A publication for employees, students, and friends of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
Vol. 15 Issue 7July 2009
 
"A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug."
Patricia Neal

Headlines

GED Program Sees 450 Completers Over Past Year

Mayor Terry Bellamy speaks at GED graduation

Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy spoke to a full house during the GED Recognition Ceremony June 4 in Ferguson Auditorium.

Terry Hughes

Graduate Terry Hughes talks about his journey through the GED program.

GED graduates celebrate

About 100 GED completers participated in the Recognition Ceremony.

A-B Tech GED graduates celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends in a packed Ferguson Auditorium June 4. The program graduated approximately 450 individuals during the past year and about 100 of those graduates were in attendance at the annual Recognition Ceremony.

Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy served as the community speaker and said she was touched by the stories some students shared. Comparing their journey to the sowing of seeds, Bellamy told the graduates they were good ground for seeds to take root, flourish and blossom. "You are good ground regardless of why you dropped out, regardless of how long it took you to finish or regardless of what someone may have told you.

"It may take your seeds longer, but they are germinating today," Bellamy said. "You are so important to the fabric of this community. You have not done your best yet."

Terry Hughes worked in a factory for 40 years when his company and career went overseas. "It was the scariest thing, but it gave me the confidence to change my career and to go on. I am the first of my siblings to get a GED or graduate high school. My instructors always encouraged me to learn. I would put them up against any college in the country," he said.

Brandon Jones, who dropped out of high school 12 years ago at age 17, received laughs for his honesty. "I've always considered myself a smart person. In elementary school, I always got checks and plusses on my report card. By the time I got to high school, all I could pass was art, P.E. and lunch."

Jones signed up for GED classes at A-B Tech and was able to pass the reading portion of the exam. "After that, I did what I did best - I quit," he said. Jones returned to A-B Tech and was grateful for the multiple chances. "I felt like the instructors were happy every time I showed up," he said.

"The most important thing is the students never gave up and they will go on to bigger and better things," said Brenda Robinson, Lead GED Lab instructor.

Jimmie Cochran Pratt, Foundation Development officer, presented College Bridge Scholarships to students Hannah Rae Guy and Theresa L. Talbot, who will enter curriculum programs at A-B Tech in the fall.

Photo Gallery  GED Preparation

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Foundation Golf Tournament a Great Success

Dave White at Foundation Golf Tournament

Dave White, director of Research and Planning, tees off on a par 3 during the Foundation K. Ray Bailey Invitational Golf Classic.

Golfers warming up on the putting green

Golfers warm up their putting skills before the start of the tournament.

K. Ray Bailey, Jennifer Noble, and Mike Ray

K. Ray Bailey, president emeritus, gets the tournament started. With him are Jennifer Noble, a scholarship recipient, and Mike Ray, a member of the golf tournament committee.

The A-B Tech Foundation K. Ray Bailey Invitational Golf Classic held June 5 at Mount Mitchell Golf Club raised more than $30,000 for student scholarships.

"In this difficult economic time, folks saw the need to step forward to help our students while enjoying a day of camaraderie," said Jimmie Cochran Pratt, A-B Tech Foundation Development Officer.

Justin Perdue won the putting contest. Matt Cook grabbed the longest drive for the men, while Patty Kennedy shot the longest drive for the women. A closest to the pin contest was also held. The winners were Jeff Brotherton (hole #2), Tim Kelly (#6), Greg Catevenis (#11) and Russ Yelton (#15).

First-place gross team winner was Office Environments with members Chris Young, Randy Williams, Bob Pegram and Dan Coker.

First-place net team winner was Williams Family Dentistry/Brumit Team with members Bill Williams, Greg Gilsdorf, Keith Daugherty and Bryan Aycock.

Second-place gross team winner was the Western Carolina University College of Business with members Louis Buck, Ken Flynt, Jim DeConinck and Matt Cook.

Second-place net team winner was Learning Environments with members Jamey Martin, Marty Martin, Richie Brannon and Dude Royal.

Third-place gross team winner was Asheville Merchants with members Johnny Davis, Bill Gatewood, Brian Young and Chris Pegram.

Third-place net team winner was Title Company of NC with members George Saenger, Bill Cagle, Bill Wolcott and Steve Jones.

"We had a great time. Only one of our foursome had even seen the golf course before and it's a beautiful golf course," said Buck, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Western Carolina University.

The mission of the Foundation is to support A-B Tech in all of its programs and activities to ensure that quality educational opportunities are available to its students, faculty and staff. The Foundation awarded 146 scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year.

2009 K. Ray Bailey Invitational Golf Classic Sponsors


Premier

Gold

Bronze

Team & Hole

Team

Hole Sponsors

In/Kind Sponsors

Photo Gallery  A-B Tech Foundation

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State of the Incubator Reception Highlights Growth

Kitty and Lucian Maynard talk to Sheila Tillman

Kitty and Lucian Maynard, owners of the Southern Whoopie Pie Company and 2008-09 student incubator clients, speak with Sheila Tillman, associate dean of Hospitality Education, at the State of the Incubator reception.

Tenant awards were announced and program updates were given during the Small Business Center/Incubator State of the Incubator reception June 3. Components of the incubator include the BioNetwork BioBusiness Center, the Technology Commercialization Center, the regular and student Incubation programs, the Small Business Center and the Global Institute For Sustainability Technologies.

The businesses in the Incubator program generated $12.7 million in revenue for 2007 and 2008 and paid an average annual wage of $31,000 to employees. In addition, even as the recession deepened during the first quarter of 2009, the companies in the Incubator program created 24 full-time jobs, according to Russ Yelton, Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Incubation executive director.

The Small Business Incubator pilot program started in 2004 with five companies participating. The full program opened in 2006 and has had 50 companies in the program. Six companies have graduated from the two-year program, and five more are expected to graduate in the fall. Currently, the facilities are at 44 percent occupancy. "We expect more than 50 companies for 2009 and 100 new full-time jobs to be created," Yelton said.

Leslee Thornton, coordinator of the Global Institute for Sustainability Technologies (GIST), discussed a project recently complete at the Marshall Senior Center. "GIST promotes sustainability technology and workforce training. The center will serve as a showcase area for the public," she said.

The following tenants and organizations received awards:

Business Incubator Program

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Marshall Senior Center Receives Energy Facelift from A-B Tech's GIST »

 

Tech Talk is published by the Communications Office for employees, students, 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 August 3. Deadline for submissions is July 17.