A-B Tech Student Crowned Miss Asheville 2006
Amanda Tweed, Miss Asheville 2006 and A-B Tech Student
Amanda Tweed, an Associate in Arts student at A-B Tech, was crowned Miss Asheville Nov. 12 at Reynolds High School, winning over $1,000 in scholarships.
"A friend mentioned it to me," said Tweed. "I have never done pageants before ever." Now she will represent Asheville in the Miss North Carolina pageant in Raleigh in June.
That pageant is a preliminary to the Miss America scholarship program.
Tweed is a dance instructor at Weaverville Dance Academy, where she also is a student. In addition to carrying a full load of classes at A-B Tech, she works as a sales associate for Clinique at Belk in the Asheville Mall.
She had to compete in the categories of casual wear, evening wear, swimsuit, talent, and interview. Tweed will go to Raleigh in April to prepare for the Miss North Carolina pageant. "It's a big production," she said. "I have to learn the choreography. It will be different things each day."
Tweed will be getting some assistance from English/Communications Instructor Debra Maddox, who was Miss Iowa in 1984, and competed in the 1985 Miss America pageant. Tweed has signed up for Maddox's public speaking class.
"Most contestants have no idea," Maddox said. "That's where I come in. I can help." Maddox is familiar with the pressure and work involved with the program. "All you can do is go there and do your best. You don't know what they are looking for that year."
Early College Students Present Career Fair Projects
Early college students Billy Lytle and Megan Yoshida show their displays during the career fair held as part of their ACA 115 class.
Students in the Buncombe County Early College High School presented their ACA 115 projects in a mini career fair where they were the experts teaching about their future careers.
They researched their career of choice, including job responsibilities, salary and outlook. Students spoke about the steps they will need to take in order to achieve their career goals.
Ankita Patel set up a display about emergency nurse practitioners. She chose that profession because "you get to help people," she said. "I like fast-paced work and the challenge." Patel said she would recommend getting a master's degree to perform her job.
Students began working on the research part of their projects at the beginning of the semester. Putting together the physical displays took about two weeks.
Heather Robinson talked about becoming an herbalist. "My mom, grandmother and I cook a lot, and I love the smell of the herbs we work with," she said. "I want to use different alternatives for healing. Doctors sometimes use chemicals we don't need. We need to find ways to benefit from all natural things."
Other careers represented include computer hardware engineer, clay animator, mammologist, fish and game warden, radiologist, dental hygienist, crime scene technician, surgeon, police detective, neonatal nurse, graphic designer, lawyer and interior designer.
One focus of Early College that distinguishes it from other high schools is the work-based learning component. Beginning in ninth grade, students begin to explore careers and will be involved in job shadowing and internships in the coming years.
Another distinguishing characteristic of Early College students is they begin to take college courses in ninth grade, including ACA 115, College Success and Study Skills. The Early College curriculum integrates high school and college course work in order for students to earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree in five years.
Comments from Career Fair:
"Great job! All students spoke well! Great displays!"
"Students have put a great deal of work and thought into process."
"This was very impressive- great work!"
"Congratulations on an outstanding activity! Very impressive students!"
"Spectacular job on career choices. Creative and fun, educational and informative."
"Very nice. It was fun to see the students so excited about possible careers."
"Everyone did an excellent job! Very knowledgeable group of individuals. All seem to want careers that require a lot of schooling. Totally awesome!"
"Thrilling to see what these kids can do!"
"The displays were so well done that I stayed to see the last go-around as well. A-B Tech should be very proud of their students' hard work and devotion to the topics they chose. It was my pleasure to be part of your special day!"
Gathering Shelter Built By Students
Carpentry and welding students built a gathering shelter between the Birch and Dogwood buildings over the past year. Evening students in Carpentry 113 with instructor Christopher Castellani started construction of the footers, deck frame and major box beams. During the summer semester, Ken Czarnomski, Construction Management Technology chair, together with Carpentry 113 day students framed the floating hip roof. During the fall semester, Carpentry 113 day students applied all of the final finishes including the standing seam roof. Charlie Farmer, Welding Technology instructor, and his students took on the manufacturing of the leaf brackets. "We wanted the structure to be a permanent part of our campus," said Czarnomski. "The finishes are designed to be contextual with the surrounding Birch, Dogwood and Balsam exterior finishes and as self maintaining as practical. It is centralized protected building intersection. We are hoping that in the years to come the space will continue to reinforce the campus spirit."
Children's Holiday Party
Children from the Head Start program of Buncombe and Madison counties test out their new big wheel tricycles during A-B Tech's 30th Annual Children's Holiday party Dec. 2.
Sponsored by the Student Government Association, the holiday party is a long-standing tradition at the college providing toys for children who may not have other gifts during the holiday season.
The children, ages 3-5, ate lunch, visited with Santa, and received stuffed stockings, big wheel tricycles, and helmets purchased with donations from students, faculty, and staff.