Foundation Profiles
Bethany Butti
Recent Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate Bethany Butti received the Hospitality Education Scholarship to assist her in her educational goals of gaining a better understanding of the hotel and restaurant industry. She has been a member of the President's List several times and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Bethany was given an academic award from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. After her graduation, she wants to accomplish her career goals. "I want to enter the hospitality field in a management position where I can demonstrate my abilities. I want to become involved with a company that is diversified, respected and successful," she wrote.
Joseph Monroe
La Chaine des Rotisseurs Scholarship winner Joseph Monroe's goals are to graduate with honors and enter the job market to excel at his trade. As a full-time culinary student, he was working several hours a week as a sous chef. "I feel with more financial support I will be able to devote more time to my studies and accomplish my goal of graduating magna cum laude," he wrote. "I feel that my concentration should be focused on feeding my education of food, and food preparation rather than where my next semester's tuition is coming from. At this point in my life I am completely committed to the education I have chosen."
Anomaly Romano
Anomaly Romano, also a recipient of the La Chaine des Rotisseurs Scholarship, came to A-B Tech after losing her job to a call center closing in 2003. "I was thinking about attending A-B Tech part time, and culinary school was something I longed to do, but thought was an unrealistic goal since I had to work full time," she wrote. Her dream is to study pastry making in Paris. "I do somehow intend to make that dream come true, even if I'm 75 years old when I finally get the chance." Anomaly served as team captain and alternate of the hot food team.
Hospitality Job Fair
Culinary Students Sylvia Carver, Garrett Comarton and Russell Pressley speak to a job fair attendee about the hospitality business.
By Bethany Butti - Hotel/Restaurant Management Graduate
The senior Hotel/Restaurant Management students hosted a hospitality job fair April 21. This job fair was a culmination of their efforts in their capstone class, HRM 280.
The job fair was held in the Birch Dining Room, and was from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The students were organized to provide a professional hospitable environment for the recruiters. The outreach started in the parking lot, welcoming the recruiters and helping them unload their car. A continental breakfast was set up in the lobby with space for the Human Resources people to talk and relax.
During the job fair, a break room was provided. At 12:30, the students set up and served a luncheon for all recruiters followed by time for private interviewing. All during the day, our first ever Baking and Pastry Arts capstone was taking place. Students set up a storefront bakery with fabulous displays of their work.
The day was capped off with a reception to celebrate the day with the families of students from programs, the A-B Tech community and the recruiters. The senior students had an awesome turnout from the community with roughly 14 companies represented. These companies included: Givens Estates, Renaissance Hotel, Montreat College, Claremont Restaurant Group, Grove Park Inn, Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club, Arby's, Chimney Rock Park, Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Assembly, Courtyard by Marriott, Sodexho, Battleground Restaurant Group and the Charlotte Hyatt. They also had roughly 89 attendees looking for jobs. This was their first year creating a job fair, and the result was fabulous. We would like to thank the A-B Tech staff and the Asheville community for their support and generosity. The Hospitality Department hopes to make this an annual event.
Early Childhood Graduate Thanks Instructors
Chris Burns, a recent Early Childhood Associate graduate, entered A-B Tech with the intention of opening a home daycare to watch her friends' children. She now has the desire to earn her Ph. D. and have an impact on the lives of children throughout the world. In her personal philosophy paper, she praised numerous instructors at A-B Tech.
"My very first class, my very first day, I had Dianne Hughes. I was spellbound by her passion and love for children. Pam Kirby introduced to me an interest in development. Her innate sense of curiosity about how children learn and grow tapped something in me that I wasn't even aware of. Cathy Pollock has supported my every move. She has guided me and given me the ability to believe that I am capable of being the best that I can be; the very thing every great teacher should be able to do.
"These three instructors have had the greatest impact on me. I'm a little scared to go on to a different college because I fear that I will never get the kind of support and encouragement that I have received from these women. My goal has never been to get A's but to be worthy of their belief in me. They will forever be my guiding light as I try to do what they would do. I hope that they know for every student like me, whose life they have touched, they have improved the lives of that many more children.
"I have had the most amazing experience at A-B Tech. All of my instructors in all of the departments have been incredibly giving, supportive, kind, and respectful. Dr. (Rock) Doddridge, Heather Vaughn, and Mrs. (Tempie) Carlton especially stand out for their influence on me. Even my online instructors, whom I've never met, come across as very kind, intelligent people. I can't say enough good things about A-B Tech in general."