Commencement Honors Students, Staff, Faculty and Friends of A-B Tech

Dr. David O. Belcher, Chancellor of Western Carolina University, was the commencement speaker for the A-B Tech Community College Commencement Ceremony.

Held at the U.S. Cellular Center on May 16, more than 1,000 degrees and diplomas were awarded to students in five divisions and 55 programs.

Belcher was elected chancellor of Western Carolina University by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 2011, becoming the 11^th chief executive officer in WCU’s history. Formerly provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he began his academic career in 1988 as assistant professor of music at Missouri State University, rising steadily through the academic and administrative ranks before joining UALR as provost in 2003.

“You are here today because you have worked hard, put in years, energy and let’s face it – money – in pursuit of such things as knowledge and wisdom, which are not necessarily the same things. This is your moment and I insist that you celebrate,” Belcher said.

Belcher told graduates they were ready to chart their own course because they had the minds, skills and attributes needed. “I charge you to remain firm in your commitment to excellence and high standards and to reject mediocrity and the ill-fated attitude of good enough, which doesn’t stand a chance in our competitive work environment. Your education has made you more employable, but you must never stop learning,” he said.

The A-B Tech Board of Trustees awarded honorary degrees to Carolyn Ferguson, Jack Ferguson and Mike Fryar. The Fergusons were awarded honorary degrees of Associate in Health Sciences and Fryar was awarded the honorary degree of Associate in Governmental Management.

The Ferguson have been a part of A-B Tech for many years. Jack, as a salesman for Lowe’s, has been involved with A-B Tech since 1959, when he worked with the original builders to construct and remodel our main campus. “In the years since, Jack and Carolyn have sent four children to A-B Tech and been incredibly generous to the college. They began by funding scholarships and, in 2013, gave the college $5 million – the single largest gift in our history – to assist with the construction of our new building on Victoria Road, which is being named the Ferguson Allied Health Building in their honor,” Brumit said.

Fryar, a resident of Buncombe County for over 50 years, attended A.C. Reynolds High School and honorably served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. “He returned home, married his lovely wife Brenda, started a family, and founded a successful business, Fryar Performance. Mike also has served our community as a member of the Buncombe County Commission and was appointed to the A-B Tech Board of Trustees in 2013,” Brumit said.

Ray Bailey, Vice Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, presented the Dallas Herring Award to graduate Stella Galyean. Galyean is the first person in her family to earn more than a sixth-grade education. She grew up in a home with a mother who had a drug abuse problem and was married into an abusive relationship at 13. When she first earned her GED at A-B Tech, she herself was a sixth-grade dropout. “Out of 800,000 students in community college system, she was chosen as number one,” Bailey said.

The award was established to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, whose philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go,” is the guiding principle of NCCCS. The award is given annually to a current or former student from one of 58 community colleges who best embodies Dr. Herring’s philosophy.

A-B Tech President Dennis King, Ed.D., presented awards to faculty and staff members during the ceremony. Biology Instructor Hellen Burrell was honored as Faculty Member of the Year. ACA and Developmental Reading and English Instructor Joanna Bolick was recognized as Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year. Administrative Assistant in Basic Skills Kathy Hipps was designated as Staff Member of the Year. Karen Baker, Nurse Aide Instructor, was named Continuing Education Faculty Member of the Year.

“These individuals are a testament to the quality of the A-B Tech faculty and staff. We appreciate all their hard work and everything they do for our students,” King said.