Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College honored high-achieving students and presented awards to faculty and staff at the 2025 Honors Day ceremony, held Wednesday, April 30.

Hannah Williams, an Agricultural Education major from Milan, was chosen as this year’s J.G. Woodroof Scholar, the highest academic honor the college awards each year.

The Woodroof Scholar, named for the first president of ABAC, is also honored at the University System of Georgia’s Academic Recognition Day. Criteria from the University System includes a 4.0 GPA (or close to it) and qualities characteristic of outstanding scholastic achievement at the institution.

Recognized as Students of Distinction honors in their respective schools were Michael Stewart, a Natural Resource Management major with a wildlife track from Perry, for the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Tucker Parrish, a Business major from Adel, for the Stafford School of Business; Jenna Hickman, a Nursing major from Eastman, for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; and Jenna Williams, a Pre-Professional Biology major from Douglas, for the School of Arts and Sciences.

These students are chosen by faculty in each school from the list of Superior Honor and Distinguished Honor students, who are classified by their earned hours and grade point averages at the end of Fall semester 2024. Many other factors are considered during this selection, including but not limited to involvement in engaged learning activities, participation in clubs and school and college-sponsored activities, service in their communities, leadership among peers, and strong interpersonal skills.

Several members of ABAC’s faculty and staff were also honored at the ceremony.

Dr. Audrey Luke-Morgan, a professor and department head of ABAC’s Agriculture Department in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was named the winner of the W. Bruce & Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Excellence in Advising Award.

This award is given each year to a member of the faculty, staff, or administration whose primary role at ABAC is something other than the direct delivery of advising services to students and has three or more years of continuous service as an academic advisor.

Luke-Morgan began at ABAC in 2012 as a part-time instructor before being promoted to associate professor in 2020 and then head of the Agriculture Department in 2023. While an ABAC student, she received the Woodroof Scholar Award and was awarded the Donaldson Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence in 2021.

Kaycee Jones, an assistant in ABAC’s Human Resources department, was named as the winner of the Roy R. Jackson Award for Staff Excellence.

The recipient of this award must have completed at least 10 years of continuous full-time service to ABAC. The award criteria states that the staff member must be dependable, loyal, reliable, and one who contributes to the growth and development of the college beyond the call of duty.

Jones began working at ABAC in 2012 as a part-time administrative assistant in Human Resources, moving into a full-time role later that year. She is highly engaged in the ABAC community, responsive and passionate about her job, highly knowledgeable and considered an expert in HR policies, laws and best practices.

Olga Contreras-Martinez, the director of ABAC’s Office of Opportunity Access programs, was selected for the E. Lanier Carson Leadership Award.

The award was established in 1973 by Carson, the founder of Kelley Manufacturing, to recognize leadership contributions of an ABAC administrator who has demonstrated effective leadership qualities and practices in their department and across campus.

Contreras-Martinez is an ABAC alumna who began as the Associate Director of the college’s High School Equivalency program in 2001. She coordinates multiple grants, oversees ABAC’s Office of Opportunity Access as well as the College Assistance Migrant Program, both of which advocate for the academic success and personal growth among non-traditional, first-generation, and low-income students.

Dr. Diantha Ellis, a professor in the Stafford School of Business, received the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Excellence in Student Engagement.

The award celebrates and rewards faculty members who excel in mentoring students through interdisciplinary collaborations, innovative projects, internship opportunities, undergraduate research, or other academic enrichment experiences that engage students actively in the learning process.

Ellis is an ABAC alumna who, in addition to teaching microeconomics, macroeconomics and business law, is also the faculty advisor for the ABAC Student Government Association, highly involved in the Georgia Trio Program, which brings the classroom experience to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and mentors students interested in law school, doctoral programs, or who are pursuing their Certified Public Accountant license.

Dr. Brian Yost, a professor in the Department of Writing and Communication in the School of Arts and Sciences, received the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Teaching Excellence.

The purpose of this award, which originated 59 years ago, is to publicly recognize superior instruction and exemplary service to the college by honoring one faculty member each year, as chosen by a special representative committee of faculty and students. To be eligible for consideration for the award, a faculty member must be a full-time instructor with five or more years of continuous service to the college.

Yost has taught a wide variety of classes, from Freshman Composition to Topics in Rural Literature and the Humanities. He has also led many changes as the director of the ABAC Honors Program, including the creation of an honors certificate that recognizes the students’ successful completion of work.