Tech Talk

Student Turns Instructor with Satisfying Results

January 10, 2019 Amanda Palacios has always had the passion to be a cosmetologist. She grew up watching her mother do hair. “I had a child when I was a teenager,” she said. “I never had the courage to come back to school.”

Hospice Tree Ceremony at A-B Tech Madison

January 9, 2019 A-B Tech Madison hosted a full house for the Madison Home Care and Hospice 2018 Tree of Life Ceremony in November. “It was a touching and wonderful ceremony to honor and remember our loved ones we have lost,” said Site Director Sherri Davis.

Baking Cookies for the Governor's Residence

January 9, 2019 Baking and Pastry Arts Instructor Chef Vince Donatelli baked Christmas cookies for a gathering at the Governor’s Western Residence on December 7 after he received a request from former A-B Tech Trustee Kaye Myers. He baked and decorated cookies in various designs and flavors for 75 guests.

Writing Center Dedicated to Johnson

January 9, 2019 A-B Tech dedicated its Writing Center in Locke Library in honor of Lisa Johnson, the first director of the center, who retired in 2018. Johnson is shown with English Chair Heather Vaughn.

Small Business Incubator Client Asheville Ice Finds Support at A-B Tech

January 9, 2019 Mark Sundara founded Asheville Ice shortly before he enrolled at A-B Tech in the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Technology program. His business is a local ice machine sales, rental, and repair company located at the Small Business Incubator at A-B Tech Enka.

Scholarships Gifted by Gentry Heating

January 9, 2019 Gentry Heating, Inc. provided two scholarship gifts in honor of Jim Nash, a retired Gentry employee, to students in the HVAC program. Pictured are, from left, Jim Nash, student Veniamin Sydorskyy, student Michael Ponder, and Duane Gentry, Gentry Heating President.

Construction Management Students Build Shelter at Hemlock

January 9, 2019 Construction Management students built a shelter behind the Hemlock Building for Transitional Studies students to keep them from being exposed to the elements while waiting for their transportation.

McNeal Continues Support of GE Aviation Through New Process

January 9, 2019 Andy McNeal was hired as the lead instructor for the Composites Training Center, opening in 2014 to assist in training GE Aviation employees for the company’s Asheville expansion.

Students Achieve NASA and NC Space Grant Honors

January 8, 2019 Students at A-B Tech have received NC Space Grant Scholarships, been accepted into the NASA L’SPACE Virtual Academy, and been invited to Wallops Flight Facility as a NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars.

Professors Emeriti Named

January 8, 2019 Retiring Instructors Russ Palmeri, Tom Sharar, and Chef John Hofland were each given the title of Professor Emeritus by the college’s Board of Trustees and honored at the annual employee holiday lunch. The program was started in 2017 to award instructors who have provided exemplary service.

RISE at A-B Tech Through the Food Pantry

January 8, 2019 Throughout the year, students struggle through many obstacles. Unfortunately, those obstacles are not always academically related. Students on our campus deal with things like homelessness, domestic violence, substance misuse, and food insecurity.

Spherion Funds RAMP Scholarship at A-B Tech

November 28, 2018 Spherion Staffing & Recruiting of Asheville presented its Community Give Back Donation to A-B Tech's RAMP Scholarship, which supports students enrolled in the Engineering and Applied Technology programs.