Sherry Cordell, Records and Registration coordinator for Continuing Education, graduated from the 2006-07 North Carolina Community College Leadership Program. The program's purpose is to develop future community college leaders in North Carolina through a seven-month program that offers participants organized, face-to-face and computer-based learning experiences to acquaint them with community college issues and to help develop leadership skills.
Lyle Anderson wrote a note of appreciation to President K. Ray Bailey about the College's dental clinic. "I recently received outstanding treatment on my teeth being cleaned by an outstanding student Mandy McClure, as well as the rest of your expertise staff," he wrote. "I am looking forward to having any and all my dental work done at your dental clinic."
A-B Tech was the number three top-performing school in the nation for Ed2Go for the session starting April 18. Congratulations to the Continuing Education Computer and Technology Training Department.
Robert Gossett of Hendersonville, adjunct electrical instructor for the Continuing Education Division, has been named the 2006 Instructor of the Year by the N.C. Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. The award was presented April 3 at the N.C. Electrical Institute's annual conference. Gossett has 45 years experience starting with a career at Ecusta Paper Corp. in 1962. He has taught at A-B Tech for the past 12 years.
Libby Hodan, Foundation Development Officer, was awarded the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential from CFRE International. To complete the certification process, candidates must have five years experience in fundraising, proven success in raising funds and take a comprehensive written exam.
A-B Tech student Katie Brigman called Dennis King, vice president of Student Services, with the following message: "I have been a student at A-B Tech off and on since I graduated from there in 1998, and didn't realize how great of a school you guys were until I recently had to register at another school for a class you didn't offer this summer. I just wanted to call and say thank you. I appreciate the registration process being much smoother and easier and you guys being much more informative about procedures."
Sharon Killian, Academic Learning Center coordinator/instructor, was elected treasurer of the North Carolina Tutoring/Learning Center Association. The organization was formed at a recent meeting of Learning Center Professionals.
Madison High students who have taken A-B Tech's welding classes are well prepared to work for Volvo, according to Evan Creasman, Adjunct Welding instructor. In a letter Creasman wrote to Vernon Daugherty, Dean of Engineering and Applied Technology, he noted, "At the conclusion of (the tour of the Volvo training area) I noted that all students possessed a great deal of knowledge and manual ability. Prior to training, each candidate submitted a weld sample for quality analysis. All samples submitted by Madison students surpassed the samples turned in by the candidates from the Employment Security Commission."
According to a survey from the North Carolina Community College System, A-B Tech is the leader in Service-Learning student participation with more than 800 students. The survey was sent to all 58 colleges in March by Karen Yerby, associate director of Student Development Services. Central Piedmont was next in participation with more than 500 students.
Chef Bob Werth, former Hospitality Education chair, has published a titled book "The Fruit of Experience: My Culinary Life." Available at Accent on Books on Merrimon Avenue, the book includes references to A-B Tech and Chef Sheila Tillman, current Hospitality Education chair.
Dana Padgett, a recent Medical Office Administration graduate, wrote a letter of praise about the College and Rhonda Wood, Administrative/Medical Systems Technologies instructor. "She is very supportive in all aspects of teaching, she is very clear and concise in instruction, is willing to go the extra mile in helping, and above and beyond the most supportive instructor I have ever met," Padgett wrote.
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