Close Menu
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
What's Hot

Drug unit intercepts contraband entering the jail, jailer arrested and charged

July 29, 2025

CRMC hosts Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce

July 29, 2025

Vista Park earns 2025 AHCA/NCAL Bronze National Quality Award 

July 29, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok
Trending
  • Drug unit intercepts contraband entering the jail, jailer arrested and charged
  • CRMC hosts Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce
  • Vista Park earns 2025 AHCA/NCAL Bronze National Quality Award 
  • Qualifying dates, fees announced for this year’s municipal elections
  • DeLeice Wood achieves Oncology Certified Nurse credential
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok Pinterest
Douglas NowDouglas Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Douglas NowDouglas Now
Home»Community»Hazlehurst graduate named Donaldson Award recipient at ABAC
Community

Hazlehurst graduate named Donaldson Award recipient at ABAC

SubmittedBy SubmittedDecember 7, 20210 Views
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Email Copy Link
Follow Us
Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
Submitted photo
ABAC President David Bridges, Donaldson Award recipient Rebecca Mims Butler, and ABAC Alumni Association President-Elect Melissa Pierzchajlo at the ABAC Fall Commencement ceremony.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

Rebecca Mims Butler, a nursing major from Hazlehurst, received the George P. Donaldson award at Thursday’s fall commencement ceremony at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.   The award honors the top associate degree graduate participating in the ceremony.

 

The recipient receives a plaque and a check for $500 from the ABAC Alumni Association, which sponsors the award and conducts the interviews which lead to the selection of the recipient.

 

George P. Donaldson was president of ABAC from 1947 until 1961.  He is perhaps the most beloved ABAC president of all time because of his love for people and his love for ABAC.  The award recognizes scholarship, leadership, and citizenship. 

 

Married with three children, Butler compiled a grade point average of 3.53 on a 4.00 scale.  She was included on the Distinguished Achievement List every semester she attended ABAC.

 

Butler has also continued to work as an LPN while attending classes.  She works as a nurse in the Emergency Room and was right there on the front lines when the pandemic was raging.

 

A volunteer for Friends of the Park, which helps to support the beautification of all of Georgia’s state parks, Butler also volunteered in the Run for the Nurses at ABAC.

 

ABAC President David Bridges said Butler’s story is one of perseverance and dedication.

 

“She was accepted to attend ABAC in 1987,” Bridges said.  “It didn’t work out financially at the time, so she received her LPN, went to work, got married, raised a family, and sent two of her children to the University of Georgia before finally completing her core curriculum. 

 

“Then she applied to the ABAC Nursing Program, got accepted, and drove 75 minutes one way to take the classes.  Now that’s perseverance.  That’s dedication.”

 

Butler said, “ABAC has allowed me to complete a goal I have been seeking for 34 years.  It was very hard to be 51 years old and walk into a room filled with students, and in most cases, staff and faculty, younger than me. 

 

“However, not one person ever treated me differently than any other person.  I want to be an example that you are never too old to achieve your goal.”

 

Butler now plans to enter the BSN Program at ABAC.  One instructor said it best, “she is the kind of student that hospitals want to hire.”

 

A total of 228 graduates participated in the two commencement ceremonies on Thursday.  Spring semester classes begin at ABAC on Jan. 12, 2022.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email Copy Link
Douglas Now Profile Pic
Submitted

Related Posts

Drug unit intercepts contraband entering the jail, jailer arrested and charged

July 29, 2025

CRMC hosts Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce

July 29, 2025

Vista Park earns 2025 AHCA/NCAL Bronze National Quality Award 

July 29, 2025

Comments are closed.

Top Posts

Convicted child molester allegedly gets drunk, lends truck to girlfriend, forgets and reports it stolen, then gets arrested for failure to register

February 19, 202572,422 Views

18 bodies in various states of decomposition found at funeral home during eviction process

October 27, 202465,872 Views

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

November 11, 202445,135 Views

Three dozen defendants indicted in major South Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

January 30, 202537,598 Views
RSS Latest Headlines from Fox News
  • What to know about Judge Boasberg, the Trump foe at center of DOJ complaint
  • Coldplay’s Kiss Cam moment sparks lawsuit rumor, expert says Astronomer CEO’s case would be ‘dead on arrival’
  • New tech recovers 92% of EV battery metals
  • SCOOP: Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' tax cuts promoted in new Republican ad blitz
  • Jimmy Hoffa's family calls on Trump to release FBI files
Follow us on Social Media!
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Pinterest
Facebook Instagram YouTube TikTok Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • At Home with Pam
  • Contact
© 2025 DouglasNow. All Rights Reserved.

Newell Media

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.