Athens Technical College - Spotlight
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ATC Spotlight
College representatives gearing up for spelling competition
Can you spell V-O-L-U-N-T-E-E-R?
A trio of Athens Technical College faculty and staff members can handle that simple chore, but they are going beyond
spelling the word by volunteering their time to support the seventh annual Athens-Clarke County Spirited Spelling Spectacular
that will support the Athens-Clarke Literacy Council.
The “ATC-Free to BEE” spelling team comprising Science Laboratory Manager Amy Abrahamsen, Workforce Investment
Act Counselor Trina Lawrence, and Director of Library Services Carol Stanley, have been honing their spelling skills to compete
in the annual Athens-Clarke Literacy Council fundraiser, scheduled for 3-6 p.m., Sunday, August 26 at Hotel Indigo’s Rialto
Room, 500 College Avenue. The ATC-Free to BEE team will be one of nearly a dozen community groups competing to be the
champion spelling team for 2012.
Each team pays a $100 registration fee to compete and then works to raise additional funding for the event. The four teams
that earn the most money prior to the event will receive a “mulligan,” or another turn for a word they may miss. The team raising
the most money overall will win a nice gift package. Contributions supporting the team can be made online at
http://www.athensliteracy.org/bee/2012-teams/ or you can contact one of the team members to make a donation.
ATC-Free to BEE backers also can show their support by attending the August 26 event and rooting for their Athens
Technical College representatives.
“I’d love for ATC to have a cheering section,” said Ms. Stanley.
The event will include refreshments and a silent auction.
The nonprofit Athens-Clarke Literacy Council serves as a volunteer organization to promote and support programs that
help Athens’ adult residents develop strong literacy skills, which improve their chances for gainful employment, self-fulfillment,
civic participation, and successful parenting. The literacy council raises awareness of adult literacy issues and provides
scholarships to help cover the costs of General Equivalency Diploma exams. GEDs certify that a student has achieved the
educational levels of a high school graduate.
ATC-Free to BEE team member Trina Lawrence likes the idea of supporting GED scholarships through the literacy
council.
“The GED test is rather costly for some people and obtaining a GED is of utmost importance in securing employment or
possibly moving on to higher education,” Ms. Lawrence said.
Teammate Amy Abrahamsen agreed.
“We saw this as an opportunity to participate in something that benefits the community and the college,” said Ms.
Abrahamsen. “There are deserving people in the community who will benefit from the literacy council and be able to take the next
step toward their education and improving their lives if given a little bit of support.”
Ms. Abrahamsen noted that Athens Technical College offers adult literacy courses such as the GED program and English
as a Second Language courses.
“These programs supported by the literacy council provide that pathway for people in the community to be able to enter
other Athens Technical College programs and then further their education,” Ms. Abrahamsen added.
Abrahamsen cited one other compelling reason Athens Technical College team members decided to enter the fray of the
literacy council’s annual competition.
http://www.athenstech.edu/Spotlight.cfm?i=383
7/19/2012
Athens Technical College - Spotlight
http://www.athenstech.edu/Spotlight.cfm?i=383
Page 2 of 2
7/19/2012
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