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Our Snapshot of the Month
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(left to right) Liz Atkinson, Lavender Fund Scholarship Advisor; Sue Olesiuk, Executive Director; Marcus Cox, Asheville Market President, Bank of America; and Susan Haldane, Development/Events Coordinator.
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Foundation staff members were excited to receive a visit recently from
Marcus Cox, Asheville Market President with
Bank of America. Marcus shared the news that Bank of America has made a $2,500 grant to the A-B Tech Foundation's
Lavender Program! This will provide vital support for single-parent students at A-B Tech.
Thank you to Marcus and all at Bank of America!
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We've all heard this truism: "There's no 'I' in team." And, more recently, "It takes a village." The underlying belief is that together we can go further.
This month, we are so very pleased to tell you that McKibbon Hotel Management, Inc., and the Aloft Hotel have chosen to support our 2015 Culinary Hot Food Team by becoming a team sponsor. The costs of sending our Team on the road to regional and national competitions are high. With this generous sponsorship, along with other contributions to the Culinary Competition Fund, the Team can travel on and feel the encouragement of this wonderful company and of those who have chipped in.
 
We all, collectively, say, "Go Team!" Thank you, John McKibbon for this important vote of confidence and support!
Consider becoming part of the village supporting our Culinary Hot Food Team by donating online at www.abtech.edu/donate and then following the team as they compete!
Sincerely,
Sue H Olesiuk
Executive Director
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Spotlight: Meet A-B Tech Student Anita Riley!
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| With the Fall Semester right around the corner, many of our scholarship recipients are preparing to enter their second year at A-B Tech. One such student is Anita Riley, a recipient of both the Lavender Fund for single parents and the A-B Tech Foundation Scholarship for Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation students. In May, Anita completed her first year in the Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation program at A-B Tech. We caught up with Anita during her summer internship at Altamont Brewing Company on Haywood Road in West Asheville and spoke with her regarding her background, time at A-B Tech, and her future plans. 
Anita began her career in the photography business, but after realizing it was not going to give her the secure future she desired for herself and her family, decided to return to school. Her decision was driven by her determination to create a better life for her son, laying the groundwork for him to attend college. Starting as a home brewer, Anita soon discovered a love for the brewing industry, especially cellaring ("where all the fun is," says Anita). Her two-year Associates of Applied Science degree in Brewing, Distillation and Fermentation will allow her to graduate in Spring 2016 - the same time her son graduates from Asheville High School. Anita is truly grateful for the financial assistance afforded by her scholarship donors. She commented that without this help, she would have needed student loans which would have come due the same time as her son's upcoming college tuition. Now, she will be able to focus on her son's education without having to worry about her own debts. When asked what she would like to be able to say to her scholarship donors, Anita emotionally recalled writing the required thank you letter to her donors. She was reminded that it truly takes a village to raise a child. "These strangers are now part of my village." Besides completing her internship at Altamont and raising her son, Anita can be found sharing her extensive knowledge at Metro Wines, where she is employed as a beer buyer and writes a blog, "Brewing Up A Storm," for their website. She also is a contributor to WNC Woman magazine and Asheville Grit. In addition, Anita volunteers as timekeeper and volunteer coordinator for Poetry Slam Asheville and is the administrator for the Asheville Brewers Alliance Facebook page. Anita is proud of her education at A-B Tech and works continuously to bring attention to the College and its programs. She sees her work and her writing as her way of giving back, with hopefully much more to come as her career progresses.
Anita was named to A-B Tech's Dean's List for the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2014, an honor that requires a 3.75 GPA, and to The President's List for Spring 2015, for students with a 4.0 GPA.
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Let's Fly: First Aviation Scholarship Established at A-B Tech
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We are excited to announce that
Gina Trippi, co-owner of
Metro Wines in Asheville
, has established
The Brigadier General Carl L. Trippi Scholarship for Aviation students through the A-B Tech Foundation in memory of her father, a former pilot who served in World War II.
Gina had read about A-B Tech's new Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology Program, and immediately thought of her father's passion for flying. "He died young and this was a nice way to continue his memory," she said. Carl Trippi passed away in 1981 at the age of 54 after a 38-year career working with airplanes. "My mother told me that my father loved airplanes from the moment he saw them and set his mind to fly." Gina's father's story reminds us of our A-B Tech students: passionate, dedicated and goal-oriented. It's an honor to have scholarship support for this important new program. Thank you, Gina! |
Perkins Grant Supports Career and Technical Education Programs at A-B Tech
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A-B Tech Community College was awarded a $289,779 grant for the academic year under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to continue to support students enrolled in the college's Career Technical Education programs. 
The funds come through the NC Community College System Office and will be used to serve all students in those programs who are working to earn a certificate, diploma or degree. "There is a big focus on getting folks back to work. We want to raise awareness of career and technical opportunities," said Gene Loflin, Associate Vice President of Instructional Services. A portion of the funds have supported the position of a Career Technical Education Completion Specialist, who has served as an advisor to work with students by providing support and assisting them with completion. The college will also provide faculty development to keep instructors up-to-date on the latest technology. Jacqueline Owens currently serves as the Career Technical Education Completion Specialist. Owens was previously the Assistant Director for Student Support Services at Western Carolina University. She has experience working at two- and four-year colleges and with student retention, especially in under-represented populations. She has a master's degree in community college administration and is currently earning her doctorate in education leadership with a focus on community college administration. "I work closely with the Registrar's office to help students finish their program and make sure they persist. If they earn a certificate, I would encourage them to earn a diploma and then an associate degree. A-B Tech has good plans and it's exciting. I think I can really grow here," Owens said. Some of the Perkins funding will also be used to buy or update equipment for the technical programs to make sure students are being trained on state-of-the-art equipment. Loflin says these programs typically have high equipment costs. "The equipment will keep the programs meeting the current needs of industry," he said.
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Yesterday's Tree Event and Raffle Announced
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Local furniture store
Yesterday's Tree in Asheville is conducting a month-long fundraiser to benefit A-B Tech Community College
Emergency Services' Fire Protection Technology Program.
For the month of July, raffle tickets are on sale at Yesterday's Tree (780 Hendersonville Road) and at A-B Tech's Office of College Advancement, with proceeds benefiting Yesterday's Tree Scholarship for A-B Tech Emergency Services' Fire Protection Technology Program, set up through the A-B Tech Foundation
. Raffle tickets may also be purchased online at www.abtech.edu/donate.
Participants will have the chance to win valuable prizes such as furniture, design services, and more.
The event marks the 12th anniversary of the fire at Yesterday's Tree in which the entire store was destroyed. After receiving exemplary and courageous service from the Asheville Fire Department, Yesterday's Tree established the
Yesterday's Tree Endowment to support students enrolled in the
A-B Tech Fire Protection Technology Program.
"We have been blessed to be a part of this community for over 30 years. On the eve of our 18th Anniversary, we suffered a total loss of our business in a devastating fire. This community rallied around us and we were able to re-open in only two weeks. We continue to support the A-B Tech Foundation's scholarships for future Fire Protection graduates since these folks are very close to our hearts!" said owner
Peggy Yarborough.
The month-long event will conclude at a community event scheduled for
Thursday, July 30 at Yesterday's Tree from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will feature food, prizes, and, of course, the final raffle drawing.
For more information, contact Peggy Yarborough at (828) 274-4296 or Sue Olesiuk at (828) 398-7176.
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NC State Employees
Combined Campaign
Designation Code #3803
Combined Federal Campaign
Designation Code #75833
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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, Palm Beach State College
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 Dean of Adult and Graduate Studies, Mars Hill University; Former Member, NC House of Representatives
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
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
[email protected]
Liz Atkinson
Lavender Fund Scholarship Advisor
Phone: 828.398.7564
[email protected]
Kristabell Certain
Grants and Foundation Accountant
Phone: 828.398.7358
[email protected]
Susan Haldane
Development/Events Coordinator
Phone: 828.398.7567
[email protected]
Chris McGuire
Development Specialist
Phone: 828.398.7177
[email protected]
Sue H Olesiuk
Executive Director
Phone: 828.398.7176
[email protected]
Laura Pennington
Resource Development Coordinator
Phone: 828.398.7571
[email protected]
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