Fergusons Donate Additional $2 Million to A-B Tech

President Bailey stands with Jack and Carolyn Ferguson at the Ferguson Auditorium dedication ceremony.

A longtime benefactor of A-B Tech has donated $2 million to the school's Foundation.

Jack R. Ferguson, a member of the A-B Tech Foundation's Board of Directors, and his wife, Carolyn, pledged $1 million in the form of three charitable remainder trusts during the 1990s, earmarking $100,000 of the money for nursing scholarships with the remainder for unrestricted purposes. During a ceremony in August to dedicate the college auditorium in honor of the Fergusons, President K. Ray Bailey announced the couple has pledged an additional $2 million, bringing their total contributions to $3 million.

"In the 43-year history of our college, this $3 million is the most significant gift of money we have ever received," Bailey said. "Private gifts like theirs allow A-B Tech to provide a margin of excellence that would not be possible if we were limited to state funding."

State Sen. Steve Metcalf, a member of A-B Tech's Board of Trustees, presented the Fergusons with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Mike Easley at the dedication. The award, one of the most prestigious presented by the Governor, recognizes individuals on the basis of such guidelines as service to the state, contributions to their community, extra efforts in their career, and many years of service to their organizations. Past recipients include Maya Angelou, Dr. Billy Graham, and Michael Jordan.

Metcalf also presented the couple with a proclamation from the Senate signed by himself, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, and Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight. In addition, Aug. 22 was designated Jack and Carolyn Ferguson Day in Asheville and Buncombe County by proclamations presented by Asheville Mayor Charles Worley and David Gantt, vice chairman of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

The Ferguson family has a history of involvement with A-B Tech that dates to 1959 when the college was established. As a salesman at Lowe's, Mr. Ferguson worked closely with the builders who constructed and remodeled some of the buildings on campus during the college's early days. He retired as manager of the Lowe's store in Hendersonville in 1985 after spending more than 31 years with the company.

The Fergusons' two daughters graduated from A-B Tech's nursing program, and their two sons have taken classes in law enforcement and computers. In 1996, Mr. Ferguson became a member of A-B Tech's Foundation Board.

Mr. Ferguson said the couple decided to make the donation to A-B Tech to give other young people the same opportunity their children had to further their education. "Our youth will be our future," he said. "Anybody who has the ambition to work and get out and make a living, I try to help them all I can."

The Ferguson's donations are from charitable remainder trusts. The Foundation will receive the money at the end of the couple's lifetimes.

According to Foundation Board Chairman Jim Coman, the Fergusons' "gifts of legacy" provide opportunities for students who may not be able to afford a college education; faculty and staff to participate in professional development activities; purchase of state-of-the art equipment; and renovation and expansion projects for many years. "Your gift challenges us to imagine the possibilities," Coman said. Return to top

NC Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight Visits Enka Campus

Marc Basnight, President Pro Tem of the North Carolina Senate, addresses members of A-B Tech's President's Council during a visit to the college's Enka Site in August. Basnight, who became the longest-serving legislative leader in state history following his re-election to the Senate's highest seat in 2001, toured the Haynes Corporate Technology Training and Conference Center, the Small Business Incubator, and the Biotechnology Incubation and Training Center. He said biotechnology can help replace textile, furniture, and other manufacturing jobs western North Carolina has lost. Return to top

Stone Appointed to Board of Trustees

Coman named "Trustee Emeritus

clockwise: Mandy Stone, Herb Coman, Talmage Penland, and Harvey Haynes

A new member has been added to the A-B Tech Board of Trustees, and the board's sole charter member has been named "trustee emeritus."

Mandy Stone, director of the Buncombe County Department of Social Services, has been appointed by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to a four-year term. Stone has served as the director of Social Services, which employs 330 people and serves 32,000 citizens a month, since March 2001. She worked as the department's assistant director for four years prior to becoming director.

Two other trustees have been appointed to serve additional terms on A-B Tech's board. Harvey Haynes, president emeritus of the college, has been reappointed by Gov. Mike Easley, and attorney Talmage Penland has been appointed by the Asheville City and Buncombe County boards of education. Their terms will expire in 2006. Haynes, president of A-B Tech from 1975 to 1990, has been a member of the board since 1994. Penland has served since 1981.

The board of trustees also voted to name J. Herbert Coman "trustee emeritus." Coman is the only trustee to serve on the board since the birth of the college and the North Carolina Community College System in 1963. He was chairman of the board from 1974 to 1976. In addition, the board voted to name the college's Student Activity Center in his honor.

The board also re-elected Wachovia Bank Senior Vice President Ray Spells as chairman, retired Madison County Schools Superintendent Robert L. Edwards as vice chairman, and Jo Ann Crompton, executive administrative assistant to President K. Ray Bailey, as secretary. Return to top

Health Summit Reaches New Heights

Shelly M. Pew, Executive Director of WNC Health and Wellness Consortium, wrote a letter praising President Bailey and the security staff for providing the facilities for the 2002 Health Consortium. "Your (President Bailey's) welcoming words were perfect...and informative- I had no idea that AB Tech had so many health related programs." She goes on to say "...the evaluations...are extremely positive. We had about 100 people attend- and it was a great mixture from different occupations and geographic area... campus security was wonderful... everything was just great."

Universal Car Wash

The tentative date for the Universal Campaign annual car wash is September 20. This date may be changed or cancelled due to the water shortage and Governor Easley's wish to conserve water.

Moldova Mania

Nestled between the countries of the Ukraine and Romania is the small country of Moldova. Once a part of the U.S.S.R, Moldova is now an independent nation, and 22 of its citizens are enrolled in an on-site ESL class at Ledgewood Village Apartments in east Asheville. All 22 students came to Asheville together; most of them are related. Their instructor Donna Jones says they are "eager to learn. They were ready to go with a lesson on the first day. They realize this (class) is part of surviving here."

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