Financial Aid Director Lynn Deyton received a letter of gratitude from Robbie Schultz of the College Foundation of North Carolina and FAFSA Day Coordinator for volunteering Feb. 17 to assist college-bound students to complete their FAFSAs. "The help you provided will make qualifying for college funding more attainable for many of the participants, enabling them to continue their educational journeys and pursue their lifelong dreams," Schultz wrote.
The Smith-McDowell House Museum is seeking community members of all ages who are interested in serving as museum docents. Docents assist museum visitors and guide tour groups. Training sessions will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 16 and 18. Training sessions are free, however advanced registration is required. To register for training or for more information, contact Tammy Walsh at 253-9231 or smh@wnchistory.org.
A-B Tech was the ninth top performing school in the nation for the Ed 2 Go online Continuing Education program for sessions starting Feb. 21.
Alma Fisher, Job Developer instructor, received compliments from two former students at the Career Building Job Fair March 14. Lori Berman, Human Resources Employment Specialist, passed along these words to Fisher, "They both said they have never felt so good or had such good self-esteem and attributed that to the class (ASPIRE) and to you. They said that you were the best!"
Bronwen McCormick, Hospitality Education instructor/lab manager, was featured in an article titled "Coaching to Win" in the March issue of "The National Culinary Review." McCormick discussed the pain of a near win when the A-B Tech Culinary team came within a quarter of a point of the national championship July 2006, how proud she was of the team for coming so far, and how much harder it was to watch the team instead of being a competitor as she had done before.
An A-B Tech parking sticker made a guest appearance in a country music video by Buncombe Turnpike showing on the CMT channel website as part of a national competition. At the end of the "Black Sedan" video, a student parking sticker is visible on the bumper of the car. The video can be viewed at www.buncombeturnpike.com.
Sharon Trammel, Humanities/Fine Arts instructor, has been appointed to the Governor's Western Residence Board of Directors by Gov. Mike Easley. The Board is comprised of 15 members and provides support to the state in the use and maintenance of the Governor's Western Residence.
Pam Silvers, Business Computer Technologies Chair, and Glenda Bailey, wife of President K. Ray Bailey were honored by the YWCA of Asheville at its Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) banquet March 29.
Silvers supervises 25 instructors in a department with three programs. She created and planned TechConnect, a program for at-risk middle school students, and is on the high school visitation and curriculum staff development committees.
Bailey has been a member of the Board of Child Abuse Prevention Services for five years, serving as president from 2003-2005. She also received the Blue Ribbon Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Child Abuse Prevention.
The purpose of TWIN is to honor women who have made a significant contribution to business and industry in managerial and professional roles, and to recognize those organizations whose personnel practices support such achievement.
David Bailey, President/CEO of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, and Dr. Ron Curran, Agencies Executive Association chair, sent a thank you letter for the great cooperation provided by the A-B Tech staff during United Way's meeting with its state delegation Feb. 26 in the Haynes conference room. "We want to especially express our appreciate to Robin Wiggins (Facilities coordinator, Enka campus). We have worked with her with several events over the last couple years, and she continues to provide strong support," they wrote.
Smith-McDowell House Museum will feature Victorian period Easter decorations through April 16, including old-fashioned Easter bunnies and chicks, Easter baskets, spring flowers, hand-decorated Easter eggs, and period-inspired decorations. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for students, and $3 for children ages 5 to 18. For more information, call 253-9231 or visit www.wnchistory.org.
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