A-B Tech Recognized as Bellwether Award Finalist
Celebrating A-B Tech's selection as a finalist for a national Bellwether Award are (l-r) Max Queen, vice president of Continuing Education; Dr. Linda Hagedorn, chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy at the University of Florida; Russ Yelton, director of the Small Business Center and Incubator; Graphic Designer Justin Page; Susan Arscott, President-Elect of the Council for Resource Development; and President K. Ray Bailey.
A-B Tech's Center for Corporate and Economic Development was honored Jan. 24 in Orlando, FL, as a finalist for a national Bellwether Award, which recognizes trendsetting programs that can serve as models for other community colleges.
The awards were presented as part of the Community College Futures Assembly, a four-day conference sponsored by the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida. "The New Rules of Business" was the conference theme.
"A-B Tech's Center for Corporate and Economic Development has become an economic engine for Western North Carolina, and we're delighted it was chosen as one of the most innovative programs in community colleges in the country," said President K. Ray Bailey.
"Through partnerships with other educational institutions, government agencies, and business and industry, we have developed the Center into a catalyst for transforming our region's economy from one that is largely dependent on manufacturing to one that is emerging as a haven for small businesses and knowledge-based professionals," Bailey said.
Bellwether Awards are presented in three categories: instructional programs and services; planning, governance, and finance; and workforce development. A-B Tech was chosen as a finalist in the planning, governance, and finance category, which recognizes programs or activities that have been designed and implemented to improve efficiency and effectiveness in community colleges.
Located at A-B Tech's Enka campus, the Center for Corporate and Economic Development houses a corporate technology training and conference center, a technology commercialization center, a biotechnology incubator, and a small business center and incubator. It also is home to Western Carolina University's nursing program and such business partners as ERC Broadband, Blue Ridge Food Ventures, and Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems.
The campus was created in 2000 when textile maker BASF donated 37 acres and three buildings containing 277,000 square feet to A-B Tech. Then-Gov. Jim Hunt said the gift was the largest donation of property to a community college in the country.
Hot Food Team Wins First Place, Gold Medal at State Competition
A-B Tech's Hot Food Team won first place and a gold medal in the N.C. State Junior Hot Food Competition. Pictured are, front row, (L-R), Adam Cole and Jason Huang; back row, (L-R), Coach Chef Bronwen McCormick, Mark Hutchins, Matt Gruber, Nell Flemer, Marla Leblow and Coach Chef Charles deVries.
The A-B Tech Hot Food Team took first place and a gold medal at the N.C. State Junior Hot Food Competition Jan. 7 at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte.
This is the eighth win in nine years for the A-B Tech team at the American Culinary Federation state competition. The team will advance to the Southeast Regional competition Feb. 26-March 1 in Savannah, GA, with a chance to compete nationally.
"This win is very sweet," said Chef Bronwen McCormick, Culinary instructor and one of the team coaches. "I think we have a chance to go all the way." Chef Charles deVries, Baking and Pastry Arts instructor, also served as coach.
"We had a great time," deVries said. "They were clean, efficient and organized. They have been practicing for so long that they were a cohesive unit. We got some great, positive feedback from the judges. We have some fine-tuning to do, and a short time to get ready for the Southeast Regional, but they should be able to pull it off. I have a lot of confidence they will be ready for the next one."
"I thought the competition went very well," said McCormick. "I was pleased with the level of professionalism the students showed. They were classy and represented A-B Tech well. The were very poised and had a lot of fun."
The team members practiced while the culinary program was moving into a new building on campus, where they had to use different kitchens due to one not having water at the time, and another having no gas. "They have been very flexible, " she said. "It helped them to walk into competition and deal with the unknown."
Members of the team are captain Mark Hutchins, Adam Cole, Nell Flemer, Jason Huang, Marla Leblow, and second alternate Matt Gruber. Hutchins, Cole, and McCormick were also on the 2004 winning team.
Hot food competitors are judged on such criteria as the flavor, taste, texture and doneness of their foods; serving methods; portion sizes and creativity. Floor judges also evaluate their organization, sanitation, teamwork, workflow, and cooking techniques and knife skills.
The team served pan-seared striped bass filet for the appetizer, followed by a mixed greens salad with a shiitake mushroom and triple cream cheese Napoleon and an apple wood-smoked bacon vinaigrette. The entrée was chicken roulade with mushroom duxelles, fennel sausage, dilled tourneed cucumbers, horseradish gnocchi and roasted chicken sauce. Dessert was Matsu apple yimbale with goat's milk caramel, sourwood honey-blackberry sauce and lime crème fraiche.
Culinary teams from A-B Tech have won gold medals at the state level from 1997-2001, 2003 and 2004. Teams received a silver medal at the national competition in 1997 and 2003, making the A-B Tech team one of the "Top Four" nationally.
Black History Month Program Features Civil Rights Leader
In celebration of Black History month, A-B Tech will host the Rev. Clark Olsen for a talk about his experience with the Civil Rights movement at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in Ferguson Auditorium.
In 1965, he was one of the many clergy who journeyed to Selma, AL., to support the Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March. On March 17, he was among three ministers who were attacked by local opponents of the voting rights movement. One of Olsens' companions, the Rev. James Reeb, was murdered. The public outcry over Reeb's death became a significant factor in the successful drive to end segregationist practices in voting registration.
Olsen's education background includes a graduate degree from Harvard University Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA.
Since 1978, Olsen has been a consultant to corporations and community organizations with emphasis on organizational, team and individual effectiveness and change. Currently, he is president and senior director of The Leadership Institute of the Elan Group of Spartanburg, SC.