Scholarship Luncheon Honors 375 Recipients

A-B Tech’s 2018 Scholarship Luncheon, the 17th annual celebration of A-B Tech’s Foundation student scholarship recipients, was held March 7, 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center to honor 375 students.

This very special and inspirational event provides an opportunity for the scholarship students to meet the individuals responsible for their particular scholarship in person over lunch, and for members of the college and community to hear from a few of our students and alumni.

During the program portion of the luncheon guests heard from scholarship recipients Vaughn-Marc Featherstone, who received the Daniel Dragonetti Memorial Scholarship for Culinary Arts, and Jaden McTaggart, recipient of the Autumn in Asheville Gala Scholarship.

“I would like to thank you for granting me this scholarship. I can’t say how ecstatic I am about receiving it. The Peddlers once sang a song called, ‘On a clear day, you can see forever.’ This scholarship has given me an extra set of eyes to look at my future. The only thing I have to do now, is use it,” Featherstone said.

McTaggart was selected to travel to NASA’s Langley Research Center this past September to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars project (NCAS). He will graduate with Associate Degrees in Science and Engineering. “NASA had always kind of been that dream job that seemed out of reach and unattainable. I decided to take a shot of it and did well enough to be invited. I can’t wait to meet other students, engineers and scientists,” he said.

Jennifer Haygood, the acting president for the NC Community College System, presented the I.E. Ready Award, the highest honor bestowed by the State Board, to President Emeritus K. Ray Bailey.

Named for Isaac Epps Ready, the first state director of the North Carolina Community College System, the award was created in 1983 to recognize individuals who have made significant, statewide contributions to the establishment, development or enhancement of the system.