High School Graduation
President K. Ray Bailey spoke at the Buncombe County Schools graduation program for mid-year completers Jan. 19 in Ferguson Auditorium. Buncombe County Middle College, which is housed on the A-B Tech Asheville campus, had 10 graduates, the highest of any school. Other schools represented were Enka, Erwin, North Buncombe, Owen, Reynolds and Roberson High.
Foundation Scholarship Recipient Profiles
Funding for A-B Tech Foundation Scholarships comes from a variety of sources. Nine students are featured this month through different scholarships.
Yuliya Chernous
Yuliya Chernous received an A-B Tech Foundation Scholarship for $1,000. She plans to become a pharmacist after working as a pharmacy technician. "Since I am trilingual, speaking English, Russian, and Ukrainian, I help Russian and Ukrainian speaking customers by translating," she wrote. "Since I have been at A-B Tech and received my high school diploma, I have not given up. Rather, I have dedicated my life to succeed in my education, and I am doing everything I can by balancing my life, having a job, going to school, and volunteering."
Belinda Hamlin
Belinda Hamlin received a $1,000 Johnathan Giardina Memorial Scholarship. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and is enrolled in the Emergency Medical Science program. "I want to be able to help my fellow man when he or she is in a state of emergency," she wrote. "I want my community to be proud of me when the alarm sounds and I am on my way to meet their needs whether urgent or not. I have always tried fervently to achieve good grades in each of my classes and want my family to be proud of me for pursuing my dreams."
Dallas Goodman
Dallas Goodman is the recipient of the Ruth Denham Memorial Scholarship for $1,200. He has achieved a 4.0 GPA while studying radiography. "Twelve years ago I decided college was the only way to a rewarding career. I also intend to finish my B.S. in Physics, but I have discovered that a certification in diagnostic radiography in conjunction with a B.S. opens a lot of doors in the medical industry," he wrote. "I will be able to work in the medical industry in a rewarding occupation and complete my degree."
Jennifer Riddle
Jennifer Riddle received a $1,200 Ruth Denham Memorial Scholarship. "My career goals are to work as a registered nurse in a hospital or an in-home nursing job," she wrote. "I plan to work as a nurse and save money and go back to school. I will then go back to school and receive a bachelor's in science and then attend medical school to become a doctor. My goal in life is to learn as much as I can while helping others. This is why I chose a career of service to others. That is the personal satisfaction that I receive from my education."
Victoria Benson
Victoria Benson is the recipient of the Cristy West Memorial Scholarship for $570 and the Children's Welfare League Endowed Scholarship for $1,500. She has a 4.0 GPA, and is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree. "This is just a beginning, because I have so many goals that I still want to obtain," she wrote. "I want to graduate from A-B Tech and transfer to UNCA where I will major in political science. I eventually want to get into law school. However, my biggest goal of all is to show my children that education makes a difference."
Beth Seagle
Beth Seagle received the Children's Welfare League Endowed Scholarship for $1,500. She is working toward an associate's degree in Accounting, and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. "I want to be an independent bookkeeper," she wrote. "I would also like the opportunity to reach others who are struggling with their past. I want them to see by my example that their past doesn't have to control their present or their future. With each success and failure in school, I increase the confidence and determination that I can do more."
Darlene Clark
Darlene Clark is the recipient of the Jessie Goforth Memorial Scholarship for $840. She graduated from the LPN program at A-B Tech 20 years ago, and is now enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing Program. "My short-term goal at this moment is to graduate from the ADN program and obtain my RN licensure by passing the state board exam," she wrote. "I do know I want to go on with my education and obtain my BSN. I am interested in several areas of nursing. Cardiology, dialysis, chemotherapy, and wound care are the areas most of my interests are in."
Ingrid Freeman
Ingrid Freeman received the $1,200 Osborne M. Hart Endowed Scholarship. She is seeking a degree in Business Administration. She has been honored with induction into Phi Theta Kappa, named to Who's Who of American Junior and Community Colleges and was named to the President's List. "In the spring of 2002, the desire to attend college had been awakened," she wrote. "Most of all, I began to envision myself as a business owner and as a business consultant to others. I knew to get the best start I would need to go to college and acquire the necessary training and skills. "
Resia Morris
Resia Morris received the Jessie Copp Kramer /Hominy Valley Endowed Scholarship for $700. She is a medical sonography student who has been named to the President's List. "Within the next year, I plan to graduate with my associate's degree and sit for my board exams with the ARDMS," she wrote. "Upon completion I will receive the title Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and Registered Vascular Technologist. With my leadership and teaching skills I will be able to either become part of a management team or instruct future sonography students."
VITA Program To Expand, Help More Clients
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) will expand its program this year by including volunteers from other agencies.
Carol Hutchinson, Accounting instructor, and Kelly Randolph, Business Administration instructor, arranged and participated in IRS tax and software training on campus Jan. 4 and 5 to train volunteers to assist in income tax return preparation.
IRS agents and supervisors from the Charlotte area conducted the program. Twelve A-B Tech students participated in the training, along with volunteers from Mission Hospitals, local banks, and United Way agencies.
"This year, the A-B Tech VITA program will be enlarging to include volunteers from these areas," said Hutchinson. "Last year, we did over 400 returns, which was the maximum with the number of students we had. We're asking for other volunteers from these agencies to help more people."
VITA volunteers provide free tax help at community locations to those who can't afford paid tax help, those who are non-English speaking, persons with disabilities, those with a low income, the elderly and other individuals with special needs.
"Traditionally, my tax students have done this program. The student take individual income tax in fall, and in the spring they get hands-on experience," Hutchinson said. "They get to practice in interviewing people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds.This should give our students an excellent opportunity not only to prepare taxes in real situations, but also to interact with professionals in the community who might have career opportunities available for them."
The IRS provides the software for the VITA program and United Way's 211 service has been instrumental in helping recruit volunteers to prepare the tax returns in addition to the student volunteers from A-B Tech.