Headlines
- College Records Double-Digit Increase in Enrollment
- A-B Tech Foundation Receives $250,000 Grant From Community Foundation of WNC
- Communications Office Wins National Awards
- The Emotion Project Presented at CIT Meeting
- Dr. Young and Trustees Visit Congressman Shuler
- Foundation Scholarship Recipient Profiles
- Basic Skills Staff Members Receive Training For Holocaust Lessons
- Hospitality Job Fair Scheduled
- Invitational Education Winner Creates Student Writing Center
- Coming Home: WCU Representative Returns to A-B Tech Campus
- Tech Notes
College Records Double-Digit Increase in Enrollment
Therapeutic Massage student William Davis works on a fellow student during class. Therapeutic Massage and Cosmetology are two of the newest programs at A-B Tech that have contributed to an enrollment increase.
A-B Tech's spring semester enrollment is up nearly 12 percent over 2007, according to the College census.
Through Jan. 25, the date the census was taken, the College had registered 6,254 students for the 2008 spring semester, compared to 5,601 at the same point in 2007. Census figures reflect a snapshot of enrollment and are used to determine funding for the College.
College officials attribute the increase to several factors, including the addition of new programs, more opportunities for high school students to take college-level classes, and the availability of new scholarships.
The A-B Tech Foundation has increased the number of scholarships it awards from six in the 2000-01 school year to more than 100.
"We also have added popular new programs," said Dr. Dennis King, Student Services vice president. "Cosmetology and Therapeutic Massage are two of the newest offerings and enrollment in both of those has been strong. "
King said the increase also is a reflection of the college's commitment to students' success. "We have employees who share the philosophy of how we believe students should be treated.
"One example of that commitment is the first-year seminar class that acclimates new students to the college experience. Having this support in place helps retain students from one semester to the next," he said.
New students still have an opportunity to enroll in the spring semester through the College's minimester, an eight-week session that offers curriculum courses in half the time of a full semester. The courses cover the same amount of material and involve the same amount of work as a 16-week class. The next minimester begins March 11 and will include the first-year seminar class. For a full listing of available courses, visit www.abtech.edu/schedules/minimester.
A-B Tech Foundation Receives $250,000 Grant From Community Foundation of WNC
The A-B Tech Foundation has received a $250,000 grant from the Lavender Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for the College's Building Support and Opportunities (BSO) project.
The project includes a scholarship fund for single parents attending college and funding for the Student Business Incubator program for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.
"A-B Tech appreciates the support the Community Foundation is providing to our students through the Lavender Fund," President Betty Young said. "My personal experiences make this program particularly meaningful to me. I went to college at the age of 28 as a single mother with a young daughter, so I know how much programs like the Lavender Fund mean to single parents struggling to reach their dreams. I also have been an entrepreneur, and I am excited about the opportunities this grant will provide for participants in our Student Business Incubator Program, who will build a strong economic future for our community."
The Foundation plans to award 44 scholarships annually with first priority given to single parents. Recipients will be eligible for award renewal each semester. A Lavender Fund advisor will assist the recipients with the application and award process, maintain contact with recipients, and assist in training with career development, job search skills, and community-based support, as necessary.
"These scholarships, the emergency funds and the coaching support made possible through this project will change lives and open doors to opportunities not otherwise possible," said Anita Metcalf, Foundation executive director.
A-B Tech's Small Business Center/Incubator will hold a Young Entrepreneurs' Summer camp for 15-20 high school students free of charge. Students will apply to the camp where they will learn about entrepreneurship, develop and present a business plan, and interact with professionals from the community.
The Student Business Incubator is a new program for A-B Tech students to start their own business. The funds will cover costs based on the needs of each student business, including conferences, software and professional services.
Communications Office Wins National Awards
A-B Tech’s Communications Office received eight awards, including a gold for its viewbook, Learning to Succeed, in a national competition sponsored by Admissions Marketing Report.
A-B Tech's Communications Office received eight awards, including two gold, in a national competition sponsored by Admissions Marketing Report.
Now in its 23rd year, the Admissions Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising awards competition in the country. This year, 2,000 entries were received from more than 1,000 universities and secondary schools from all 50 states and several foreign countries.
A-B Tech received gold awards for its student viewbook, Learning to Succeed, and its public relations campaign on the retirement of College President K. Ray Bailey. Silver awards were given for the employee newsletter, Tech Talk, and a pictorial history book of the College called We Will Move Mountains.
The College received bronze awards for its annual report, Sustaining Success, and a magazine ad on its national champion culinary team. Newspaper ads on the culinary team and the Associate in Fine Arts program earned merit awards.
The Communications Office members creating the award-winning publications were Mona Cornwell, Communications director; Justin Page, Graphic/Web designer II; Martha Ball, Communications specialist; April Sides, Graphic/Web designer I; and Joelle Diepenbrock; Graphic Design specialist.
Judges for the awards included admissions' marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals and the editorial board of Admissions Marketing Report.
Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Editor: Mona Cornwell, Writer: Martha Ball, Designer: April Sides
Send submissions to: Mona Cornwell, Director of Communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu