Vol. 13 Issue 6June 2007
 

Headlines

Shuler Speaks at Spring Graduation

Carol Hutchinson with President Bailey and Rep. Heath Shuler

Faculty Member of the Year Carol Hutchinson, center, with President K. Ray Bailey and commencement speaker, U. S. Rep. Heath Shuler. Hutchinson is an Accounting instructor.

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler encouraged students at A-B Tech's Spring commencement exercises to make a difference in someone's life.

Shuler, a football standout who was elected in November to represent North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, recalled the sacrifices his mother made when he was a child - from washing clothes to ensuring he got to school on time - and admitted he sometimes failed to appreciate what she did.

Shuler recounted a morning during his senior year in high school when he and his mother had a disagreement over important decisions he faced. He said he left for school without saying he loved her or kissing her good-bye, and that day was one of the most difficult he ever had. By the end of school, he was so upset he told his coach he needed to leave practice early. He ran all the way home, thinking of everything his mother did for him and telling her he loved her as soon as he arrived.

Shuler urged students to remember their own families because "they're difference makers. ... We all have to be a difference maker in people's lives, whether it's our parents, our children, or in the community."

Five hundred and twenty degrees and diplomas were awarded during the May 11 ceremony, which drew a standing-room-only crowd to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. In addition to recognizing the graduates, President K. Ray Bailey presented the President's Award, the College's highest honor, to Trustee Richard Hurley. (See related story, Hurley Presented With College's Highest Honor)

President Bailey and Alec Fehl

President K. Ray Bailey congratulates Alec Fehl, the Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year, prior to commencement May 11.

President Bailey also honored Carol Hutchinson, an Accounting instructor, as Faculty Member of the Year, and Alec Fehl, a Business Computer Technologies instructor, as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year.

Harvey Haynes, chairman of A-B Tech's Board of Trustees and president emeritus of the College, recognized President Bailey and his wife, Glenda. Mr. Bailey, who was presiding over his 20th graduation ceremony, has announced plans to retire Aug. 1.

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Hot Food Team Wins Regional Competition

A-B Tech Hot Food Team

A-B Tech's Hot Food Team won the American Culinary Federation's Southeast Regional Competition for the second year in a row. Members are from left: Chambli Stuber, Daniel Gorman, Matt Gruber, Michelle Bailey, and Jason Huang.

A-B Tech's Hot Food team won a gold medal and first place in the American Culinary Federation's Student Team Southeast Regional Competition in Nashville, TN, securing its place in national competition for the second year in a row.

Four regional teams will meet in Orlando, FL., in July to compete for top national honors by preparing and serving 24 plates of four courses within four hours.

A-B Tech won the only gold medal in the nation during regional competition. The gold medal is awarded for the number of points a team scores overall. Unlike previous years, team members had to prepare a cold food platter in addition to the hot food menu they made at state competition in February.

The A-B Tech Hot Food Team menu consisted of pan-seared striped bass with sweet pea sauce and black-eyed pea terrine; frisee salad with pickled beet, sweet potato Napoleon and mustard cream vinaigrette; Supreme de Volaille a l'Ecarlate with sautéed broccoli rabe and glazed butternut squash; and vanilla cream on spice cookie and fruit compote served with apricot sauce and spun caramel.

Team members are Jason Huang, captain; Daniel Gorman, Chambli Stuber, Michelle Bailey and Matt Gruber. Kim Aasland is the alternate for the team. Bronwen McCormick, Culinary Lab manager/instructor, Charles deVries and John Hofland, Hospitality Education instructors, serve as coaches.

"The team was well organized and worked well together," said deVries. "The floor judge said it was hard to find fault."

"They made me very proud," Hofland said. "They put out some of the best food I have ever seen under pressure and under unfamiliar surroundings. I thought they shone like stars."

The team has started practicing for the national competition and is planning fund-raisers to pay for the trip.

"They have been an inspiration to me and to their classmates as well," McCormick said. "There is a lot of energy there and they are very excited about what they are doing."

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Hurley Presented with College's Highest Honor

Richard Hurley and President Bailey at Graduation

President K. Ray Bailey talks about Board of Trustees member Richard Hurley's association with the College before presenting him with the President's Award during commencement May 11 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Richard Hurley, A-B Tech Board of Trustees member since 1996, was honored with the 2007 President's Award, the highest honor the College bestows, during commencement ceremonies May 11 at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Hurley served as chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2001, and is chairman of the Board's President Search Committee. "Richard's involvement with our College goes back even further than 1996," A-B Tech President K. Ray Bailey said. "As the human resources manager for Square D Company, he hired graduates of our Tool, Die and Mold Making program, our Electronics program, our Mechanical Engineering Technology program, and our Office Systems Technology program."

During Hurley's 34-year career, he worked closely with the College to identify and meet the workforce development needs of the community's manufacturers. His insight and leadership were key to helping the College adapt its programs to remain cutting edge.

Hurley served as the United Way's general campaign chair in 1984 and again in 2006, and received the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a past president of the Executive Board of the Daniel Boone Council of the Boy Scouts of America, a founding board member and past president of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Western North Carolina, and an alumnus of Leadership Asheville II.

He also has served on the boards of the American Red Cross, the Community Relations Council, the Family Services Center, Asheville Community Theater and the Arts Alliance.

The President's Award has only been given five times in the past 15 years. Previous honorees were Gordon H. Greenwood, J. Herbert Coman, Talmage Penland and Dr. Joe B. Roberson, Sr.

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President Bailey Honored by Phi Theta Kappa »

 

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