AMERICUS — Three hundred ninety seven fall graduates at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) will have the honor of listening to keynote speaker David Bridges, Ph.D., president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.

“I’m excited,” Bridges said. “GSW is special to me. We’re always collaborating with them.”

Bridges plans to speak about the challenges facing recent graduates at the commencement ceremony. It’s an especially important issue with this economy, and because of the GSW graduate’s degrees, they’ll have something for the rest of their lives that no one can take away, Bridges said.

“I’ve always said I’m in the knowledge business,” Bridges said. “We’re helping students improve their skills — it’s not just on-the-job training like some have; (a degree) gives students a step up that many people don’t have.”

And Bridges knows first-hand how important a degree is; he has a doctoral from Texas A&M; University and a master’s and bachelor’s of science degree from Auburn University, which has served him well through his career.

Before becoming president of ABAC, he served as assistant dean and assistant and full professor of the Crop and Soil Science Department at the University of Georgia. He’s also served as a research associate in the Department of Crop and Soil Science at Texas A&M; University and a graduate research assistant in the Agronomy and Soils Department at Auburn University.

During his work, he’s written five books, seven book chapters, 80 refereed journal articles, 49 proceedings, 26 abstracts and 21 miscellaneous publications, and won, with a co-author, paper of the year from the American Society for Horticultural Science.

He, along with two Israeli scientists, developed and demonstrated why heat pulse technologies are important in herbaceous plants.

Bridges even was appointed to Bill Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development’s agricultural board. He’s served on and testified before the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientific advisory panels. He’s been the chairman of the Weed Science Society of American’s Weed Loss Committee for almost 20 years, and served on and been a consultant to many other national committees.

He’s received the highest award given by the university, the Texas A&M; University Association of Former Students Distinguished Doctoral Research Award, received an honorary state Future Farmers of America degree from the National FFA, and has been inducted into AGHON, UGA’s agricultural honor society, along with more than 30 other awards.

Bridges proves that his speech rings true — a degree will put recent graduates at the top of the employment ranks, even in a tough economic environment.

Bridges is a native of Parrott.

The commencement ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in Convocation Hall in the GSW Student Success Center, and a graduation breakfast is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Saturday, as well, in the Marshall Student Center Dining Hall.

Serving as the Macebearer will be David J. Hunter, a GSW associate professor of special education. He’ll also deliver the reflection.

Grand Marshal is scheduled to be Greg M. Hawver, Ed.D., professor and department chair of the health and human performance department at GSW.