With the arrival of autumn, we begin thinking about the joys of the season: bountiful harvests, beautiful foliage, and a time for thanks. Through the generosity of local families, we have even more to remind us of the beauty of the season. Mr. and Mrs. Jack and Carolyn Ferguson's generosity has enabled A-B Tech to establish the Ferguson Endowment for Faculty Development, a new resource for supporting faculty professional development needs. This gift gives us assurance that our faculty can receive the world-class training needed for our growing and changing list of academic programs. Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard and Grace Conrad have chosen to honor their family members who established A-B Emblem in the United States in 1940 by creating three new scholarships for students in our A.A.S. programs. The first recipient of the Conrad Family Scholarship will receive an award for Spring 2015. And, Mr. and Mrs. James and Karen Baker have given a gift in honor of Mrs. Elizabeth G. Baker which has enabled A-B Tech to create a lasting legacy in her memory. Through the generous contribution from the Baker family, Madison County Nursing Assistant students needing financial support will now have that opportunity via the Elizabeth G. Baker Scholarship Fund. It has been heartwarming to receive many gifts and letters from friends and family honoring the memory of Mrs. "Lib" Baker. This important support is extremely meaningful for A-B Tech, and we're grateful to all of our donors. Thank you to everyone who is making a difference for our students, college, and community! Sincerely,  Sue H Olesiuk
Executive Director
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Thank You and Congratulations to Barbara Brownsmith Campbell!
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We want to extend heartfelt congratulations to Barbara Brownsmith Campbell on her retirement! This comes after a career of 11 years at A-B Tech, most recently serving as Director of Faculty Development and Assessment. Many of you know that Barbara began her work at A-B Tech in the Basic Skills Department, working with our GED students and faculty.
In honor of Barbara's retirement, her colleagues have contributed a combined $625 to the College Bridge Scholarship Fund through the A-B Tech Foundation. This scholarship was established to support students who have completed the A-B Tech GED program. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support in helping students transition from the GED program into a two-year curriculum program at the College. This gift from our Faculty and Staff was presented to Barbara at her retirement party on September 26th at the Adjunct Faculty Center (see picture above). These contributions are a fitting gift in honor of an employee who has dedicated herself to the needs of our GED students for such a large portion of her tenure at the College.
From all of us in the Office of College Advancement, thank you, Barbara, for your service to the College! You will certainly be missed around campus!
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Our 2015 Universal Campaign Kicks Off
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October marks the beginning of A-B Tech's Universal Campaign, our annual employee giving initiative. Through monthly pledges and single contributions, our employees come together every year to provide resources for our students, for our staff and faculty, and for the community. For 2015, employees have the opportunity to support three organizations that we see as complimentary resources in these areas: the A-B Tech Foundation, United Way, and a new A-B Tech Employee Emergency Fund managed through Eblen Charities.
We're proud to share that in 2014 our employees contributed over $48,000 to the A-B Tech Foundation and United Way! Specifically, we know that the amount raised solely for the A-B Tech Foundation provided the equivalent of 29 scholarships for our students - a classroom full of funding! This is a huge collective impact from our staff and faculty, and it's extremely meaningful to participate alongside our colleagues in making a difference year after year. We're grateful for everything that our coworkers do for A-B Tech and for our students, both through their work and contributions.
We hope you'll watch our 2015 Universal Campaign Video to see what this support means to our students and donors!
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New Support from AB Emblem
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Many of us know about AB Emblem; we've driven by the plant in Weaverville, perhaps we have had family who've worked there, or we may have had the pleasure of knowing members of the Conrad family. After all, there's a long history there! We're excited to partner with AB Emblem for another chapter in that history with the establishment of the new Conrad Family Scholarship.
It was in 1892 that Albin Conrad, first in the family line of embroiderers, started his factory in Oelsnitz, Germany. By 1929, family member E. Henry Conrad had found his way to the embroidery factories in New Jersey. The family business expanded to include production of U.S. Armed Forces' insignia and, by 1949, the AB Emblem Corporation honors family members with a new company name. The "A" stands for E. Henry Conrad's daughter's name, Annerose, and the "B" stand for his son's name, Bernhard.
Members of College Advancement have toured AB Emblem and were amazed at the design and production of "emblems." Emblems? Think Boy Scout badges, the NASA "meatball" insignia, and more! There's an entire room at the Weaverville location filled with the most amazing Boy Scout badges you'll ever see.
AB Emblem is an example of an industry that is locally committed, regionally dynamic and world-class focused. By relying on generations of knowledge and experience, adopting cutting-edge technology and always looking to the future, the company is on solid footing to continue to create amazing emblems. The Weaverville facility has expanded over the years to 57,600 square feet, employing 160 people, and utilizing computer-designed images to stay a leader in its field. In 2013, AB Emblem celebrated 50 years of manufacturing.
This year, three Conrad Family Scholarships were created to provide full support to students in our A.A.S. programs. AB Emblem has employed the residents of northern Buncombe and Madison Counties; it values the many years of dedicated and skilled service given to the company and wants to give back to the community that has helped it grow. A-B Tech is honored by the creation of these scholarships by the Conrad Family.
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Congratulations to Charlene Wilkins and Janet Covert, our most recent Volunteers of the Month for September and October! Click the links to learn more about their important volunteer efforts around campus. Interested in volunteering with A-B Tech or connecting with the A-B Tech Alumni Association?
Please Contact:
Jeralie Andrews
Coordinator of Volunteer, Intern, and Alumni Services
(828) 398-7761
jeralieeandrews@abtech.edu |
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Thank You Autumn in Asheville Sponsors!
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We'd like to thank all of our 2014 sponsors for making this year's Autumn in Asheville such a success!
Island Sponsors ($1,000+) Aloft Asheville Downtown Arby's/Brumit Restaurant Group Blue Ridge Energy Systems Blue Ridge X-Ray Dr. and Mrs. H. Denniston Crews Dixon Hughes Goodman First Citizens Bank Lowe's Omni Grove Park Inn Pisgah Investments Ann Skoglund, Broker, Beverly-Hanks & Associates Friends of A-B Tech Sponsors ($250+) Karl and MG Bitter Blossman Gas Chestnut/Corner Kitchen Don and Alexandra Clayton Clean Environments DWW Properties LLC Executive Leadership Team of A-B Tech Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites Lewis Real Estate Mountain Kidney & Hypertension Associates Northrup, McConnell & Sizemore Pierce Group Benefits Lary and Jan Schulhof TD Bank Town & Mountain Realty White Oak Financial Young Office In Kind Sponsors Biltmore Wine Company Budweiser of Asheville Capital at Play Magazine The Laurel of Asheville Magazine |
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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?
New this year, 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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2014 A-B Tech Foundation Board of Directors
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John Ellis, 2014 Board Chair
Bowers, Ellis & Watson
Mike Kryzanek, 2014 Vice Chair
Province Valuation Group
K. Ray Bailey
President Emeritus, A-B Tech
Joe Brumit
Brumit Restaurant Group
Tracy Buchanan
CarePartners
Dr. Sandra Byrd
Retired, UNC Asheville
Kay Crews
Community Volunteer
Rhonda Devan
Vice President, Business & Finance and CFO, A-B Tech
Jack Ferguson
Retired, Lowe's
Charles Frederick
TD Bank
Darryl Hart
Hart Funeral Services, Inc.
Richard Hurley
Retired, Square D Company
Dennis King
President, A-B Tech
Thomas Maher
Pisgah Investments, LLC
Bill Murdock
Eblen Charities
John Oswald
Mills Manufacturing
Mary Ann Rice
NCSECU
Bob Roberts
First Citizens Bank
Robby Russell
Wells Fargo Bank
Dr. Lary Schulhof
Retired, Physician
Steven Sizemore
Northup McConnell & Sizemore, PLLC
Ann Skoglund
Beverly-Hanks & Associates
Ray Spells
Wells Fargo Bank
Nancy Thompson
Thompson Properties, Inc.
Jason Walls
Duke Energy
John Winkenwerder
Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Asheville
Pat Wood
Budweiser of Asheville, Inc.
David Wyatt
Retired, Madison County Schools
Chris Young
Clean Environments
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Office of College Advancement Staff
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