The United States Department of Education has awarded a federal grant in the amount of $411,354 to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for the College Assistance Migrant Program.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said grants totaling $5,363,734 were awarded to 13 colleges and universities in nine states. ABAC was the only Georgia college in the group.

The College Assistance Migrant Program assists migrant first-year college undergraduates. The program provides funds for tutoring, counseling, assistance with special admissions and some financial assistance to enable migrant youth to successfully complete their first year of post-secondary education. Students also receive assistance with securing financial aid resources to help with the remainder of their undergraduate academic careers.

The 2008-09 year represented the 10th year of CAMP at ABAC. More than 350 students have been served by the program during that time frame. This year a total of 32 students were involved in the program. The group included a valedictorian, Leandra Gonzales from Atkinson County High School; a Georgia State FFA Vice President, Felipe Pedraza from Sylvania; and eight honor graduates from Georgia and Florida.

Alma Young, coordinator of the ABAC Information Center, was a CAMP student while she was enrolled at ABAC.

“That program meant everything to me,” Young, who completed her undergraduate education at Georgia Southern University, said. “I don’t know where I would be today without it.”

Javier Gonzalez serves as the CAMP director for ABAC.