A-B Tech and College Advancement created the Jack and Carolyn Ferguson Endowed Nursing Chair, which is the college’s first ever endowed chair. The A-B Tech Board of Trustees adopted the resolution during a regular meeting.
“The A-B Tech Foundation is grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson for their commitment to educating students at A-B Tech and supporting the needs of our allied health faculty and their programs,” said Amanda Edwards, Executive Director of A-B Tech College Advancement. “It is fitting that our first endowed department chair position be named in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson and their long-term support of A-B Tech, especially the nursing program.”
Jack Ferguson passed away in May and the A-B Tech community thought it was important to recognize the couple’s long and storied support of A-B Tech, and specifically the Allied Health programs. “Mr. Ferguson is already missed on the Foundation Board and among the staff,” Edwards said. “Mr. Ferguson had a wonderful sense of humor, a deep need to give back to the community, and a constant curiosity about what our students are learning. One of my favorite memories of him is when he handed me a million-dollar bill and tried to convince me it was real! Moments later he handed me a check for a million dollars.”
Jack and his wife, Carolyn, began their charitable giving to A-B Tech in 1999 with a pledge to support the Foundation through three charitable remainder trusts. Two buildings on campus bear the Ferguson name, including the Allied Health and Workforce Development building.
The Fergusons have provided over $8 million dollars in charitable support. In addition to all the students they have supported through scholarships, their giving ensured that allied health students had the most current technology and equipment in their classes located in the Ferguson Allied Health building.
The Fergusons have a long history of involvement with the college, dating back to 1959 when A-B Tech was established. As a salesman at Lowe’s, Jack Ferguson worked closely with the builders who constructed and remodeled campus buildings. The couple’s two daughters graduated from A-B Tech’s Nursing program, and both their sons attended the College.