Celebrating 50 years of providing scholarship opportunities for students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, An Evening for ABAC will take place on Feb. 26.

ABAC Alumni Director Lynda Fisher, coordinator for this year’s event, said the ABAC Foundation’s annual student scholarship fundraising gala will include a silent auction, a virtual auction beginning Feb. 23, cocktails, a fabulous dinner, and a dynamite entertainment package featuring Farewell Angelina.  The black-tie affair begins at 6 p.m. at the Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“We are so glad to welcome back all our alumni and friends this year,” Fisher said.  “I believe the 50^th anniversary celebration is going to be a night to remember.”

Community support for the event has been ongoing since 1972 when the ABAC Foundation sponsored a fundraiser featuring Anita Bryant to complete the funding for the Chapel of All Faiths. 

The banquet attracted 426 patrons and netted $22,612.  In 1973, Eddie Arnold came to town for another ABAC Foundation-sponsored event, and the legendary program called Dollars for Scholars was born. 

Dollars for Scholars became the social event of the year in Tift County with entertainers such as Ray Stevens, Louise Mandrell, Debbie Reynolds, Kathy Mattea, Marie Osmond, Helen Reddy, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan, and the Temptations. 

Trisha Yearwood attracted the largest crowd for Dollars for Scholars in 2006 when over 1,800 patrons attended her show.  The ABAC Foundation changed the name of the event to An Evening for ABAC in 2008 and focused its efforts entirely on raising funds for scholarships. 

Jodie Snow, Class of 2000 at ABAC and now the ABAC Foundation’s chief operating officer, knows how vital that scholarship support is to the students.

“The debt assumed by many students is staggering,” Snow said. “If ABAC students are to leave school with a minimum debt load, most will require financial assistance. The advancement office and the Foundation are crucial to maintaining affordability for an ABAC student’s education and allowing them to graduate with minimum debt.”

Tickets for An Evening for ABAC are $125 for singles and $225 for couples. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible. For tickets, interested persons can visit www.abac.edu/evening or call (229) 391-4895. The deadline to purchase tickets is Feb. 13.

Named after a haunting Bob Dylan song, Farewell Angelina is a country band with powerhouse vocalists, dynamic songwriters, and accomplished instrumentalists. Their stellar blend of heart-stopping harmonies over blazing violin and guitars has earned soaring praise across the board.

Roughstock calls them a "Superstar act... with killer songs." Rolling Stone says, "Wickedly smart songwriting delivered with a healthy dash of sass... deft playing... into one sonic knockout punch."  Find out more about Farewell Angelina at http://www.farewellangelinamusic.com/

Dr. Deidre Martin, ABAC’s Chief Advancement Officer, said sponsors are vital to the success of An Evening for ABAC.  Sponsorship levels include the Summa Cum Laude level for $20,000 which sponsors eight scholarships, Magna Cum Laude for $15,000 which sponsors six scholarships, Cum Laude for $10,000 which sponsors four scholarships, President’s List for $5,000 which sponsors two scholarships, Dean’s List for $2,500 which sponsors one scholarship, and Friends of ABAC for $1,600 for those who want to contribute to the scholarship effort.

Details on sponsorships are available from Martin at [email protected] or by calling (229) 391-4907. Leading the list of sponsors so far are the Bostelman Family at the Summa Cum Laude level, Southwell and Colquitt Regional Medical Center at the Magna Cum Laude level, and Hilton Garden Inn of Tifton at the Cum Laude level.

President’s List level sponsors include James Lee Adams, Georgia Farm Bureau, Julie Hunt, Needmore Properties, Sodexo and Affiliates, and Synovus/Synovus Trust. Dean’s List level sponsors are AgGeorgia Farm Credit, James and Lee Ann Holcomb, Atlantic and Southern, Kelley Manufacturing Company, McLendon Acres, Inc., Robert and Barbara McLendon, Premium Peanut, PCOM South Georgia, and South Georgia Banking Company.

At the Friends of ABAC level are the ABAC Alumni Association, Barber Contracting, William Bowen/Greg Anderson, Young Bucks, Dixon Gin/Jaclyn Ford, Georgia Power Company, Jaemor Farms, Michael Kirkland/Deidra Jackson, Mauldin and Jenkins CPAs and Advisors, Melvin and Anita Merrill, Mill Creek Equestrian Center/Michelle Higdon, Moore, Clark, DuVall and Rodgers PC, Drs. Joyce and Earl Parker, Jack and Sue Perry, Pike Creek Turf, Inc., Jerry and Kathy Baker, and Meg and Mike Stitt.