Headlines
- Art Student Creates Pepsi Can and 30th Anniversary Bele Chere Poster
- GED Program Graduates 515 Students
- Four Students Accepted For Student Business Incubator Program
- Bricker And Students Attend Crystal Ball Seminar
- College Joins CyberWATCH Consortium For A Stronger Information Security Workforce
- Differentiated Diploma To Be Offered To Randolph Learning Center Students
- Learning Resources Places Benches In Ferguson
- Folkmoot Performance Coming To A-B Tech
- Winners Announced From Foundation Golf Tournament
- Foundation Scholarship Recipient Profiles
- Innovative Education Expo 2008 Focuses On Spanish In The Workplace
- Weinberg To Perform With Gladys Knight Aug. 7 At Biltmore
- Madison Class Artwork Featured In Show
- Madison County Welding Students Build Carts For Board Of Elections
- Welcome, New Employees
- Search and Rescue Exercise Trains More Than 100 Rescue Workers
- Decorative Restoration Students Try Hand At Stone Carving
- Students' Artwork Receives Purchase Awards
- Collector Purchases Student's Sculpture
- Symposium Allows Surgical Technology Students to Watch Open Heart Surgery
- Tech Notes
Art Student Creates Pepsi Can and 30th Anniversary Bele Chere Poster
A-B Tech Student Eddie Gumm displays his artwork including his award-winning Bele Chere poster.
The 2008 Bele Chere poster designed by A-B Tech Student Eddie Gumm
A-B Tech student Eddie Gumm is the artist behind the official 2008 Bele Chere poster representing the festival's 30th anniversary, and it was a class assignment that inspired his entry.
A year ago, Gumm also entered the Design Our Pepsi Can contest and was named a finalist. For a while his design, titled Variety, was printed on cans primarily distributed in the Northeast and Midwest. "I couldn't find my can around here. I had never seen my can in person until I was driving down Patton Avenue and I looked out the driver's side window and there it was in the median, crushed. I had to jump out of the car and get it," he said. Gumm's can is identified with his initials, E.G., and Leicester and is now available in stores in Western North Carolina. To see it, go to designourpepsican.com, click on the Studio Menu button in the upper left and click on Featured Cans. Gum's is the fifth one.
"When I was taking pictures downtown (for photography class) it's what made me decide what to design for the Bele Chere contest. So far it's gotten a lot of good reviews from various people," Gumm said. "You can see I am so influenced by Asheville in my art. It is so eclectic. It has a little something for everyone."
Gumm started attending A-B Tech in 2000 to take advantage of the art classes available, and he is still enrolled. "The College keeps adding new classes, which is great," he said. Kenn Katora, a former instructor at A-B Tech and one of Gumm's first teachers at the College, designed the 20th anniversary poster.
"I happened upon photography because I was planning to sign up for a writing class and it (photography) was available and for some reason I had to take it. I had wanted to learn about traditional photography," Gumm said. He also took classes in painting, drawing and design shortly after enrolling.
Fine Arts Instructor Sharon Trammel has designed Bele Chere artwork as well, creating the 1994 poster and the T-shirts for 1996. "I couldn't have thought of a better person for it to go to. Eddie's such a humble, sweet guy, and he was a treasure to have in class," Trammel said. "We're very proud of him. I think he shines a new light on our programs."
Gumm also made a poster for the first student art show at A-B Tech when it was held in the Fernihurst Annex, and has created various commercial art projects. "I'm taking the opportunity of the marketing appeal to move forward in my career as a pop or commercial artist. In a few months I want to start my one-man marketing campaign to save the world. I want to make people think and I want other young Asheville artists to join me and make a difference by reaching out to the world in new and exciting ways, through our art," he said.
Associate in Fine Arts Program Eddie Gumm's Website
GED Program Graduates 515 Students
Holly Jones, Asheville City Council member and executive director of the YWCA, was the community speaker during GED graduation.
Ahmed Gaines speaks about his daughters and his career during the GED graduation.
A-B Tech's GED program has graduated approximately 515 individuals during the past year and about 100 of those graduates were in attendance at the annual Recognition Ceremony June 5 in Ferguson Auditorium on the Asheville campus.
Holly Jones, Asheville City Council member and YWCA executive director, shared the celebration with the graduates. "This is indeed a celebration," she said. "I can hardly stop grinning."
Jones spoke about days that can change who you are. "Something happens by the end of the day, and you change and are put on a different path," she said. "Those days can be good, bad, lucky and weird. You have had days when you were discouraged and thought about quitting this GED program, but you kept going. You have changed since this morning. You are successful students and people who inspire others."
Ahmed Gaines spoke about his journey to obtaining his GED after dropping out of high school in the 10th grade. "My first daughter was born when I was 18 and I worked in fast food until my second daughter was born when I was 19," he said. He found a job in a factory and worked there while his family grew. When he was 23, he had three daughters.
"I had a good factory job. I didn't think I needed a GED," he said. "Then, of course, the factory closed. It's never too late to get an education." At age 31, he is now enrolled in the CNA program at A-B Tech and plans on becoming a firefighter to follow in the footsteps of his father.
Basic Skills faculty and staff members surprised guests with unscheduled renditions of "Lean on Me" and "Keep on the Sunny Side," accompanied by Instructor Diane Hart on piano and Instructor Mary Sorrells on guitar. Singers were Lani Anderson, chief GED examiner; Pat Bernarding, instructor; Kathy Hipps, Basic Skills secretary; Marty Sullivan, instructor; and Cheryl Holder, Basic Skills specialist.
Jimmie Cochran Pratt, Foundation Development officer, presented College Bridge Scholarships to six students. Julie Goodman, Alisha Mitchell, Laressa Sipe, Phyllis Strum, Michelle Ventura, and Marshall Williams will enter curriculum programs at A-B Tech in the fall.
Four Students Accepted For Student Business Incubator Program
The newest tenants of A-B Tech's Student Business Incubator Program meet with President Dr. Betty Young. From left are Michelle Marcoux, Dr. Young, Felicia Lunsford, Michele McClure and Adam Garland.
An eco-friendly lawn service, a packing company, a roving jazz supper club and a loss prevention consultant are members of the 2008-09 Student Business Incubator Program.
The Student Business Incubator Program is a 12-month extracurricular activity running from July to June. It is administered by the A-B Tech Center for Business and Technology Incubation and is located at A-B Tech's Enka campus.
"The program, open to all current A-B Tech students, is designed to provide a nurturing, supportive environment for those who want to start their own business and guide them toward becoming sustainable, contributing members of a strong economic community," said Jill Sparks, Small Business Center director.
Adam Garland's Earth Care Lawn Service offers alternatives to gas and water waste, heavy emissions, noise pollution and chemically-saturated lawns. "I believe caring for lawns should not negatively impact the environment," Garland said. He uses a diesel- powered engine, fueled with bio-diesel and also offers the push mower service. All of the small engine equipment runs on electricity or batteries. The herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are bought locally and are earth sound, according to Garland.
Felicia Lunsford will be getting support for her business, The Open Box, a packing service that provides professional packers to organize, itemize, pack and unpack belongings. "The Open Box is a unique, personalized packing system," Lunsford said.
Soul-N-Spirit Jazz Supper Club is the brainchild of Michele McClure. It's a monthly traveling supper club offering authentic Caribbean/soul food cuisine while showcasing local jazz artists. "Soul-N-Spirit has an ambiance reminiscent of jazz supper clubs of the '40s," McClure said.
Michelle Marcoux has started Preventive Measures, a loss prevention consultant dedicated to improving the bottom line of retail businesses, specifically in the food and beverage industry.
In addition to office space, technical equipment, networking opportunities and business counseling, students accepted into the program are eligible to receive grants up to $5,000 each and have access to a non-interest bearing loan.
By providing critical assistance during the start-up phase, the Student Business Incubator Program helps overcome the odds of business failure. "A National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) study reports that 87 percent of incubator startups are still in business after 10 years, compared to a survival rate of only 44 percent of non-participants after four years in business," Sparks said.
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
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Deadline for submissions is July 18.