Wachovia Foundation Awards $5,000 To A-B Tech Foundation

Wachovia Regional President Rebekah Lowe and President Bailey present a check to 2002 Haith-Miller Scholarship recipient Denise Logan, a work-study student enrolled in the Office Systems Technology program.

The Wachovia Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to the A-B Tech Foundation to benefit an African-American scholarship fund.

"We are so fortunate to offer this scholarship through the generosity of Wachovia," Foundation Officer Libby Hodan said. "Scholarships like these help so many area residents realize their educational potential."

Since 2000, when a scholarship committee approached area banks to pledge, the foundation has raised almost $50,000.

The Haith-Miller fund provides financial assistance to African-American students in Buncombe and Madison counties. Return to top

Scholarship Recipient Begins New Academic Life

"Nothing compares to the joy of bringing a child into this world, except, perhaps the joy it brings helping someone else experience that joy," United HealthCare Endowed Scholarship recipient Erika Prezas writes. "I was a labor coach for my best friend nine years ago. It was then I decided I wanted to become a nurse."

A dedicated student at an early age, Erika took college preparatory classes in high school, was inducted in the National Honor Society, and graduated with a 3.811 GPA. After attending UNC Wilmington where she completed general education courses, she took time out to start a family.

Now at 30, she is a wife and mother of two and is currently enrolled in A-B Tech's ADN nursing program while working as a medical assistant at Biltmore Medical Associates. "Being a mother of two and a medical professional has also taught me the importance of community involvement," she writes.

After she obtains her associate's degree in nursing, she plans on working full-time as a registered nurse, and may further her education and career by entering a bridge program through UNC-A to get her bachelor's degree. With the help of this scholarship, given through A-B Tech's Foundation, she will be able to realize the dreams she formed almost a decade ago.Return to top

ADN student Angelina Deitz practices tracheostomy care in the Nursing Arts Lab as fellow ADN student Heather Landreth and Nursing Instructor Sheri Lussier look on.

campus connection

Program: Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

Chair: Brenda Causey

Established: 1971

Location: Rhododendron

Mission: The department offers two levels of nursing education - Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing - with four avenues of entry. The four avenues of entry are: general admission to Practical Nursing, generic admission to Associate Degree Nursing, Nursing Bridge Program and Guaranteed Admissions Program for Practical Nursing Students. The Nursing Bridge Program allows North Carolina Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to get advanced placement in the ADN program. The Guaranteed Admissions Program offers current, graduating LPNs who meet certain criteria a seat in the ADN program.

Highlights: Brenda Causey was recently named one of North Carolina's 'Great 100' nurses for 2002.

Joyce Robertson, Jane Wissinger and Brenda Causey were recently chosen by the National Council of Nursing as 'item writers' for the registered nursing licensure exam used nationwide.

The department greeted dozens of high school students at the recent 'High School Visitation Day', which Causey said builds awareness of the nursing programs - especially ADN - which offers a registered nursing curriculum in only two years.

Sidebar: A-B Tech has a strong partnership with Mission St. Joe's that has enabled the nursing department to grow and expand the program to the evening. "It has helped with getting those kids in who would not be able to come because they work a 40-hour week and can't quit to go back to school," Causey said, adding, "we also wouldn't have our lab without MSJ's donations."Return to top

Tea for Two-Or Two Hundred

The Smith McDowell House Museum, a restored circa 1840s house and museum, is hosting a traditional tea party with special guest Kim Gruelle, grandson of the creators of the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls. The tea party, held on Oct. 2, is in conjunction with the Museum's current exhibition, "The Toy Chest."

Goodstadt Does Good Works

Chairperson of Social and Behavioral Sciences Randee Goodstadt is serving on a committee of The Residents' Council for Public Housing that will award a scholarship to someone who lives in public housing to attend A-B Tech. They hope to have a recipient attending A-B Tech by next fall. Also, Randee is on the advisory board for the exhibition "In the Footsteps of Pilgrims" sponsored by the Center for Diversity Education. This exhibit, shown at the YMI Cultural Arts Center, showcases photographs, artifacts, and documents to look at historical and contemporary travels of faith from the viewpoint of five world religions with an emphasis on the Hadj, the Muslim pilgrimage. It will run from Oct. 15 through Nov. 29.

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