Homeschool students win at nationals; guided walks set; KEIR celebrates 40 years

Homeschool students take top spots at national competition

Several students from a Henderson County homeschool program took top spots the national level of competition in the 2023 National History Day Contest in Washington, D.C.

Classical Scholars, a middle and high school homeschool cooperative based in Mills River, created six projects and both senior group performances placed in the top three in the nation. A gold medal and a $1,000 cash prize was awarded to the entry: 30,000 Feet: How a Group of Spunky Stewardesses Overcame Prejudice in the Workplace to Launch a Frontier for Women’s Rights Starting with the Airline Industry, presented by Campbell Hodge, Hannah Jensen, Keira McKibben and Ava Karis Renegar.

Their performance focused on the Golden Age of Travel in the 1960s-70s, when stewardesses were often stereotyped and glamorized for the financial gain of the airline industry, the release said. Eventually, a group of gutsy female stewardesses rebelled against this sex discrimination utilizing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and forming the first Association of Professional Flight Attendants Union. They pioneered a social frontier focused on better pay, better treatment and better requirements for all women in the workplace. Their fight for women's rights would change the way people viewed women’s roles at home and in our society for generations to come. The team was coached by Eliza Hardin.

A bronze medal and a $250 cash prize was awarded to the entry The Long and Winding Road: How the Beatles Pioneered New Technologies in Combining Classical and Popular Music Creating a New Musical Mainstream. Presented by Preston Beiler, Asa Cobb, Andrew Renegar, Eli Thomas and Ryan Worley, their performance discussed classical music as a staple of human culture for centuries. The team was coached by Lisa Dillon.

National History Day (nhd.org) fosters skills in research, writing and communication as it requires all entries to develop a product, an annotated bibliography and then to defend their work to a panel of judges. An annual event held at the University of Maryland, the contest invites students to select a topic related to the theme and create a project in one of five categories: documentary, website, exhibit, performance or paper.

According to a news release, students began competition at the regional level (coordinated by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources) and then advanced to state and national levels if awarded first or second place. This year's theme was Frontiers in History: People, Places and Ideas.

Guided history walks scheduled in July

Three guided history walks will be offered on Saturdays in July in Hendersonville along with a new guided walk – Murals, Mosaic, and Ghost Signs. These 90-plus minute walks explore various historic areas of town: along Main Street (July 8, 10 a.m.), in Oakdale Cemetery (July 15, 10 a.m.), in the Seventh Avenue Historic Depot District (July 22, 10 a.m.), and Murals, Mosaic, and Ghost Signs throughout the downtown area (July 29, 10 a.m.).

Cost for each tour is $10 per person 10 years and older. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult. Space is limited and reservations are suggested. Contact history walk leader Mary Jo Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com to make a reservation. Private tours for groups can be arranged anytime. Visit the website at www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks to see the entire schedule for 2023.

“We’ll step back in time through the interesting history and architecture of Hendersonville,” Padgett said in a news release. “Hendersonville has its own unique culture and spirit, which actually began with the lifestyle of the Native Americans, grew into a farming area due to fertile soil, and blossomed as a popular destination during the heyday of railroads. Our lives here today are influenced by all of that.”

Padgett, who served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years, is a journalist and public relations consultant. She was co-founder and former executive director of ECO, was associate editor at The Mother Earth News magazine, and conducts programs and guided tours in Paris, France, on the American Revolution. Her parents spent their honeymoon in the Skyland Hotel on Main Street. She grew up on a farm in Rutherford County and has lived in a century-old house in downtown Hendersonville for 42 years.

Brevard's KEIR Manufacturing celebrates 40 years

Brevard's KEIR Manufacturing is celebrating 40 years as a global manufacturer of abrasives, composites and engineered ceramic products, marketing to diverse industries.

According to a news release, over the past four decades, KEIR Manufacturing has grown by diversifying its product range and fostering enduring partnerships. KEIR Manufacturing remains committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, expanding its product portfolio, and meeting the ever-changing needs of its customers, the release said.

Established in June1983, KEIR Manufacturing developed proprietary forming and machining methods allowing the company to produce an assortment of technical ceramic parts efficiently and quickly serving textiles, brick manufacturing, high-temperature furnace builders and the wire and cable industries. In 2001 it established its abrasive division manufacturing quality sharpening, dressing, and polishing stones used in many industrial and commercial applications.

Through an acquisition it added resin-bonded profile stones in 2017 further expanding its abrasive offerings. KEIR acquired the Composite Flyer Bow line in 2008 and is now the leading manufacturer in the world serving the Wire and Cable industry with ceramic Guides, AirWipes and Flyer bows, the release said.

The company's most recent venture is in the outdoor cycling industry, centered around a unique tri-axially braided composite spoke. It launched its new brand Gulo Composites, which sells carbon composite wheels direct to mountain, road, and gravel cycle enthusiasts from their website gulocomposites.com.

"I am proud of our accomplishments over the past 40 years," founder David Watkins said in the release. "We have built a strong company with a reputation in the global community for quality and innovation by delivering leading-edge products that improve performance, efficiency, and environmental impact. We differentiate ourselves by offering products and partnering with each customer to create real value solutions to meet their specific needs. I am grateful to our customers, employees, and partners for their support over the years, and I am excited to see what the next 40 years bring."

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Local students win at nationals; guided walks set; KEIR celebrates 40 years