Fergusons Named 2002 Outstanding Philanthropists

Jack and Carolyn Ferguson celebrate their award with (L) President Bailey, Dan Lunsford, Mars Hill College Interim President, and Rev. Joe Yelton of Hominy Baptist Church.

A-B Tech benefactors Jack and Carolyn Ferguson recently were honored as the Outstanding Philanthropists of 2002 by the Western North Carolina Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Nominated by A-B Tech, Hominy Baptist Church, and Mars Hill College, the Fergusons were recognized at the association's National Philanthropy Day Luncheon Nov. 20 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. A-B Tech President K. Ray Bailey presented the award on behalf of the three institutions.

"The Fergusons' acts of generosity are both big and small - from donating millions of dollars for the development of young people in the western region of the state to delivering a bag of potatoes or tomatoes from their garden to their church, Hominy Baptist," Bailey said.

"Those who know them will tell you they are two of the most humble people you will ever meet, shunning the spotlight because they have no desire to receive public recognition for the good work they do," he said. "Instead they live their lives quietly supporting causes they believe in by simply rolling up their sleeves and pitching in wherever their help is needed."

The Fergusons have pledged $3 million in charitable remainder trusts, the largest gift of money ever, to A-B Tech and its foundation to provide scholarships for nursing students and address the college's most critical needs. In recognition of their contributions, A-B Tech dedicated its auditorium in their honor in August.

The couple also has assisted their church, Hominy Baptist, with its move into a new 16,000-square-foot facility that will house two new ministries while expanding two others. Their contributions to Mars Hill College including a significant charitable remainder trust, will help the college develop leaders who are prepared to become responsible citizens. In addition, they have given gifts to Mission St. Joseph's Health System, the North Carolina Children's Homes, the Oxford Orphanage, and the Shriner's Hospital for Children, and have been involved with the development of downtown Hendersonville.

Bailey said he was pleased to present the award to the couple on behalf of all the people who will receive their help but never know it. Return to top

A-B Tech Culinary Team Savors Sweet Taste of Success

A-B Tech's Hot Food Team, which recently won the state championship, refines its recipe for success in preparation for regional competition. Left to right are Coach Vince Donatelli, Keather Smith, Asheley Ware, Young Nae Shin, Deric McGuffey, Coach Mark Moritz, and Eric Baker.

Chef Mark Moritz didn't say his team butchered the competition. Instead, he simply said the applause at the end was the "icing on the cake."

One day after returning from the American Culinary Federation's North Carolina State Hot Food Competiton in Raleigh, coach Moritz, coach Vince Donatelli and the team's five students were savoring a victory so sweet they could almost forget the long hours of practice that lie ahead before their next competition in February.

Pitted against five other teams - three from out of state - A-B Tech won a gold medal in Raleigh and the opportunity to represent North Carolina in the ACF Southeast Regional Competition in Charlotte. Two of the teams - Georgia and Tennessee - had already claimed their state titles and used the Raleigh event to size up the competition and get in an extra practice before the regionals in February. A team from Virginia also competed, as well as teams from Wake and Guilford technical community colleges.

Moritz said A-B Tech's team fell less than three points shy of a perfect score, a feat the students and their coaches relished all the more because two of the three judges were master chefs and the other was a seasoned pro who won first place himself in a national hot food competition. "To have two master chefs as your judges in a state competition is unheard of," Moritz said.

Teams were judged on such criteria as the flavor, taste, texture and doneness of their foods, their serving methods, portion sizes, and creativity. A floor judge also evaluated their organization, sanitation, teamwork, work flow, and cooking techniques and skills.

Team member Asheley Ware said she was stunned when the judges pronounced the appetizer she prepared "perfect" and one announced the salad made by her teammate Keather Smith was so good "he wanted to take it to heaven." To earn such high praise, the students and their coaches practiced about eight hours a week from the second week of school until three weeks before the competition, when their practice time doubled to 16 hours a week.

The day before the event, they loaded two vans - one with all the food and equipment they would need, the other with the team and hospitality education faculty - and set out for Raleigh. "We didn't get to the hotel room until about 11:30 p.m. the night before (the competition), so they ran on very little sleep, not to mention they had classes all day on Friday," Moritz said. "We told them: 'Go in there and have fun. Do what you've been doing for the past two and a half months.' ... They didn't have to prove anything to me or Chef Donatelli."

Moritz' advice obviously paid off. The team worked together "like liquid motion," drawing an audience of about 25 people by the time the first course went to the judges and earning applause from everyone in the kitchen when the dessert was plated.

"That was the only team that happened to," Moritz said. And for him, the moment was "the icing on the cake." Return to top

Mark Twain Lives

Dr. Marvin Cole portrayed Mark Twain in "An Evening With Mark Twain" presented by the A-B Tech Foundation Nov.15. The evening was a rousing success, entertaining over 300 people and raising $4,315 for the Jessie Copp Kramer/Hominy Valley Endowed Scholarship Fund.Return to top

Scholarship Anyone?

Two new scholarships offer opportunities to select juniors and seniors for the 2003-2004 academic year. The Morris K. Udall Scholarship is available to rising college juniors and seniors in fields related to the environment or Native American or Alaska native students studying health care or tribal public policy. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is available to rising college juniors and seniors interested in a career in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering. For more information, contact Karma Crouch at ext. 386.

Deck The Halls-And The Rest Of the House

Planning to decorate for the holidays? Get ideas and even help by attending the Decorative Restoration program 's annual Open House Graduation Day Dec. 8 1-4 p.m. in the Ivy Building. Everyone is invited. Refreshments will be served.

Dental Patient Smiles On Clinic

A-B Tech ADN student Christie Dettoff wrote a letter dated Nov. 12 to the dental clinic praising second-year dental hygiene student Kristy Lewis for being "kind, gentle and professional." The letter stated, "I know the challenges of doing clinicals. I was very impressed with both the clinic and the level of service I received. Keep up the good work!"

Tech Talk is published for employees of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College by the College Relations Division.

Executive Editor:
Mona Cornwell Managing Editor:
Jodi Ford

Send submissions to Mona Cornwell, director of communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu. Publication of the next issue is scheduled Jan.2. The deadline for submissions is Dec.9. This edition of Tech Talk was produced November 2002. Equal Opportunity Educational Institution.

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