June 2020.

“The benefit of traveling abroad for students is that is gives them the opportunity to see other parts of the world they normally would not have the chance to visit on their own in a safe and guided environment,” said Harper. “This experience allows them a world view that can dramatically alter their beliefs and perspectives for the better, while earning college credit outside of the traditional classroom setting. The memories will last a lifetime.”

In addition to the Central Europe Study Abroad Program, ABAC at Bainbridge will offer an opportunity to study in Scotland this May with Dr. David Nelson.

While the College has always try to assist all students regardless of academic ability, ABAC at Bainbridge has also wanted to nurture and further those academically outstanding students and provide opportunities to those seeking more challenges from the college experience.

Dr. David Nelson, Director of the Honors Program at ABAC at Bainbridge will hold an information session regarding the Honors Program.

He stated, “Our Honors Program seeks to encourage independent learning and research from our top academic achievers. Through independent projects, field trips, book discussions, guest speakers, and annual trips outside of Georgia, the Honors program strives to expand the academic experience of our students.”

A nursing program information session will be conducted by Jeffrey Ross, Associate Chair of Nursing.

ABAC at Bainbridge will continue to offer the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program. There are both curriculum changes and admission criterion changes within the program that will be implemented beginning fall 2018.

The nursing program information session will aid interested students in obtaining the current, most accurate information from the nursing faculty and staff.

“Currently enrolled ASN students will also be available to discuss the program from a student perspective as well as demonstrate the innovative, simulation equipment available for instructional use in a virtual hospital housed within the multimillion-dollar Hawthorne Health Sciences building,” said Ross. “We are excited to say that following the completion of the consolidation, ABAC at Bainbridge students will also have access to the ABAC RN to BSN Program, which is offered in an online platform.”

Spencer Stewart, Dean of Students, along with the Student Services team, will be available to answer questions about the enrollment process, including admissions and financial aid.

“We want students to know we are here to assist them as they prepare for their educational journey, whether they are coming to college for the first time or coming back after being away for a while,” said Stewart. “It is our mission to make sure they have a positive experience all the way from filling out the application, to the time they graduate with a college degree.”