Vol. 12 Issue 11November 2006
 

Headlines

Sherrill Honored at General Staff Meeting

Wilma Sherrill and President Bailey

President Bailey presents Rep. Wilma Sherrill an honorary associate's degree in Civil Engineering Technology for her support of North Carolina's community colleges.

N.C. State Rep. Wilma Sherrill was presented an honorary associate's degree in Civil Engineering Technology for her support of A-B Tech during the Oct. 23 general staff meeting.

"Our community colleges are going to have to be funded and stand ready to retool and retrain our workforce .... We have got to continue to support our community colleges," Rep. Sherrill said in 2002 when she was running for her fifth term in the North Carolina General Assembly.

"Long a supporter of community colleges, Rep. Sherrill is leaving the Legislature when she officially completes her sixth term December 31," President K. Ray Bailey said. "I invited her to join us today so we could thank her publicly for the work she has done not only on behalf of those of us in community colleges, but for all the citizens of our state."

In 1994, Sherrill was elected to her first term in the state House of Representatives. A chief budget writer for the past four years, she has worked on domestic violence reforms and childcare initiatives.

She received many awards, including the 2004 Legislator of the Year from the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the 2002 Outstanding Legislator Award from the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the 1998 Distinguished Legislator from North Carolina Personnel Services, and the Legislator of the Year in 1998 from the North Carolina Humanities Council.

Named one of the top 30 most influential personalities in Asheville and Buncombe County, she also has been recognized by Advantage West with its 2003 Golden Eagle Leadership Award and by the March of Dimes with its Saving Babies Award.

"Yet despite her reputation for tenacity and toughness, she was admired by her colleagues in the General Assembly, as well as the people she represented," Bailey said. "It gives me great pleasure to present to one of our community's finest civil servants this honorary associate in applied science degree in civil engineering."

"It has been my privilege to serve the people of Asheville and Buncombe County, most especially, the students and staff of your excellent institution," Sherrill wrote after being honored. "To hold an honorary degree from A-B Tech just has to be the greatest achievement any person could receive."

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Compensatory Education Program Recognized For Excellence in Leadership

Compensatory Education Instructors

A-B Tech's Compensatory Education staff was honored with an Excellence in Leadership Award from the Mayor's Committee for Citizens with Disabilities.

A-B Tech's Compensatory Education program was selected as a 2006 recipient of the Mayor's Committee for Citizens with Disabilities award.

The award recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations whose awareness and actions have created accessibility and inclusion for people of all ages and abilities.

A-B Tech was nominated by the Irene Wortham Center and received an Excellence in Leadership award for its work and vision that have significantly benefited the lives of persons with disabilities. The award was given Oct. 5 during a reception at the Doubletree Hotel Biltmore, a past award winner.

"I believe our college is enriched and strengthened by providing the Compensatory Education program to the community," Kay Manley, Adult Basic Skills/HRD director, said. "The students give back in so many ways. Tom Rash as coordinator, Jan Johnston as specialist, and all the instructors work together to maintain a strong and vital program."

"I certainly see Compensatory Education as a leader in the community for individuals with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury," Rash said.

"More than anything else, I think it's a tribute to our excellent teachers and hardworking and dedicated students. Our students are enthusiastic about the program and our teachers are called upon to do a lot of things that are outside of the norm here at A-B Tech," Rash said.

The Asheville Mayor's Committee for Citizens with Disabilities was formed in 2004, and is charged with promoting and advocating for equal and inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities in all aspects of society as well as recognizing people and organizations that contribute to this cause.

"I feel like we have a lot of support starting with President Bailey and especially from Kay Manley. That's made a big difference," Rash said. "Ken O' Connor (Focused Industrial and New and Expanding Industry Training director) really laid the groundwork for the program in the years that he was a coordinator."

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