A-B Tech Well-Represented at Regional Conference by Students and Graduate
A-B Tech's Hot Food Team at the American Culinary Federation Southeast Regional Junior Hot Food competition in Savannah, GA., where they won first place and the opportunity to compete nationally. Team members are, from left, Jason Huang, Nell Flemer, Mark Hutchins, Adam Cole, Matt Gruber and Marla Leblow.
The A-B Tech Hot Food Team secured its place in national culinary competition Feb. 28 by winning the Southeast Regional Junior Hot Food title for the third time in nine years.
The student team won first place and a gold medal at the American Culinary Federation competition in Savannah, GA., after winning state competition in January. They will advance to national competition July 14-17 in Philadelphia against the ACF champions from the Northeast, Central and Western regions.
Chef Bronwen McCormick, Culinary instructor, and Chef Charles deVries, Baking and Pastry Arts instructor, serve as coaches. Members of the team are captain Mark Hutchins, Adam Cole, Nell Flemer, Jason Huang, Marla Leblow, and second alternate Matt Gruber.
"It was awesome," said deVries. "I felt the team was really well-organized and happy. They kept a steady pace. They got a lot of comments about them being a machine because of the precision and organization. "
"The students were exceptional," said McCormick. "They were calm and collected and they did exactly what they had trained to do. Their food was beautiful."
"I was proud to be representing the school with my teammates," said Flemer. "I've learned so much in the past couple of months with them. I can't wait until nationals. I think no matter how it goes, it's going to be a great experience and I will learn so much from it."
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.
"It was very exciting and a little nerve racking," said Leblow. "Once we got in there, we worked as team and did the best we've ever done. We all work together really well. I think we should be able to keep it together for nationals. Communicating during competition is important. It keeps us all relaxed to hear our teammates' voices."
The A-B Tech team used the same menu from state competition, but with improvements after receiving feedback from judges. 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, glazed golden beets, horseradish gnocchi and roasted chicken sauce. Dessert was Granny Smith apple timbale with goat's milk caramel, sourwood honey-blackberry sauce and lime crème fraiche. The blackberry dessert sauce also contained some jalapeno pepper, which was noted by the Certified Master Chef judges as being "innovative, bold and a nice surprise."
"They took a lot of ownership in taking the food up another level, which they will need to do again for nationals," said McCormick.
"It was a very exciting experience for me," said Huang. "It was definitely one of the biggest accomplishments I ever achieved. We're taking a break now, but eventually we will be kicking it back up and start practicing again."
Culinary teams from A-B Tech won regional competitions in 1997 and 2003, and received silver medals at the national competition those years, making the A-B Tech team one of the "Top Four" nationally.
"They had a great time and smiled throughout the competition," said McCormick. "They certainly should be very proud of what they accomplished. I am. "
Chef Tim Thomas, a 1988 A-B Tech Culinary graduate and Executive Chef at the private Ocean Forest Country Club on Sea Island, Ga., was a nominee for Regional Chef of the Year. His apprentice won Student Culinarian of the Year.
He also won two competitions at the conference. He received a gold medal and first place in the Magnolia Mystery Basket competition, and first place in the Georgia Shrimp competition. He will now go to New Orleans and compete in the National Shrimp competition.
Foundation Scholarship Recipient Profiles
Funding for A-B Tech Foundation Scholarships comes from a variety of sources. Seven students are featured this month through different scholarships.
William Becher
William Becher, recipient of the Marie Love Cochran Endowed Scholarship, is a Mechanical Engineering Technology student with plans to graduate this spring. He has been named to the Dean's List and President's List. He wants to continue his education by earning his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology after graduating from A-B Tech. "I would like to pursue a career in industrial automation," he wrote.
John Bigard
John Bigard received the College Bridge Scholarship after completing his GED at A-B Tech. He is studying Networking Technology and wants to obtain certification in Networking, Networking Security, Open Source Operating Systems and other programs. "Before I went to go get my GED I didn't think I was smart enough nor did I feel I could ever learn in a typical school setting," he wrote. "However, the teachers at A-B Tech are some of the most caring and loving people I have ever met."
Jennifer Cole
Jennifer Cole received the American Association of University Women Scholarship. She is a College Transfer student earning her Associate in Arts while holding a 4.0 GPA. She plans to enroll at UNC Asheville to study financial and managerial accounting and eventually earn a master's degree. "This past January I started my first college semester, and it has definitely been a life-changing experience for me," she wrote. "It is absolutely one of the best things that has happened in my life."
Matthew Davidson
Matthew Davidson is a College Bridge Scholarship recipient with plans to learn building design. "I will use the education I receive to eventually open my own business," he wrote. "I know that being an entrepreneur is not simple, but takes hard work and determination. I will possess the knowledge and skills needed to successfully market myself to potential employers. With the economy the way it is, a degree from A-B Tech will also give me the extra edge to successfully compete in the job market."
Athena Elmore
Athena Elmore, an Early Childhood Education student, is the recipient of the Altrusa International Scholarship. She made the decision after she realized she did not want to "be a manager of grown-ups for a living," she wrote. "I want to be a leader of children. Why not do what I love and get paid for it as well? I feel like this will put me on the right path to doing what I am passionate about: helping children to get a good start and serving as an example."
Julie Gebhardt
Julie Gebhardt received the Dr. H.D. and Kay Crews Endowed Scholarship to assist her in completing her Associate's Degree in Nursing. She has lived and worked in Asheville for the past 20 years and has continued her education as her full-time employment allowed. "I had the unfortunate opportunity to watch and work with nurses in three different facilities after my parents were in a severe motorcycle accident," she wrote. "My respect and admiration for the nursing staff and my desire to become one of them was greatly increased by this tragic event."
Jenny Player
Jenny Player is the recipient of the Dr. H.D. and Kay Crews Endowed Scholarship and is enrolled in the Associate's Degree in Nursing program. "Eventually, I will hang my Bachelor of Nursing Award on my wall," she wrote. "I want to work at a hospital first starting out on the Medical Surgical floor and each year rotate to different floors. I want to gain as much experience as I possibly can."
A-B Tech Fire Academy: First Academy Class Starts 12-week Course
A firefighter receives training in A-B Tech's Fire Academy, created by the Continuing Education Division.
This story is a collaborative effort by members of A-B Tech's Fire Academy
Fire, flood and all sorts of calamity are in the future of A-B Tech's newest class: The Fire Academy.
A-B Tech's Continuing Education' Division has created what is known as the Fire Academy: an intense, 12-week or almost 500-hour course of instruction leading to certification as a Firefighter II in North Carolina. The first Fire Academy class began March 20 and will graduate June 6. The Fire Academy, brain child of Continuing Education Fire Coordinators Kevin Griffin and Ryan Cole, is also known as "B-Fit: Basic Firefighter Indoctrination Training." It is a unique collaboration of A-B Tech, all fire departments within Buncombe County, and the N.C. Department of Insurance, which certifies fire training in the state. The program is the first of its kind and is being watched carefully by fire safety leaders from all over North Carolina.
Skye Myrick, the program's executive director, said the program was set up to meet the needs of our city and county Fire and Rescue departments. "We will offer this training to anyone who is interested in a career in fire service," she said. "We hope that high school graduates or those individuals anticipating a career change will consider our Fire Academy."
The Fire Service profession has a long tradition of training, and has long been a part of A-B Tech's course offerings. The state requires 440 hours of instruction for a Firefighter II level certification. But the professional tradition doesn't stop there; it's only getting started. Many fire departments require already-certified firefighters to devote at least 240 training hours to continuing education every year. Officers in those fire departments are held to a higher standard, and devote 300 hours or more to their own training every year.
Paul Monroe, the Academy's lead instructor, said he is very impressed with the students. "They are doing a good job with the physical training as well as classroom instruction," he said.
The A-B Tech Occupational and Public Service Training Department is host to the Fire Academy, which draws instructors and other resources from Asheville Fire and Rescue, Black Mountain, Skyland, Weaverville and other fire departments from Buncombe County. All of these departments and A-B Tech are pooling resources to achieve their common goal of better-trained fire department personnel.
Who are those personnel going to be? The first Fire Academy class shows the extreme diversity of people attracted to public service careers in fire service. Of the 18 students, nine were already in fire service as paid or volunteer firefighters and wanted to upgrade their credentials and/or job prospects. Five of the students joined the Fire Academy straight out of school, while nine entered the Fire Academy as a career change.
Six of the Fire Academy students have high school diplomas, four have two-year degrees and eight have four-year degrees. Two students are female, the youngest student is 18 and the oldest is 53. Three students are Buncombe County natives, and eight are from elsewhere in North Carolina. Students attracted from other states came to Asheville from California, Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida.
Ten of the Fire Academy students have jobs waiting for them at Asheville Fire and Rescue, while others work or volunteer at Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Cedar Mountain, Tryon, Jupiter, Reynolds, Brevard and Rosman fire departments.
"We are proud of what our college and our instructors have been able to accomplish. And we are optimistic about what these students will bring to fire service. Sure the training is competitive and challenging but then again, so is the profession," Myrick said.
For all of these students, fire departments and A-B Tech, this first Fire Academy class looks like the start of something great.
The second Fire Academy class, which will meet at nights, is accepting applications and will start June 12. Interested applicants should contact the Fire Service Education Department at 254-1921, Ext. 139.