May I take a moment to say, "You rock!" So many members of our community--individuals, organizations, and businesses--have chosen to donate through the A-B Tech Foundation in 2014 in support of our students and faculty; it is simply awe-inspiring. Thank you!
With the start of another year, we've been counting the many exciting initiatives we have in store for 2015.
The NEW Year will see the launch of additional scholarships this fall, including the Shiloh Community Scholarships, the CORE Scholarship Program for A-B Tech students transferring to UNC Asheville, and the Daniel Dragonetti Memorial Scholarship for the Culinary Arts. We are so very pleased to announce that the first recipient of the Conrad Family Scholarships will receive the scholarship for spring semester.
The NEW Year will see new academic programs take off. At year's end, we will see the ribbon-cutting for the Jack and Carolyn Ferguson Allied Health Building; it will house NEW programs to meet the needs of several healthcare professions. If you want to support these any of the new programs with scholarships, I will be glad to assist you!
And the NEW Year will bring new faces to the Foundation's Board of Directors: Pat Carver, Allan Gerson, Michael Meguiar, Ray Rapp, O'Neal Shelton, and Ron Storto. For the NEW Year, the Board will be led by Mike Kryzanek.
Last but not least, College Advancement has moved to NEW offices in the Simpson Building! Please stop in to say hello!
What is not new is the extreme gratitude we feel in receiving your support for A-B Tech. Every contribution has a positive effect, of that you can be assured. Thank you everyone!
Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Sue H Olesiuk
Executive Director
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A-B Tech Works with Regional Partners to Win $1.2 Million in Funding
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Announcing the Lavender Fund Giving Circle - Providing Support for Single Parent Students at A-B Tech
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The A-B Tech Foundation is excited to announce the establishment of the Lavender Fund Giving Circle, a new and important opportunity for support of single-parent students at A-B Tech. This initiative is an effort to create an ongoing funding stream for the Lavender Fund, ensuring that this program may continue and expand into the future and ensuring these students receive the assistance they need to achieve their academic goals.
Established in 2008 by an anonymous donor, The Lavender Fund program is designed to help single parents continue their education. As these non-traditional students have needs other than tuition and books, the Lavender model combines scholarship support with a case management component which helps cover students' emergency needs such as rent, utilities, or groceries for their families. These services provide a stronger safety net to help keep these students enrolled at A-B Tech.
Since the inception of the program, the fall-to-fall retention/completion rate for Lavender students has remained between 88 and 93 percent. The national average for community colleges is 56 percent.
The words of 2014-15 recipient Amber Martz highlight what this support means: "My education at A-B Tech would not be possible without the generosity, kindness and commitment to education that you are providing. Choosing to return to school as a single mother has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life."
For information on joining the Lavender Fund Giving Circle, or to contribute directly to the Lavender Fund, contact Susan Haldane, Development/Events Coordinator at
(828) 398-7567 or [email protected].
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Spotlight on Alumna Becky Watkins
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Becky Watkins is not only an A-B Tech Alumna, but also a longtime A-B Tech employee. She has worked for A-B Tech's Office of Business Services for 35 years. "I am very grateful to still be here and daily learn from my colleagues. We, along with the students, certainly have grown in numbers," said Watkins. "I can say with confidence that Business Services still strives to meet the expectations of our students, staff and faculty in a professional manner and with grace." Becky graduated from A-B Tech in 1980 with her A.A.S. Degree in Business Administration, and was promptly hired to work in the department which to this day bears her footprints. "I worked with the first bookkeeper the college had hired - Jessie Goforth. I tried to soak in all the knowledge from Jessie, Carolyn Hadaway the purchasing agent, Margaret Shope from accounts receivable, Alden Chrisawn, the bookstore manager and payroll, Iona McCurry, print and mail, and former president K. Ray Bailey, who was then vice president of business services," Watkins said. She was only 20 years old when she started as an employee of the college and she can still recall the inspiring words of her former colleagues. "They told me to look forward to a long career with A-B Tech. I am grateful for the foundation these individuals shared with me." We're excited to announce that Becky was the winner of the drawing for the iPad Mini announced the evening of the A-B Tech Alumni and Volunteer Holiday Reception in Fernihurst December 5. |
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Welcoming 2015 Board Chair Mike Kryzanek!
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With the beginning of a new year, we'd like to extend a warm welcome to Mike Kryzanek, our newly sworn in 2015 Board Chair. Mike is a long-time supporter of A-B Tech, having served on the Foundation Board for fifteen years. In addition, Mike has been a member of A-B Tech's Culinary and Hospitality Advisory Committee for nearly twenty years now. He is still involved as a guest lecturer once a year for A-B Tech's Hospitality students, explaining the work he now does as an appraiser for hotels throughout the United States.
Foundation Board Chairs serve a year long term, working closely with Foundation Staff on oversight of the Foundation, fundraising, and event planning. Leadership nominations are handled through a small sub-committee and approved by vote of the full Board. Mike is the latest in a line of truly exceptional individuals who have served the Foundation as Board Chair during our organization's history.
With that being said, we'd also like to take a moment to recognize the hard work of our outgoing Board Chair, John Ellis, throughout 2014. Thank you, John, for your dedication to our College and students, and we're looking forward to continuing to work together in 2015!
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Congrats to John Roeth,
our January Volunteer of the Month!
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The Office of College Advancement is
On the Move!
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College Advancement has moved to NEW offices! All but one staff member will be in the Simpson Building, Offices 119-123, on the first floor. (Staff member Jeralie Andrews will remain in Sunnicrest.)
Please stop in to say hello!
 Click here for a campus map.
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You can now support the A-B Tech Foundation by joining
You Get We Give!
Each time you purchase a great local deal through You Get We Give, a donation is made to the local nonprofit of your choice. So you save money, and benefit a cause that's close to your heart - it's a win-win!
Click the logo above to
sign up today!
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New Ways to Give for State and Federal Employees
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Are you a State or Federal Employee? Do you know someone who is?
State and Federal Employees are now able to designate giving to A-B Tech through the following campaigns:
_______________________
NC State Employees Combined Campaign
Designation Code #3803
_______________________
Combined Federal Campaign
Designation Code #75833
_______________________
For more information on either of these campaigns, please contact us at (828) 398-7177.
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2015 A-B Tech Foundation Board of Directors
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Michael Kryzanek, 2015 Chair
Associate, PKF Consulting USA
Appraiser, Province Valuation Group, Inc.
Chris Young, 2015 Vice Chair
Clean Environments
Young Office
K. Ray Bailey
President Emeritus, A-B Tech
Joe Brumit
Brumit Restaurant Group
Tracy Buchanan
CarePartners
Dr. Sandra Byrd
Retired, UNC Asheville
Pat Carver
First Citizens Bank
Rhonda Devan
Vice President, Business & Finance and CFO, A-B Tech
John Ellis
Novus, Bowers, Ellis & Watson Architects
Jack Ferguson
Retired, Lowe's
Charles Frederick
TD Bank
Allan Gerson
Retired
Darryl Hart
Hart Funeral Services, Inc.
Richard Hurley
Retired, Square D Company
Dennis King
President, A-B Tech
Thomas Maher
Pisgah Investments, LLC
Michael Meguiar
GE Aviation
Bill Murdock
Eblen Charities
John Oswald
Mills Manufacturing
Ray Rapp
Retired
Mary Ann Rice
NCSECU
Dr. Lary Schulhof
Retired, Physician
O'Neal Shelton
Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Steven Sizemore
Northup McConnell & Sizemore, PLLC
Ann Skoglund
Beverly-Hanks & Associates
Ray Spells
Retired, Wells Fargo Bank
Ron Storto
Biltmore Farms
Jason Walls
Duke Energy
John Winkenwerder
Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Asheville
Pat Wood
Budweiser of Asheville, Inc.
David Wyatt
Retired, Madison County Schools
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Office of College Advancement Staff
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Jeralie Andrews
Coordinator of Volunteer, Intern, and Alumni Services
Phone: 828.398.7761
Susan Haldane
Development/Events Coordinator
Phone: 828.398.7567
[email protected]
Chris McGuire
Development Specialist
Phone: 828.398.7177
[email protected]
Sue Olesiuk
Executive Director
Phone: 828.398.7176
[email protected]
Laura Pennington
Resource Development Coordinator
Phone: 828.398.7571
[email protected]
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