Foundation Scholarship Recipient Profiles
Funding for A-B Tech Foundation Scholarships comes from a variety of sources, and this month's featured students have each benefited from the A-B Tech Foundation Scholarship for $1,200.
Sarah Bennett
Sarah Bennett is an associate of arts degree student with plans to transfer to UNCA to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness Promotion and then receive a master's of health science in Nutrition. She has maintained a 3.75 GPA, and will finish her studies here in December. "With the birth of my son three years ago, I realized I was ready to pursue higher education, and set a good example for my son," she wrote.
Samuel Teague
Samuel Teague is an associate of arts student with many interests. In addition to art, writing and science, he has discovered he enjoys acting since he came to A-B Tech. His artwork has appeared in various student art shows on campus and he has a piece in the 2005 Student Art Exhibition at the Vadim Bora Gallery. His mural of Albert Einstein is on the third floor of the Sycamore Building. "I want all my efforts to culminate in a career that utilizes my strengths and talents," he wrote.
Nikolas Franks
Nikolas Franks is a Phi Theta Kappa member, after achieving a 3.84 GPA. He is involved with the honor society by participating in fundraisers and the annual Altrusa Literacy Spelling Bee. He will graduate with an associate's degree in May. "Between now and then I will maintain a high GPA and be an active member in Phi Theta Kappa. When I receive my degree I will then be transferring to the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill," he wrote.
Heather Herrick
Heather Herrick is a Criminal Justice Technology student expecting to finish her coursework at A-B Tech in December. "I will continue my education in the pursuit of a bachelor's degree from Western Carolina," she wrote. "I am looking forward to working in the field of child protection/social work or crimes against women and children. I feel that this is an area of our legal system and social structure that is in need of an influx of more educated, dedicated people."
Kathy Johnson
Kathy Johnson came to A-B Tech to study Information Systems, knowing it would be a good career choice for her. "I enjoy working with computers because the technical side of them appeals to the type of logic I have, as well as my creative side that enjoys graphic design," she wrote. She hopes to graduate from A-B Tech and go to UNCA to earn a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Arts and Sciences. She has served as secretary for Phi Theta Kappa, and has been on the President's or Dean's list every semester. She also has been nominated twice to receive an award from Who's Who Among American Junior Colleges.
Ashley Bullman wants to teach at a North Carolina school with the eventual goal of becoming a guidance counselor or school psychologist. She has a GPA of 3.7, and is an associate of arts degree student. "A small school environment has made working with the professors at A-B Tech enjoyable," she wrote. "I plan to get a B.A. in psychology with certification to elementary education." She would also like to earn her master's degree while teaching.
Melissa Jane Helms is enrolled in the General Occupational Technology program, with plans to go into the Associate's Degree in Nursing program. "I plan to further my education in the medical field with a goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist," she wrote. "All my life I have been astounded by how and why the human body was able to do all the amazing things it does. I plan on using my love of biology and build on this ground work." She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Foundation Executive Committee Profile
Nancy Miller, member-at-large on A-B Tech's Foundation Executive Committee, recently retired after seven years as director of development for Asheville Christian Academy. She came to Asheville in 1978 as an employee of Progress Energy, which was called CP&L then. Her husband is a practicing dentist. "That's one of the reasons why I believe so much in A-B Tech," she said. "He could have not opened his practice without it. Every member of his staff is a graduate of A-B Tech. There is not a soul in the area not touched by A-B Tech. If you go to the hospital, A-B Tech is there. It's the same for the firefighters and police. I do believe in A-B Tech and talk about it all the time. I think of all the people who have lost their jobs and thankfully have a place to retrain."
Miller also sings in the choir at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Early College Students Pair With A-B Tech ACA Class
Early College students Lauren Bonura and Chase Barker participated in a teaming with A-B Tech students through their First-Year Seminar Class, taught by Charlotte Hipps, Career Pathways Coordinator.
Early College students got the chance to meet with A-B Tech students during a combined ACA 115, First-Year Seminar class Nov. 15.
Charlotte Hipps, Career Pathways Coordinator, and Jan King, Arts and Science adjunct instructor, teamed up to give their students the opportunity to meet and interview each other with questions they had about the difference in college and Early College.
"My students were interested in learning about 'real' college students and hers (King's) were interested in learning about the high school students on campus," said Hipps. "So we let them meet and interview each other. This was also an experiment for future ACA courses that we offer the Early College students to see if we should run them as Dual Enrollment instead of Huskins."
Each group consisted of six students, three from each class. They asked each other questions such as 'Why did you pick Early College over high school?' and 'How do you pay for college?'
"I liked the idea of getting together with the older people," said Chase Barker, Early College student. "They can tell you what it's like from their point of view."
"I was nervous at first," said Laura Bonura, Early College student. "They were really nice and it was great to chat with them."
Teaming up with their college counterparts in the same class revealed some interesting information to the Early College students. "It helped to know we were not the only ones taking this class. It makes you put more enthusiasm in it," said Barker.
"Since they're taking the same class we see the differences in the way we do the same things," said Bonura. "We found out that they only had to do a folder for their final project and we have to host a Career Fair." The Early College students are required to do research and an in-depth presentation.
Overall, the Early College students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. "I would like to be in a class with them," said Bonura.
"Instead of one meeting, I think it would be better to be together all the time," said Barker. "It would give us both a reason to stay focused."
Universal Campaign Sets Record
A-B Tech employees donated $35,683 to the Foundation during the 2005 Universal Campaign, with an 11 percent increase over the past year. Giving to United Way increased three percent with a total of $29,875 in contributions.
Thank you for your generous support of the Universal Campaign. Your contribution provides hope, encouragement, and inspiration to our students, College, and community. For them, it's an opportunity to create a different life for their families, a chance to attend college, and a way of reaching a long-time career goal.
Our division coordinators were an important part of the success of the campaign. They accepted the invitation to coordinate the division meetings and to follow up with everyone in their division to ensure forms were returned. Thank you to David Walker, Larry Boyd, Marlene Roden, Angela Goodwin, Elizabeth Scarbrough, Kenet Adamson, Sharon Killian, Carol Fleming, Nancy Troxler, Shelley White, Jenifer Burns, Dianne Thompson, Tamma Moriarity and Sue Donato.
Information about Foundation scholarships can be found on the web at www.abtech.edu/foundation.