The Buncombe County Schools Foundation (BCSF) stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park Thursday night as they celebrated their 40th anniversary at the Asheville Tourists game.
The evening was a grand slam, bringing together donors, board members, teachers, and principals for a night filled with food, fellowship, and unforgettable moments. The highlight of the evening came when Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Rob Jackson took the mound and delivered a pitch-perfect performance as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Adding to the evening's festivities, Bank of America presented BCSF with a $15,000 check on their field in support of the foundation’s Teacher Cadet program. The program is designed to encourage high school students to pursue careers in education, ensuring a strong future for the county’s schools. Teacher Andrew Shelton from North Buncombe High School shared his remarks with WLOS on the Teacher Cadet program.
“[Teacher Cadets] are in the classrooms teaching students,” he said. “Observing them, learning [student] psychology, [teaching] methodologies. Eventually, we are excited to partner with local colleges to feed these students back into our school system.”
As the innings rolled on, guests enjoyed the camaraderie and reflected on the incredible impact BCSF has made over the past four decades. With 40 years of success behind them, the foundation is ready to step up to bat for many more, continuing to support and enhance the educational experience for students across the county.
"We are so thankful to everyone who showed up to celebrate our 40th birthday,” said BCSF Director Christy Cheek. “And what better way to celebrate than at the ballpark! Thank you to our invaluable donors, volunteers, teachers, support staff, and families for all of the hard work they’ve put in to benefit Buncombe County Schools. We are especially grateful to Bank of America for its generous donation to our Teacher Cadet program. Our ‘grow your own’ initiative is incredibly important to us as we cultivate the future educators of Buncombe County—and America."
It was a night of home runs and high fives, celebrating all the ways BCSF has been a game-changer for education in Buncombe County.
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