Campus News and Events 

May 15, 2012

Cosmetology Students Raise the Bar in their Commitment to Community Service

Tanisha Williams, coordinator of Student Activities and Special Projects, said CASA was chosen because of its community service involvement and club participation. To win the award, CASA had to meet certain criteria involving "community service, club activities and contributions to the operation, maintenance and expansion of their club to benefit the student body."

"This is the first year the Cosmetic Art and Sciences Club received the award," Williams said. "I am sure though it will not be their last. They are already strategizing ways to defend their title."

Among the events the club participated in was "Look Good…Feel Better" in October, also deemed "Breast Cancer Awareness Month." "Look Good…Feel Better" is a non-medical, brand-neutral public service program that teaches beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them manage any appearance-related side of effects of treatment.

In addition, the club sold pink and white ribbon ducky’s during the month of October. People could buy a ribbon and dedicate it in memory or honor of a loved one, or put their own name on it. The ribbons were displayed in the windows of the Cosmetology School and at all three college campuses. Also in October, CASA purchased and collected 64 new and gently used wigs and 126 scarves and donated them to the CaroMont Health Comprehensive Cancer Center.

CASA sponsored a coat drive in December for the Salvation Army of Gastonia. The club assisted the college’s Student Government Association in a food drive and collected the most food. Students volunteered with Christian Ministry of Lincoln County, as well as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" when it rebuilt a home for a Lincolnton family.

Eddie Baldwin, president of CASA, said the activities showed the club’s dedication and support to helping the community. "I enjoyed all the projects that we participated in because it was good to see that, we as a club, like giving back to the communities and help support those that are less fortunate," he said.

Catherine Cunningham, cosmetology instructor, said the CASA Club had 65 students in the 2011-2012 school year. Although the department’s seven instructors act as advisors to the club, the members really form their own ideas about professional and community projects. So far, the CASA Club has been successful in their endeavors.

"This speaks loudly to their ability to work together to get their goals accomplished," Cunningham said. "These skills are what we hope that students take with them upon entering their profession. I feel as though these experiences will give them the soft skills they need to be leaders in the cosmetic industry. Even if they had not been selected for the Club of the Year under the Student Government Association, their dedication and perseverance surely touched many lives through their success."

For more information on the Cosmetology Club, contact Catherine Cunningham at
704-748-5255 or cunningham.catherine@gaston.edu.

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May 15, 2012

Gaston College Math Club Scores in the Top Ten
in Gainesville, GA Math Competition

The Gaston College Math Club placed ninth in the team competition at the 18th Annual Gainesville State College Math Tournament.

The tournament was held April 14 at Gainesville State College in Georgia. The event featured team and individual competitions in calculus, trigonometry, geometry, statistics and algebra. Participants were students enrolled in a two-year college or a college with only a two-year math degree program.

Gaston College competed against 31 other teams in the southeast region. Club members Corey Hartsell and Simon Nocher, of Lincolnton, finished fourth and first place, and Corey Hartsell won fourth place, respectively, against 144 participants in the individual competition.

Nocher said he was very proud of his team because the competition was fierce.

"Some of the questions were pretty tough," he said. "There were questions that none of the teams got right."

Sholeh Shariat, mathematics instructor at the college, said the club placed first in the North Carolina Community College Math Tournament last fall.

"What makes (the Gainesville win) more remarkable is that the Gaston College Math Club is new and our students did not have the chance to prepare for these tournaments," she said. "Our team had to compete with other community colleges that their math club had years of experience in participation and preparation for these math tournaments."

 For more information about the Gaston College Math Club, contact Sholeh Shariat at shariat.sholeh@gaston.eduor 704-922-6403. 　

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May 3, 2012

Gaston College Announces the Promotion of Sam Buff to
Textile Technology Center Director

Sam Buff has been named the director of the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College. Buff joined the college as a textile testing specialist in 2002 and started his new position April 1.

"I am happy, excited, and honored to have been chosen to lead," he said. "I feel like I know the Textile Technology Center very well. I helped build the team that is in place and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead."

Buff has many goals for the Textile Technology Center located on the Kimbrell Campus in Belmont.

"I think we have a very successful model in place, having said that, I would like to see us continue to expand the capabilities we offer to the industry," he said. "As a whole, that covers a lot of ground, from product development and testing to education and training."

Prior to joining Gaston College, Buff spent several years in plant operations of the optical fiber business with Alcatel Telecommunications in Claremont, NC. He also held several positions at Spectrum Dyed Yarns in Belmont, including research chemist, production planner and quality control manager. He spent six years as an air transportation specialist in the United States Air Force Reserves on Pope Air Force Base.

Buff received his Master of Business Administration from Pfeiffer University in 2000. He earned his bachelor’s degree in textile chemistry from North Carolina State University in 1995 and associate’s degree in Engineering from Catawba Valley Community College in 1992.

In his spare time, Buff raises beef cattle and breeds Redbone Coonhounds on his Lincolnton farm. Also, he enjoys writing a monthly column about hunting with hounds for the United Kennel Club.

He lives in Lincolnton with his wife, Kimberly.

NOTE:

Textile Technology Center at Gaston College services the industry in several important ways. The Center provides polymer, fiber, yarn and fabric formation services. A modern pilot yarn spinning plant, sample weaving and knitting assist the industry with innovation at a scale which allows clients to evaluate product without significant downtime on their own production equipment. The Textile Center offers:

• Extensive fiber, yarn and fabric testing and evaluation services on state-of- the-art testing equipment;
• Performs defect analysis and are assisted in that effort with a modern microscopy and analytical chemistry lab;
• Staff consult formally and informally on process improvement, product innovation and offers customized training to individual firms as well as seminars on topics that pertain to various industry segments, including the craft trade, Yarn and Fabric Testing;
• "One-stop" service for clients and seeks to develop multiple partnerships. For a complete list of services and prices go to http://www.gaston.edu/textile_center.  

For more information, contact the Student Government Association at 704.922.6472.

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