A publication for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Vol. 15 Issue 4April 2009
 

Headlines

Foundation Celebrates Scholarship Recipients, New Scholarships

Beth Rytz and Bob Roberts

Beth Rytz, recipient of the Deltec Homes Endowed Scholarship, was the featured student speaker at the A-B Tech Foundation's Spring Scholarship Luncheon. To her right is Foundation Board Member Bob Roberts, executive vice president of First Citizens Bank.

The A-B Tech Foundation honored 73 of its scholarship recipients during a luncheon March 5 at the College. It also announced the creation of 10 new scholarships and recognized a donor who went above and beyond.

Due to the number of scholarship recipients, two luncheons are held each academic year. Another 73 recipients were honored during the fall luncheon. Culinary Technology and Hospitality Education students prepare and serve the meal as part of their classroom experience.

Beth Rytz, recipient of the Deltec Homes Endowed Scholarship, was the speaker at the luncheon. She is earning an associate's degree in Construction Management, as well as a diploma in Carpentry.

"A year ago ...I decided it was time to leave the career I had merely settled for. I came back to A-B Tech's Construction Management program to expand my personal interest in remodel projects and home repair," Rytz said. "But I knew I needed to first learn the skills, so I stepped outside my comfort zone and into a classroom, after a 13-year absence."

After beginning her classes, Rytz discovered there is no such thing as being too prepared. "Preparation is, after all, why we are here. As educators, administrators, and donors, you are all here to help us, the students, to be as prepared as possible for the workforce that awaits us," she said.

Rytz plans to be self-employed, build modest homes and make them available for rental. "I am looking forward to my upcoming career, and I can't imagine building houses without having first come to A-B Tech," she said.

Nancy Miller, Foundation Board chair, announced the following new scholarships to be awarded to A-B Tech students: Brian Holt Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Harold Crutcher/Asheville Rotary Club Endowed Scholarship, Ferguson Family Charitable Endowed Scholarship, Joseph Bell-Powell Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Owen Tilson Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Michael Patrick Metcalf Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Roberta Manley Memorial Endowed Scholarship, The Grove Park Inn/Sammons Enterprises Endowed Scholarship for Culinary Arts, The Grove Park Inn/Sammons Enterprises Endowed Scholarship for Resort and Spa Management, and the John E. McElrath Memorial Scholarship.

Anita Metcalf, Foundation Executive Director, informed the audience the outcomes of the first Lavender Fund effort were such a success that the anonymous donor donated another $250,000, creating a fund total of $500,000 to assist students.

"These additional funds will allow us to offer the Young Entrepreneur Summer program two additional years and increase the scholarships from 33 to 88 for single parents, increase the number of students supported by the student incubator and the Young Entrepreneur Summer Camp," Metcalf said. "We are grateful to this anonymous donor who created this gift for the College and to the staff of the Community Foundation who worked with us to develop this program for our students."

Shortly before the holidays, Metcalf received one of those phone calls that someone who works with the Foundation can only dream of, she said. "The person on the phone, who in this case, was Jim Oliver with AvL Technologies, said: 'What does the College need?' It only took a moment to say the College is working on becoming completely wireless and any amount can help us install additional access points; there is always a need for funding for scholarships and the College certainly needs an accessible minibus - 14 passenger with a wheelchair lift and space for two wheelchairs."

The College does not have the internal capacity to transport students and staff who rely on a wheelchair for mobility.

Upon returning from the holidays, the Foundation received three checks from Oliver - one for additional access points to make each of A-B Tech's campuses wireless, one to increase the AvL Technologies Endowed Scholarship and one to purchase an accessible minibus for the College.

"We appreciate Mr. Oliver, who was the first to have a company to incubate with A-B Tech. He is now a very successful Asheville businessman and a loyal supporter of this College," Metcalf said.

The following recipients were recognized during the Spring Scholarship Luncheon.

A-B Tech Foundation Scholarship

A-B Tech SGA Scholarship

Asheville Independent Restaurant "Chefs of Tomorrow" Scholarship

Children's Welfare League Scholarship

College Bridge Scholarship

Deltec Homes Endowed Scholarship

Eaton Corporation Scholarship

Friends of the College Memorial Scholarship

Gem Fund, American Association of University Women, Asheville Branch Scholarship

Grimes-West Medical Laboratory Technology Scholarship

H. D. And Kay Crews Endowed Scholarship

Hospitality Education Scholarship

Hubert Wolfe Memorial Scholarship

Hutchinson/Candler Lions Club Endowed Scholarship

Jessie Copp Kramer/Hominy Valley Endowed Scholarship

Johnathan Giardina Endowed Scholarship

Lacy T. Haith/James B. Miller Endowed Scholarship

Lowe's Buchan Club Scholarship

Mark Rosenstein, The Marketplace Scholarship

Mary Louise Carpenter Scholarship

Mt. Renaissance Adventure Faire Scholarship

NC State Trust Fund Scholarship

North Buncombe Extension Community Association Scholarship

PNC Advisors Scholarship

Sgt. Jeffery Hewitt Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Square D Endowed Scholarship

State Employees' Credit Union Foundation Scholarship

Surgical Technology Scholarship

The Joe Lilly Culinary Scholarship

The Stans Sluder Memorial Scholarship

Theresa Sabo Endowed Nursing Scholarship

UnitedHealthcare Endowed Scholarship

Veterinary Medical Technology Endowed Scholarship

William P. Warren Scholarship Endowment

Winkenwerder Family Scholarship

Yesterday's Tree Endowed Scholarship

A-B Tech Foundation

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Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.
Editor: Mona Cornwell, Writer: Martha Ball, Designers: Justin Page, April Sides
Send submissions to: Mona Cornwell, Director of Communications, at mcornwell@abtech.edu
Publication of the next issue is scheduled for May 1. Deadline for submissions is April 17.