Power Day For Pete Carswell
College Employees fill the pedestrian bridge over Victoria Avenue to show their support for Pete Carswell, instructor of social/behavioral sciences, who is ill. Faculty and staff wore Hawaiian shirts in honor of Carswell's usual garb and his alma mater, the University of Hawaii.
Real Estate Appraisal Associate's Degree Offered At A-B Tech
This fall semester marked the beginning of a new associate's degree program at A-B Tech. A two-year associate's degree evening program in Real Estate Appraisal is being offered in preparation for state regulation changes.
"In 2008, people are going to have to have a two-year degree to be a licensed real estate appraiser," said Bobby Potts, Real Estate Programs coordinator. Currently there are 30 students enrolled in the certificate program to be certified and grandfathered in before the requirements go into effect.
Real estate appraisers are used primarily by lenders, but also by attorneys for estate settlement, divorces and sometimes for insurance purposes.
"It's going to grow," said Potts. "It's going to be the only way a person can get an appraisal license." The associate's degree can be in any program of study, but Potts hopes people will choose to enroll in Real Estate Appraisal to get the classes they will need.
Welcome New Employees
The College welcomes five full-time employees who have accepted staff and faculty positions over the past months.
Vernon D. Daugherty Jr., Dean of Engineering and Applied Technology, earned his B.S. in Physics from Western Carolina University and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. A&T State University. He was previously the chair of Mechanical Engineering/Electronics/HVAC at Guilford Tech in Jamestown, as well as an HVAC instructor at Davidson County and Rockingham community colleges.
Richard J. DeLuca, Spanish instructor, received his B.S. in Spanish from Loyola University, his M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and his M.P.H. in Health Care Administration and Planning from the University of Hawaii. He has been an adjunct Spanish instructor at A-B Tech for four years. He has also served as a lecturer at UNC Asheville. He was an instructor at Kent State University and the University of Minnesota.
Sharon S. Graham, interim department chair of Mechanical Engineering Technology, earned her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from UNC Asheville and her M.S. in Industrial Engineering from N.C. State. She has been an adjunct instructor at A-B Tech for nine years. She was a Manufacturing Consultant for Integrated Quality Systems, Inc., and the Operations Manager for Turnamics, Inc., both in Asheville. She also served as a quality engineer technician at Medical Action Industries, Inc.
David M. Kareken, Humanities/Fine Arts instructor, has his B.A. in Graphic Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, his M.S. in Studio Arts from Western Carolina University and his M.F.A. in Film and Video from the California College of Arts and Crafts in San Francisco. He served as classroom technology specialist at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and was an assistant professor of Media Art at Maine College of Art in Portland. He was also the visiting artist at UT-Knoxville for a semester.
Lydia E. Luka, Nursing instructor, received her diploma in Nursing from Jackson Memorial Hospital School in Miami, her B.S.N. in Nursing at Florida International University in Miami and M.S.N./F.N.P. in Nursing at Western Carolina University. She has been an adjunct instructor at A-B Tech and a family nurse practitioner at Asheville Wellness Center. She was a staff R.N. in the Oncology and Med-Surgical float pool at Mission Hospitals for 11 years.
A-B Tech Well On Its WAY to Health
A-B Tech had 76 participants sign up for a three-year study offered by North Carolina WAY (Workplace Activities for You) to Health.
In order to qualify, participants had to have a body mass index (BMI) of over 25. By definition, these individuals have BMIs that put them at higher risk for stroke, diabetes, heart disease and a wide range of chronic health problems.
"I'm welcoming this new opportunity for our employees," said Holly McCurry, Health and Physical Education Chair/Wellness Coordinator. "Our lives are so hectic, any time we can offer the convenience of work-based initiatives for healthy living is a huge benefit for the campus. We have ongoing physical activities scheduled throughout the year, but this will be the first weight management program offered."
A-B Tech was assigned to the Program 2 intervention, web-based weight loss program plus environmental program. All eligible and enrolled employees will receive information promoting the State Health Plan HealthSmart program that focuses on general wellness and health promotion. In addition, McCurry will be developing the Winner's Circle Dining Program to implement on campus.
The N.C. WAY to Health research staff will provide technical assistance and training in this program over the 12 months of the intervention. All enrolled employees will have access to a state-of-the-art science-based web-based weight loss program that has been proven effective in several other studies. Employees will log on to a password-protected website to gain access to the program in addition to reminders about follow-up assessment events.
The web page features a Tip of the Week, along with weekly lessons and a personal diary for participants to enter their weight, diet and physical activity, and a message board.