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10 NCBW hosts President Obama’s Visit to Forsyth Tech:

P recognizing biotech training innovation and leadership
resident Obama praised North
Carolina’s progress in spurring
biotechnology into an industry
that’s brought 50,000 new jobs and lured
top-notch businesses to relocate here.

As the third largest state in biotech-
nology activity, North Caroina shows
how a biotechnology economy can offset
declines in traditional industries.

“Economic development goals are all

connected with workforce development

and education - biotech is the common
thread,” said Dr. Gary Green, President of
Forsyth Tech.
Biotech-related clean energy and
“green” technology are among the most “It’s alive”” President Barack Obama said looking through a
promising areas for national economic microscope at work being done in a Forsyth Tech student lab.
growth. These fields are complimentary
and focus students on developing the right skill sets and heard their individual stories. The students were
for jobs of the future. “Sustainable energy studies mesh thrilled, and I believe his trip reinforced the idea that
with green technology in the college’s biodiesel effort. they are doing something meaningful,” said Beard.
Sustainable design is reflected in architectural technology
and green or sustainable technology is incorporated into Course offerings go hand-in-hand with biotech
construction, HVAC and weatherization courses,” said training at Forsyth Tech. “President Obama’s visit tar-
Dr. Green. geted the core of what we do - best practices for biotech
workforce training. His visit was a great endorsement
Alan Beard, Chairman of the Biotech Program, wel- of the excellent quality of workforce training we provide
comed President Obama’s visit to the two Forsyth Tech through our community college,” said Russ Read, Execu-
biotech labs, “He shook hands with all twelve students tive Director of the National Center for Biotechnology
Workforce.

Forsyth Tech Student Kathy Proctor meets President
Obama in the lab, and is then invited to attend the State of
the Union address seated next to the First Lady

On January 25, 2011, Kathy Proctor became the most famous stu-
dent at Forsyth Tech – and Forsyth Tech became the most famous
community college in the United States. That was the day President
Barack Obama mentioned her and her school in his State of the Union
address. She was shown on TV sitting in the First Lady’s box. Kathy was
so surprised at the mention of her name that she turned to the people
sitting next to her and said, “That’s me!” This act of genuine emotion
struck a chord. Soon Kathy was all over TV and the Internet, as was
Forsyth Tech. (This was, by the way, the first time any community col-
lege’s name was mentioned in a State of the Union speech.)

Who is Kathy Proctor?
She is a 55-year-old mother of two who, after working in the furniture
industry for more than 30 years (often being laid off when her employ-
ers went out of business), returned to school in (continued on next page)