Vol. 13 Issue 4April 2007
 

Headlines

Bailey Receives The Spirit Of Civitan Award

President Bailey receving The Spirit of Civitan Award

Award Committee Chair Dick Richards, center, and Asheville Civitan President Keith Thomson, right, present The Spirit of Civitan Award to K. Ray Bailey.

President K. Ray Bailey received The Spirit of Civitan Award March 27 from the Asheville Civitan Club at a luncheon in his honor at Trinity Episcopal Church.

The award is presented to people "who have performed acts of heroism or who have rendered sustained, outstanding service to others of a quality worthy of emulation, and deserving of being brought to the attention of the citizens of the area."

In honoring President Bailey, the club described him as a "leader in education, supporter of the business sector, advocate for community causes and developer of human talent."

"We recognize and applaud his accomplishments as a counselor and mentor of students; his creativity in the development of programs to serve the diverse needs of employers in the area; his dedication and personal commitment to community service; and his constant readiness to use his talents in service to his fellow man."

Among those paying tribute to President Bailey during the luncheon were Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy, Buncombe County Commissioner David Young, Alice Powell, an A-B Tech graduate and evening coordinator of A-B Tech at the Mall; Warren Wilson College President Emeritus Doug Orr and his wife, Darcy; Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Rick Lutovsky; and attorney Lou Bissette, a member of the A-B Tech Foundation Board of Directors. Mayor Bellamy also read letters of congratulations from state Rep. Susan Fisher and UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder.

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Chef Saves Student From Choking

Chef Andrew Pratt, Hospitality Education instructor, was tasting a student's food to critique at the end of his Advanced Culinary Skills class when another student tapped him on the shoulder.

Pratt turned around to find student Taylor Fisher pointing to his own chest, while his face was bright red.

"The universal sign for choking is putting your hand around your throat," Pratt said. "It took me just a moment to realize what was going on."

Pratt turned Fisher around and performed two upward thrusts, but it didn't work. Pratt regrouped and was able to lift Fisher up, perform one more thrust and dislodge a piece of venison flank steak.

Fisher had been on the other side of the kitchen tasting his dish when he coughed and the meat went down his throat. He tried to clear his airway himself, but was unsuccessful. He was able to make it to Pratt to get help.

"I thought 'Oh, God, can I do this?' I teach CPR and the Heimlich in class and until this time never had to perform it," Pratt said.

"While I was performing the Heimlich the one thing that was going through my head was that I didn't want anyone to die in this classroom or anywhere else. In hindsight, I kept thinking and hoping he was going to turn around and start laughing because he was playing a joke on me," Pratt said.

Fisher recovered after his scare and did not have any cracked ribs from the Heimlich. "He thanked me and hugged me," Pratt said. "I don't think I did anything heroic or extraordinary. I was glad I was able to pull up what I have been teaching my students, and it actually worked."

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Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Editor: Mona Cornwell, Writer: Martha Ball, Designer: April Sides
Send submissions to: Mona Cornwell, Director of Communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu