College Receives $180,000 Energy Efficiency Grant for Enka Campus
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has awarded A-B Tech $180,000 to establish a center on the college's Enka Site that will promote the use of energy efficient technologies throughout Western North Carolina. A-B Tech will work in partnership with the Department of Energy's Rebuild America program to develop instructional programs and resources that can be used by the community colleges in WNC to facilitate the transfer of energy efficient technologies to business and industry in their respective service areas.
"This is the type of program that is tailor-made for Western North Carolina," U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor said in announcing the initiative. "These technologies are all about saving energy, improving building performance, reducing air pollution through reduced energy demand, and enhancing the quality of life through energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies."
Created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 1994, Rebuild America is a network of community-based partnerships across the nation working to save energy, improve building performance, ease air pollution through reduced energy demand, and enhance the quality of life through energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Through this partnership, Rebuild America can assist the community colleges in actively applying energy saving best practices, and, in turn, the community colleges can develop instructional and support programs for the transfer of these technologies to industry throughout WNC.
"This initiative has enormous potential for helping both industry and public entities in WNC to realize substantial cost savings in utilities by reducing energy consumption in aging manufacturing facilities and public buildings," according to Richard Mauney, Vice President of Administrative Services at A-B Tech and manager of the project.
A-B Tech's Enka Site was established in 2000 when BASF Corp. gave the college 37 acres and three buildings containing 277,000 square feet of office, research laboratory, conference center, and light manufacturing space. Because the buildings date to the late 1950s and 1960s, operating costs and energy consumption are expected to be substantial, making the renovation project a prime opportunity to demonstrate the application of energy efficient technologies.
Through the funding of this initiative, energy audits will be conducted on the three buildings, and the data collected will be analyzed to create engineering solutions and implementation strategies for the renovations, creating a showcase that demonstrates the cost savings, energy savings, and environmental impact of using energy efficient technologies in the retrofit of older buildings. A demonstration/training lab and resource center will be developed at the Enka Site to support this technology transfer initiative. A-B Tech will also work with other community colleges in WNC to help them conduct energy audits on their campuses. The instructional programs and resources developed in the project will be available for them to adapt for use within their respective service areas.
Through this partnership, A-B Tech and other community colleges in the region can actively demonstrate the cost savings achievable through the application of energy efficient best practices. "We expect that participating community colleges will themselves benefit from the cost savings that can be realized through the use of these practices. And, because of their positioning, community colleges are a very efficient and cost-effective means of introducing new technologies widely throughout the region. The community colleges can effectively extend the reach of the Department of Energy in the transfer of best practices and new technologies to industry," Mauney said.
UT-Battelle, manager of DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, will administer the project with assistance from the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas.
CampusConnection: The Invitational Education (IE) Department; i.e. Deborah Lonon
Over the past few months, Deborah Lonon has been selected Staff Member of the Year, tackled the responsibilities of a new job and successfully nominated A-B Tech for a '2004 Inviting School' award.
If you thought Deborah Lonon was lying low and enjoying some down time since the College's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) received full acceptance with no recommendations from the SACS visiting review team, you would be mistaken.
Instead, Lonon has been busy adapting to her new job as the College's Invitational Education Coordinator/Instructor, preparing for a trip to London where one of her scripts will be performed at an international Readers Theatre workshop, and successfully nominating the College for a '2004 Inviting School' award.
"It's been a very busy and exciting past few months," said Lonon, who mentioned that of all that is happening, she is especially honored by her recent Staff Member of the Year award.
"When I first heard about it, I felt like I had won the People's Choice Award," she said with a smile, explaining that recipients of that award claim it as their favorite because peers nominate and select the winners. "To think that my colleagues value my contribution enough to nominate me is a wonderful thing, and I'm very honored by that."
Lonon realizes it was her work with the QEP that fueled most of the nominations, but she is quick to point out that she certainly didn't tackle that project alone.
"I would never have been able to accomplish the things I've been recognized for without having been fortunate enough to work alongside Carol Rovello these past two years," Lonon stated. "I may have been the person everyone saw up front making presentations, but Carol's contributions as SACS Liaison have been truly immeasurable to A-B Tech. Our Quality Enhancement Team was a remarkable group of people to work with, too."
Once the creation and presentation of the QEP was completed, Lonon wasn't sure what the future would hold for her at A-B Tech, but those questions were answered when the position of Invitational Education Coordinator/Instructor was created.
Although it will evolve and adapt as time passes, Lonon says there are three main components to her new position. The first, taken directly from a SACS visiting team suggestion, is to promote A-B Tech as a flagship institution for Invitational Education. Second, is to make sure that what was presented in the QEP actually gets accomplished. And the final component involves using Readers Theatre as an inviting teaching tool for employees, students and off-campus visitors.
Lonon founded the College's Readers Theatre troupe three years ago and is obviously excited that one of her passions has been incorporated into her official job description. And it has happened just in time for her to share the news when she travels to London this month for the group's international workshop. She will also share her 'Math Anxiety: What Instructors and Students Can Do About It' script, selected for presentation by the Director of the International Institute for Readers Theatre, and lecture on A-B Tech's use of Readers Theatre as an 'inviting' activity.
The idea for 'Math Anxiety' came about when Sharon Killian, Instructor of Developmental Studies, talked to Lonon about creating a presentation for a math instructors conference. Lonon combed dozens of reference materials and comprised the script, which was performed by local A-B Tech talent, and the performance was tremendously well received at the conference.
The overall invitational efforts of the College have also been well received, evidenced by the school's selection as an International Alliance for Invitational Education '2004 Inviting School.' Just 21 schools across the globe were recognized, and A-B Tech was the only college in the United States to receive the honor. (KauYan College in Hong Kong is the only other college in the group.)
The purpose of the Inviting School Award is to recognize schools, districts, colleges and universities throughout the world that exhibit the philosophy of Invitational Education - the process by which people are cordially, creatively, intentionally and consistently summoned to realize their potential. The focus of Invitational Education is on the messages transmitted by People, Places, Policies, Programs, and Processes.
"It's a wonderful award that supports our efforts with the QEP," said Lonon. "It is just a nice affirmation of everything that has been going on here."
And Lonon can certainly attest that a lot has been going on!
College Adds Seven New Full-Time Employees
The College welcomes seven full-time employees who have accepted faculty and staff positions over the past few months.
Inez Alexander, Computer Center Specialist, is a graduate of the A-B Tech Networking Technology program who has worked as a computer programmer for the past three years. Prior to that, she spent eight years as a systems programmer.
Dianne Cotter, Chair of Veterinary Medical Technology, spent nearly 32 years as veterinary technician and business manager at Asheville Veterinary Associates. She earned an A.A.S. degree in Veterinary Medical Technology from Central Carolina Community College and a B.A. in Business Administration from Montreat College.
Susan Grosoff, Counselor, earned her B.A. in English from the University of Buffalo and an M.S. in Counseling/Career Counseling from California State University, Northridge.Prior to arriving at A-B Tech, she spent five years working as a contract recruiter and career counselor in the southern California area.
Angelika Klimek, Director of the Transfer Advising Center, has worked as a career counselor or advisor for the past seven years. She spent three years each at University of Phoenix in Jacksonville, FL, and Savannah College of Art & Design, and one year at Florida Community College in Jacksonville. She received her B.A. in German from Stetson University and an M.A. in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix.
Benson Metcalf, Technical Support Specialist in Information Systems Technology, graduated from A-B Tech with an A.A.S. in Networking Technology and has held various positions at Sawyers Heating & Cooling, Schroeders MR Honda, Asheville Industries and AGFA.
Malory Presley, Transfer Advising Center Secretary, received a B.A. in General Communication from the University of Central Florida and has been an administrative assistant at Seminole Community College and a secretary for the Private Industry Council, both in Sanford, FL.
Russ Yelton, Director of the Small Business Center, has been CEO of Sharp Solutions Computer Services for the past seven years. He also was an adjunct instructor for both A-B Tech and South College. He earned a B.S.B.A. in Management from Appalachian State and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Western Carolina University.
Foundation Raises Funds with Invitational Golf Tournament
Jim Orr watches his golf ball roll toward the hole during the putting contest, which he eventually went on to win.
The A-B Tech Foundation held its first Invitational Golf Classic June 4 at Mt. Mitchell and raised nearly $20,000 for scholarships.
Thirty foursomes competed in the event, which also included lunch, dinner and an auction that featured various golf packages to courses throughout the region.
The Mid South Forms team of Bill Harrison, Jim Medford, Don Irvine and Bruce Putnam took first place in low gross, while the foursome from Golden Ray Food Service, comprised of Mike Ray, Paul Burwell, Marty Lightner and Jon Berghammer, was first in low net.
Individual contest winners were: Jim Orr, putting contest; Butch Longcoy, longest drive (men); Sabrina Miller, longest drive (women); and Bruce Putnam (hole # 2), Andy Dyer (#6), Bill Wolcott (#11) and Roger James (#15), closest to the pin.