Invitational Education Committee To Recognize Faculty and Staff
Carol Fleming, director of the Learning Resources Center, has been selected as the recipient of the first Invitational Education Award, presented by the Invitational Education Committee.
Fleming was honored for embracing the tenets of the five Ps: people, places, policies, programs, and procedures. She has created an inviting environment by supporting faculty and students in accessing educational information, for focusing on needs of specific groups (such as Early College), changing furniture, allowing beverages (as long as they have a lid), and for development of a caring staff, according to the committee.
"All of these steps, along with many others, make the Learning Resources Center a place that people really want to be. We hope that folks will stop by the LRC and congratulate Carol and see Invitational Education in action," said Deborah Harmon, director of Counseling and chair of the IE Committee.
The Invitational Award will be given each month to a person who is "caught" being and/or doing something invitational. Nominations may be dropped in any student suggestion box or sent in the campus mail to Elizabeth Scarbrough. The nominations are due by the 15th of each month and will be awarded on the last working day of the month.
The forms will be available online as well as by the student suggestion boxes, Records and Registration, the business office, the LRC, and the division offices. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to nominate individuals for the award.
Frank Liang Returns to China
Visiting scholar Zhiqiang "Frank" Liang and his family presented President K. Ray Bailey with a gift before returning to China June 1. Liang had been helping the Small Business Center and Incubator since January while he was taking master's level classes at Western Carolina University. He is also an intern with the Yangpu Science and Technology Venture Center in Shanghai. Liang was treated to a going away party May 24. From left are Russ Yelton, Small Business Center and Incubator director; Liang's wife, Vera; daughter, Jia Jia; Liang, and President Bailey.
Dennis Walters Golf Show Offers Encouragement, Inspiration
Dennis Walters and his dog, Benji Hogan, entertain a crowd in the Simpson Building Lecture Room May 4. Walters, a paraplegic, performs around the country in hopes of inspiring others to live their dreams.
Dennis Walters brought an uplifting message during his golf presentation May 4 in the Simpson Building Lecture Room.
Walters, an avid golfer, was well on his way to becoming a PGA touring professional, when an accident caused him to become paralyzed below the waist. "For me playing golf is the thing I love the most," he said. "It was looking bad for my dreams of becoming a professional golfer."
With his family and friends helping him, Walters began to hit golf balls from a wheelchair. Then he had a custom golf cart built for him. It is equipped with a swivel seat that allows him to recreate a natural golf swing. He has been putting on shows for people with developmental disabilities, spinal cord injuries or head injuries 30 years. The shows feature trick, precision shots and his own personal clubs, including a driver made from a crutch and a fishing rod.
"When I was lying in that hospital bed 32 years ago, I never thought I would get out of it," Walters said. "I challenge each person here to do something you didn't think you could do. For me it was golf, for you it may be something else. If you want to do something, don't let anybody tell you that you can't."
Many of the audience members were students in A-B Tech's Compensatory Education program. The biggest hit of the show was Walter's dog, Benji Hogan. Benji performed some math tricks that kept the audience entertained, including some addition and division problems.
Poetry Reading in LRC
A-B Tech Associate of Arts student Jason Herring reads during a poetry reading April 27 in the Learning Resources Center. Adjunct instructor Michelle Rogers organized the gathering for students, staff and faculty to listen to original poetry while enjoying a cup of coffee and other treats.