Ten of the top honor graduates at area high schools, including one valedictorian and two salutatorians, have been selected as ABAC Foundation Scholars and will receive full tuition scholarships when they enroll at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this fall.

The ABAC Foundation makes available on an annual basis full tuition scholarships to three of the top five graduates from high schools in Tift County, Colquitt County, Worth County, Cook County, Turner County, Fitzgerald, Irwin County, Berrien County, and Tiftarea Academy.

ABAC President David Bridges said Michael Arena, a pharmacy major from Fitzgerald and valedictorian of the Fitzgerald High School Class of 2009, has received a Presidential Scholarship for the 2009-10 academic year. He is also a Foundation Scholar.

Two high school salutatorians, Emily Walker from Tift County High School, and Nicholas Starkey from Fitzgerald High School, also plan to attend ABAC this fall as Foundation Scholars. Both students plan to major in pharmacy.

Seven other Foundation Scholars include Brian Burdett, a middle grades education major from Sycamore (Turner County High School); Amanda Free, a pre-nursing career major from Sycamore (Tiftarea Academy); Megan Green, a liberal arts major from Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald High School); Holly Lovell, a biology major from Sylvester (Worth County High School); Heather McGuire, a pharmacy major from Sycamore (Turner County High School); James White, a business administration major from Sycamore (Tiftarea Academy) and Kate Williford, a psychology major from Sycamore (Turner County High School).

Fall semester classes begin on Aug. 17. The deadline for applications to the ABAC admissions office is Aug. 1.