TCHS Has 95% Graduation Rate

Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

TCHS CLASS OF 2023 HITS 95% GRAD RATE

TIFT'S RECORD HIGH IS NEARLY 11% BETTER THAN STATE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County School System has a record graduation rate of more than 95% for the Class of 2023, above last year's 93.5% record and higher than the state's average, according to data released Tuesday by the Georgia Department of Education (GDOE).

Georgia's 2023 graduation rate is 84.4%, the GDOE said. Tift County's rate is 95.03%.

"This achievement is the result of all Tift County students, staff, and community 'Relentlessly Pursuing a Culture of Excellence,'" the school system said in a statement. "We commend the Class of 2023 on this accomplishment."

Since 2019, Tift County has experienced a steady growth in its graduation rate. The rates were 81.3% in 2019, 87.33% in 2020, 91.37% in 2021, and 93.5% in 2022.

A total of 107 Georgia school districts recorded graduation rates at or above 90%, and 43 districts recorded rates at or above 95%. Georgia's statewide graduation rate has increased by 14.7 percentage points since 2012.

“I'm incredibly proud of Georgia's high-school seniors – and the teachers, leaders, and families who have supported them to produce these results," said State School Superintendent Richard Woods.

“It's important to remember that the positive news we've received lately – from this historic-high graduation rate to Georgia students beating the national average on the SAT – is more than just numbers. Every data point represents an actual student and new opportunities that have opened up for their future. I'm confident we'll continue to see positive results as we invest in academic recovery and building a student-centered educational system," he said.

NAIA OK's ABAC FOR MEMBERSHIP TRANSITIONING TO FOUR-YEAR ATHLETIC COMPETITION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents has formally approved Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) for membership, effective July 1, 2024.

ABAC received a unanimous recommendation from the NAIA Membership Committee.

“Joining the NAIA is a giant step for ABAC as we continue our transition to four-year athletics for all our sports,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “We are excited about moving to a higher level of competition, and we look forward to establishing new rivalries with the teams in our conference.”

ABAC is currently an NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) member that is transitioning to a four-year institution in sports. The Tifton-based school has been approved for membership in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

According to a statement from the NAIA, prospective schools must meet criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation, and a commitment to character-driven athletics before being approved.

Aside from ABAC, four other schools (Baptist Bible College, Defiance College, New College of Florida, and Spartanburg Methodist College) were also granted NAIA status this month.

“All five applicants showed a strong commitment to athletics and supporting student athletes,” said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. “Each of these schools brings something unique to the NAIA, and we are proud to add them as members.”

ABAC’s proposal to transition to four-year athletics, as well as its plan to bring back men’s and women’s basketball, was approved by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents in May. Both ABAC basketball teams will begin play in the 2024-25 season.

“We are so excited to be in the NAIA and the Southern States Conference and for our athletic programs to be competing on the four-year stage,” said ABAC Athletic Director Charles Wimberly.

“This will give our student athletes the opportunity to play all four years of their athletic careers at ABAC. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of ABAC and its growth into the future for our student athletes and our college.”

ABAC currently fields teams in baseball, softball, men’s golf, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s cross country.

The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), which ABAC is joining, currently has 13 full-time members with six in Georgia: Brewton-Parker College, Dalton State College, Life University, Middle Georgia State University, Point University, and Thomas University.

Other members include Faulkner University, Stillman College, and the University of Mobile in Alabama; Blue Mountain College and William Carey University in Mississippi; Loyola New Orleans in Louisiana; and the University of Tennessee Southern. Florida College and Dillard University in Louisiana are affiliate SSAC member schools.

TIFT BOE NAMES

NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) on Tuesday appointed Dr. Jerry Baker as interim superintendent of Tift County schools.

Baker retired in May 2022 as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

BOE Chairman Jonathan Jones thanked Assistant Superintendent Mickey Weldon for serving as interim superintendent since Sept. 20 during a "very challenging" time.

Weldon was appointed interim superintendent after the board placed previous Superintendent Adam Hathaway on administrative leave. Hathaway later submitted his resignation on Sept. 28.

“Mr. Weldon has been a champion of Tift County and a champion for our system the last couple weeks,” Jones said. “The last couple of weeks have been a pleasure to work with you as superintendent. You stepped into a role that you have worn well in a very challenging situation for all of us. We want to thank you and applaud you for that.

"We know you’ll be a Tift County champion and team member beyond today. We just want to thank you for stepping in the gap for us in a very challenging and important time for us.”

Baker, the new interim superintendent, served as dean of ABAC's School of Agriculture and Natural Resources from 2014-2017 before becoming provost and vice president for academic affairs. He formerly was executive director and CEO of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society, an international honor society for scientists and engineers.

He also has served as publisher of the Sigma Xi American Scientist Magazine and spent 13 years as a faculty member in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

In other business at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, board members accepted a roofing bid of $64,610.67 by Campbell Roofing and Construction for J.T. Reddick and Omega schools.

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You may also email any inquiries to the email address above.

The 'Rotary Club 28th Amendment' team, consisting of, from left, Rotarian Jeff Gibbs, Georgia Rotary Student Program ABAC student Antonia Platzbecker, Rotarian Frank Sayles Jr., USDA crop geneticist Joe Knoll, and Rotarians Bret Wagenhorst and Chris Beckham, took the top prize Tuesday at the 23rd Annual Carnival of Knowledge trivia competition.

TIFTON'S TOP

TRIVIA CHAMPS

ROTARY CLUB WINS LITERACY'S CARNIVAL OF KNOWLEDGE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Rotary Club of Tifton team won first place Tuesday night in the 23rd annual Howard Center Carnival of Knowledge trivia competition sponsored by Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County.

Teams of up to six players competed against each other simultaneously, answering trivia questions posed by trivia master David Holmes on Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC) Tifton campus.

The Rotary Club amassed 124 points to win the event. Coming in second place was The Howard Center's "At Your Cervix" team. Third place was Team BBC (Bada$$ Book Club). First place won a cash prize sponsored by Prince Automotive; second place received vouchers from Hilton Garden Inn; and third place won tickets to Wild Adventures theme park.

Support of the event allows Literacy Volunteers to recruit and train tutors to work with individuals wanting to improve their reading, writing, math, and English speaking abilities. Literacy Volunteers also provides transportation to qualified students attending GED classes at SRTC.

Johnny West, Cook County fire chief and EMA director, receives the AED from Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation director.

TRMC FOUNDATION DONATES DEFIBRILLATOR TO COOK COUNTY EMA

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation recently donated an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to the Cook County Fire Department and Emergency Management Center.

The funds were raised from the TRMC Foundation’s “Hearts and Diamonds” Gala, which raised $98,000 for the foundation’s Heart Safe Community program. The program has funded AEDs, as well as 12 Lead EKG machines and Lifeline Arms for Tift and surrounding counties.

“An AED is a small portable, life-saving device designed to treat victims who are experiencing sudden cardiac arrest,” said Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation director.

"This device is often placed where a large amount of people gather, such as schools, recreation departments, first responders, and churches. AEDs are easy to use, they have step-by-step instructions, and are a simple way you can save a life," she said.

To learn more, call the foundation at 229-391-3310.

AMERICAN LEGION POST TO HONOR VETERANS WITH COOKOUT SATURDAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The American Legion Family of Post 21 in Tifton is inviting all military veterans and their families to a Veterans Appreciation Cookout.

The lunch will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 14, at the American Legion Post home, 1224 Moore Highway, in Tifton.

Hot dogs and hamburgers, along with chips and drinks will be served. The cookout is in honor of all those who have served the nation in the armed forces.

SHERIFF SWEARS IN SEVEN NEW DETENTION OFFICERS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough swore in seven new detention officers on Friday.

They are, pictured from left, Garfield Hunter, Caitlin Kennedy, Diana Gomez, Sheriff Scarbrough, Joseph Lindsey, Coretta Battle, James Storms, and Aaron Fletcher.

GEORGIA PEANUTS CAR COMPETES AGAIN AT TALLADEGA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Once again this year, NASCAR driver Todd Gilliland drove the Georgia Peanuts car in the recent Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Gilliland finished 12th in of the field of 38 in the NASCAR Cup Series Race on Oct. 1 in Alabama. This is the second year that Gilliland has driven the Georgia Peanuts brand on his No. 38 Ford Mustang in Talladega. He also drove the Georgia Peanuts branding at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the spring.

"I love racing in the Georgia Peanuts red and having the full support of peanut farmers across Georgia behind me," Gilliland has said.

The Tifton-based Georgia Peanut Commission supports the NASCAR peanut branding to help keep Georgia peanuts on the mind of consumers. Georgia produces approximately 50% of all peanuts in the United States.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Hawk" is said to be one of the sweetest cats available at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit him and other animals available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

JACK STONE TAKES OVER AS TIFTON'S WESTERN AUTO MANAGER

~ OCT. 9, 1961

Jack Stone Jr., a Tift County native, became the new manager of Western Auto Associate Store on Tifton's Main Street on Monday, Oct. 9, 1961.

Stone, a well-known local businessman and advocate for Tifton, still owns the store today and can usually be found behind the counter at the back of the store.