Scholarship, Awards Presented at A-B Tech AEOP Luncheon
The newly installed officers for A-B Tech's AEOP are from left, Tamala Barnett, Sue Donato, Diane Hall, Fran McDonald and Joan Gilmore.
The A-B Tech Association of Educational Office Professionals presented a $1,500 scholarship, honored outstanding members, and installed new officers at its annual awards luncheon April 20 in the Haynes Center on the Enka Campus.
Erwin High School Senior Stephanie Norton was not only presented a scholarship at the awards ceremony, but also got the news she garnered a coveted spot in A-B Tech's Nursing Program. "This is why we do what we do. This is why we sell raffle tickets for baskets and wheelbarrows," said Pat Lail, administrative assistant for Student Services. "This is what the organization is about, to provide scholarships for students who would not be able to attend college. That's what makes me proud."
Tamala Barnett, a secretary in the Division of Arts and Sciences, was recognized as the Educational Office Professional of the Year. Barnett has been a member of the local, district and state organization for 13 years, and a national member for 12 years. Tom Dechant, dean of Arts and Sciences, described her as "an extremely dependable employee who displays an even keel in the sometimes chaotic environment in which we work."
The selected Administrator of the Year was Vice President of College Relations Anita Metcalf. Her colleagues described her as energetic, compassionate and organized. She also worked with members of AEOP to establish an endowed scholarship fund through the A-B Tech Foundation.
The officers installed were Joan Gilmore, HRD secretary, and Fran McDonald, secretary for Allied Health and Public Service Education, co-presidents; Diane Hall, admissions secretary, vice president; Sue Donato, personnel secretary, secretary; and Barnett was appointed permanent treasurer.
Robin Wiggins, Facilities Coordinator for the Enka Campus, was the winner of the gardening wheelbarrow raffle. The organization raised $439 with the fundraiser.
Phi Beta Lambda Triumphs At Conference
Members of A-B Tech's chapter of Phi Beta Lambda garnered 42 awards during the state leadership conference in Charlotte April 14-16.
First-place titles were received under American Enterprise Project #1, Business Decision Making, Community Service Project #1, Computer Applications, Computer Concepts, Java Programming and Telecommunications. Chapter members also won three second-place spots, four third-place, one fourth-place, two fifth-place, one seventh-place, and two eighth-place titles.
The chapter as a whole also won 10 awards including the Terry Lowrance Leadership Award, NCPBL Gold Star Chapter, National Gold Seal Chapter, First Place Largest Local Chapter Membership, Professional Division‹Western Region, and Recognition for Support of Contributions to the March of Dimes.
The PBL advisors were recognized for their years of service to the club. Kathy Toler was honored for 25 years, Carol Paxton, 14 years; and Kathie Doole, 8 years.
Three students received recognition in Who's Who in NCPBL. They are Dana Huskins, Jane McMahan, and Glenda Pulley. Other students placing in competition were Nicolas Case, Michael Smith, Michael Fann, Amber Beckett, Kathy Woods, Alegera Wilkerson, Josiah Hyatt, Irma Wagner and Tawana Brown.
Preston Sellers, Meredith Williams, Brown, Pulley, and Wilkerson were also honored for completion of the Leadership Development Program.
A-B Tech graduate Heidi Metcalf was also selected as Business Person of the Year.
Author Marks 10 Years of Victoria Press
Ron Rash
On when he knew he was a writer:
"I still don't. I always doubt. Part of being a writer is being neurotic. About 27, I made a commitment to it, and I've not regretted it."
On the writing process:
"I write six days a week. It has to be as natural as eating and breathing. But there are moments when ideas will come at unexpected times, as it did for One Foot in Eden. Sometimes it's inspiration, but it's a lot of hard work, too."
On whether he has a muse:
"I believe in that more and more. ... When I get those images, other people might just go play a round of golf, I have to sit down and work them out."
On whether it's more interesting to write fiction:
"Picasso said, 'Art is a lie that tells us the truth.' I like to find the truth in a fictional situation."
When prize-winning author Ron Rash visited his daughter's fourth-grade class, he wanted to help the children understand the importance of the revision process, so he showed them 40 drafts he'd written of a single poem.
Rash thought he'd gotten the point across to his young audience, until one student raised her hand and said: "My daddy writes poems, too and he gets them right the first time."
Rash read several poems and took questions from an audience of about 50 students, faculty and members of the general public April 13 during an appearance at A-B Tech in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the College's literary journal, Victoria Press. He read his short story, "Speckle Trout," winner of the O. Henry Prize for short fiction for 2005, later that evening.
Increasingly in demand as a speaker as a result of his recent spate of awards, Rash is unable to accept every invitation he receives because he devotes six days a week to writing and serves as the Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University. A-B Tech had a special draw in the form of Rash's brother/editor, Tom, coordinator of the College's Compensatory Education program and a founding editor of Victoria Press.