Muffy Muffy Mocktails, A Hoe-Down, and the Good "Ol Red, White and Blue

This year's Universal Campaigns provide fun and funds for the United Way and the A-B Tech Foundation.

( l to r) Campaign coordinators Ann Plant and Merion Presha prepare the festivities for Azalea while Barry Landsberg mans the hotdogs. Billy Wells reaches into a bag held by his co-coordinator Larry Boyd for the Engineering raffle. Arts and Sciences coordinators Randee Goodstadt and Heather Vaughn toast to a job well done at their muffy muffy mocktail party. Pat Hornyak and Magina Vernon share a laugh and potato salad at Continuing Education's picnic organized by Nancy Troxler and Ken O'Conner. Stacy Fowler and Fran McDonald get a rousing "hi-ho" from President Bailey for organizing a hoe-down for Allied Health. Return to top

Former 'Frasier' Producer Offers Open Symposium

A Hollywood couple who directed and produced television and film and recently retired to the mountains of Asheville will lead an open symposium on 'Careers in Film and Television' Oct. 24 from 1-3 p.m. in the Laurel Building Room 118. Bill Carroll was a producer for Frasier until his recent retirement while wife Kate Tilley Carroll directed Knots Landing and Falcon Crest and was also the Assistant Director of the Directors Guild Training Plan.

According to English Instructor David Holcombe, who recruited the couple to offer this campus-wide opportunity, Kate has presented at several colleges and "opened the door to the possibilities" for many students. "She can tell you how to get started if you want to be a director or assistant director. She managed the training program for the Director's Guild for four and a half years until she retired," Holcombe said, adding he has known Kate since she was a student at Mars Hill and he was her instructor. The couple will also speak to Holcombe's class 'Introduction to Film.' Return to top

Public Schools and A-B Tech Join To Form Cisco Networking Program

Buncombe County Public Schools, in conjunction with A-B Tech, has begun a local Cisco Networking Academy program at the Career Education Center (CEC) on Bingham Road.

By using a combination of web-based, instructor-led learning and hands-on labs, the local academy program will help area high schoolers gain high-tech skills and earn college credits.

A-B Tech will train and mentor instructors and provide technical support for the program, which will focus on teaching basic and advanced networking skills and information technology fundamentals.

Established in 2001 at A-B Tech, the Regional Cisco Networking Academy provided over 100 students with the necessary skills needed to design, build, and maintain data communications networks.

This year, an additional academy was established at A-B Tech's Enka campus. The Academy Program is also expanding curriculum offerings this year by adding Fundamentals of Web Design. Through a partnership with Adobe, this course content will be delivered to students utilizing the Cisco Academy curriculum delivery engine. According to Regional Academy Coordinator Lewis Lightner, "We want to develop a workforce that will funnel highly skilled workers into an industry that economic developers in this area are working hard to attract. The knowledge that these students will gain by going through the Networking Academy Program will prove invaluable as they continue their post secondary education or enter the job market." Return to top

Appreciative Student Praises A-B Tech and Faculty

Dear Mr. Bailey:

Mr. Bailey, I am one of the more "senior" students attending your college. As life has provided me with various opportunities, one of the most difficult has been adapting to a disability regarding my lower back. After four surgeries, the prognosis is defined as "poor" by my doctors. Consequently I can not longer work; however, the positive side to this is that I can re-new my educational goals... I have enrolled in the Information Systems curriculum.

I have previously attended other institutions. I have two children who are attending other colleges, and I can state that in my opinion your institution is without a doubt, equal, if not superior, to these other institutions...

Upon my decision to attend A-B Tech, I approached Ms. Annie Clingenpeel with a request for accommodations due to my limitations as well as to comply with the restrictions suggested for me by my doctors. I found her to be extraordinarily accommodating as well as empathetic to my needs... I presented her with a letter from my doctor and after some discussion, Ms. Clingenpeel developed a letter for each of my instructors with suggestions of accommodations...

Unfortunately, I found myself in need of further accommodations during the summer semester, my second semester. I approached Ms. Pam Silvers with my situation and an unusual request to continue in her class from home, until I was able to recover my stamina and return to the classroom.

As she listened to me and contemplated my request, she remarked that she had a commitment to the community to ensure that the students who A-B Tech provided to the community could perform up to the standards of the College and to the expectations of future employers in the community. She added that she believed that it was her responsibility as an instructor to be able to assist students and to be able to monitor their progress.

I could not agree with her more. I was very impressed with her commitment and her explanation as to why. Just as quickly, she agreed to my suggestion with the joint understanding that I was still responsible for all class materials and assignments, the assignment due dates as well and that I would have to be present for any test. She added that she could not speak for any other instructor and that I would have to approach them individually for their courses. I was able only to continue with the Visual Basic class I which I had enrolled. This was because I did not have the software at home to support the 3rd summer session class in which I was enrolled; therefore, I had to drop one class.

Ms. Carol Paxton was the instructor for the Visual Basic course and her response, independent of Ms. Silvers, was exactly the same. She would accommodate me, but I would still be committed to performing the objectives of the class. Ms. Silvers' statements typify to me what a true "mission" statement is to be. The actions of your instructors prove that these statements are not just "hollow words" but a serious commitment by them to the community and to the students. I sincerely appreciate their dedication.

It would be a failure of me not to mention Ms. Allison Ramsey. My first contact with A-B Tech was with Ms. Ramsey. She has always had the ability to find the answer to any question I have had. She has never failed to assist me with whatever problem I have had or been able to put me in touch with the person or departments I needed. As I said, she was the first contact I had with A-B Tech and her favorable first impression has carried throughout my experiences at your institution. I do not know if the future will allow me to complete a course of study at A-B Tech or not; but I can assure you that I will always remain a steward in the state and the community for the benefits and necessity of such an outstanding institution whose employees are so obviously dedicated to the principles of bettering the community through the advancement of education.

I just want to thank you and them for the opportunities to attend a school that is so well administered.

Sincerely yours, Knox McKellar Barnes

CIS a Success

The Communities in Schools, Inc. (CIS) National Office recently commended CIS of Madison County. The director of A-B Tech's Madison campus, Connie Buckner, is the treasurer of the CIS of Madison County. The National Office stated in its commendation "we applaud your success in reaching this high standard of quality, and thank you for your commitment to children, families and communities."

Thank You For Cumeg

Kay Beachboard, Administrative Assistant,to the Vice-President of Instructional Services received over 25 thank you letters from a first-grade class at Oakley Elementary, where her son Marshall attends. She participated in Oakley's Career Day, handing out A-B Tech pencils and speaking to over 125 first-graders about the importance of getting a good education-- possibly at A-B Tech some day!

This Guy's No Dumbbell

Adjunct Welding Instructor Todd Creasman designed and built a dumbbell rack for the Health and Physical Education Department, much to the joy of Chairperson of Health and Physical Education Holly McCurry. She writes, "He saw a need, offered a solution, and saved money for the college."

Return to top