Be a part of Moraine Park Technical College’s history! In order to commemorate the College’s Centennial anniversary, Moraine Park will be filling and burying a time capsule for each campus. Moraine Park invites you to submit items for its 2012 time capsule and is looking for present-day artifacts that represent Moraine Park life and position in the communities it serves.

            The three time capsules will be designed and constructed by Moraine Park Metal Fabrication and Building Trades Construction students, providing a unique learning experience for the students and original look to the time capsules.

All items must be submitted by May 1, 2012. For submission guidelines and details, visit morainepark.edu/100 years and click on the “Time Capsule Form” icon.                                                                              

Moraine Park was established in 1912 and is one of 16 technical college districts that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System. With campuses in Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and West Bend, Moraine Park offers more than 100 associate of applied science degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates delivered in a variety of formats — classroom, online and blended. Training and technical assistance for businesses is also offered.

Moraine Park Technical College Business Professionals of America (BPA) students are heading to the windy city for the National BPA Leadership conference. The Chicago conference is held April 25-29.  Ariel Kritz of West Bend, Theresa Gumz of Adell, and Liz Kuble of Jackson placed in the state leadership conference held this past February with Kritz and Gumz moving forward to compete in the national conference events. 

        Kritz received second place in keyboarding production and Gumz received fifth in financial math and analysis, fundamental spreadsheet applications and insurance concepts. Gumz also placed third in banking and finance.       

        Instructors Cynthia Bernhard and Carrie Kuzabuski are advisors to Moraine Park’s BPA Club and Bernhard will be accompanying the students to Chicago.                                                                                                         

        Moraine Park’s BPA Club is for business, accounting and IT students interested in preparing for the workforce by gaining experience in leadership and citizenship and strengthening academic and technological skills. For more information about Moraine Park’s business programs, visit morainepark.edu/programs.

            Moraine Park Technical College has been providing innovative education to the communities it serves for the past 100 years and now, the College’s efforts have been officially recognized by the Wisconsin Legislature. Thanks to a Senate resolution honoring Moraine Park’s 100 years of vocational and technical training, the entire state can help celebrate the accomplishments of the College during its centennial year.

            State Senator Jessica King and Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt joined Moraine Park President Sheila Ruhland, students and staff to present an official copy of the resolution. Ruhland expressed thanks to King and for her willingness to bring Moraine Park’s Centennial Resolution forward, and to Thiesfeldt for co-sponsoring the resolution in the Assembly. 

 “Moraine Park has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the past 100 years through education and training,” said Ruhland. “We also know the important role our College has in partnering with business and industry to help keep Wisconsin’s economy strong. Thank you Senator King and Representative Thiesfeldt for understanding this importance and for taking the time to recognize us with this Centennial Resolution.”

King and Thiesfeldt received a tour of Moraine Park’s Integrated Manufacturing Center from instructors Tom Roehl, Jeff Quackenboss and Craig Habeck, where they learned how students are getting workforce-ready through the Center’s realistic and hands-on training.

“This is an institution of innovation and I really appreciate what Moraine Park does and recognize the important role your technical college and the system plays in the economy,” said King. “Our commitment to quality education and training are growing in importance.”

Thiesfeldt echoed the thoughts of King. “Congratulations on your efforts, it’s been great working with a college willing to meet the needs of the community,” Thiesfeldt said.

For more information on Moraine Park’s Centennial, visit morainepark.edu/100years.

It’s developing executive talent in the community, helping to navigate a new economy, aligning talent and engaging a workforce.  Moraine Park Technical College’s Strategy, Alignment, Talent (STRAT) program just kicked off its second session and is pleased to announce the honor of receiving the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA) Honorable Mention in the category of Community and Workforce Needs and Partnerships. Moraine Park will be recognized at the awards luncheon of the International Conference on College Teaching and Learning on April 11 in Jacksonville, Fla.

NCIA is an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), dedicated to serving the needs of professionals involved in instructional administration in the community college.  A panel of community college practitioners from across the country evaluated Moraine Park’s STRAT submission and selected it for the recognition.  Two submissions in each category are recognized as a winner and honorable mention. 

            “This is an outstanding recognition to receive and further represents the quality program that STRAT is providing to others,” said Dr. Sheila Ruhland, Moraine Park president.

How does STRAT work? STRAT combines classroom training, experiential learning, practical application and personal coaching to help leaders grow into strategic thinkers to help their business grow.   As the business climate continues to change, leaders need to be able to think forward while leading the change in their organization.  Developed with input from industry leaders, STRAT provides the necessary training, locally, to help develop the skills leaders need to strategically navigate this new economy.                                              

For more information, visit morainepark.edu/strat.

It will be a cultural journey complete with food, entertainment and socializing as Moraine Park Technical College hosts the 17th annual multicultural Day on Wednesday, April 18. All are welcome to share in the celebration of diversity as 20 different countries are represented.

Sponsored by the Multicultural Club, Student Senate, Diversity Relations, Culinary Arts Club and Human Resources Systems at Moraine Park, this event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cyber Center cafeteria on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus. Cost to attend is $2 for students, $3 for staff and $5 for public.

The cultural cuisine this year includes a Peruvian dish, lasagna, a noodle dish, empanadas, and fresh berry tiramisu.  In addition to the cuisine, there will be a cultural attire show and parade.  Booths representing different cultures will be on display with artifacts and information about the area they represent throughout the event.

Providing entertainment are the Tribal Fusion Belly dancers. Tamarind spreads the joy of tribal style belly dance through their exhilarating performances, as well as classes and specialty workshops.  A Tamarind show is an event in itself, with swirling skirts, ornate costumes, shimmying hips and exuberant drum beats.  Their performances are upbeat, unique, and great for all ages.

Another entertainer will be Tou Ger Xiong.  His one-man show combines explosive energy, humor, folklore, dance, and rap music into an interactive performance that educates about cultural diversity and racial stereotypes.  He will take audience members on a journey of his life from the jungles of Laos, to the refugee camps of Thailand, and to the public housing projects of America.

For more information about the Multicultural Day or the Multicultural club at Moraine Park Technical College please contact William Green at 920-924-6355 or at wgreen@morainepark.edu.

            What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? It won’t cost a thing to find out with Moraine Park Technical College’s free entrepreneurship workshops April 23 at the Fond du Lac campus, April 30 in West Bend and May 14 in Beaver Dam.

            Here’s what you will learn by attending: An overview and state of entrepreneurship, what it takes to be successful, where ideas come from, the anatomy of a business plan, the nuts and bolts of starting a business, types of business entities, regulations and requirements and the resources available.                                        

            Facilitating the workshops will be Moraine Park’s Entrepreneurial Associate Jeremy Joecks. Joecks received his master’s in business and marketing postsecondary and secondary education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and his bachelor’s in business management-entrepreneurship from UW-Eau Claire. Most recently, Joecks worked in higher education administration as an area director for Kaplan Test Prep. In addition to classroom teaching experience, Joecks has owned and operated businesses in the retail and service industries.

All workshops are from 6-8 p.m. Registration is required by calling 920-924-3449 or emailing training@morainepark.edu.

On June 18-22, Moraine Park Technical College is offering a Nuts, Bolts & Thingagmajigs® manufacturing summer camp, Toolin’ It!, for middle and high school students ages 13-16. Registration is under way now for this high-tech, hands-on experience that provides an introduction to 21st-century manufacturing technology and basic entrepreneurial skills.

Toolin’ It! participants use technology to create a product from start to finish. Meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at Moraine Park’s West Bend campus, participants will explore 3D design, computer numerical control (CNC) programming, welding, machining, entrepreneurship and more, while emphasizing product creation, problem solving and team building. Visits to area manufacturers will provide an up-close look at products being made as well as career advice and inspiration from the entrepreneurs who own and run the companies.

The registration fee is $50, which includes all materials and daily lunch. To register or for more information, contact Marcia Arndt, dean of manufacturing technology, at 262-335-5725 or marndt@morainepark.edu. For directions to the West Bend campus, go to morainepark.edu/maps.

The Moraine Park camp is part of a national program developed and funded by Nuts, Bolts & Thingagmajigs®, the foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl.

Culinary arts students from technical colleges and universities across the State recently competed in the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA)’s College Culinary Arts competition. Nine Moraine Park Technical College students headed to Milwaukee for the competition, with the Moraine Park team placing third and medals awarded to the individual competitors.

“I was so proud of the students,” said James Simmers, Moraine Park culinary arts instructor. “They spent about 10 hours the day before the competition practicing, in addition to all the other practices this semester. They worked hard to prepare for the competition.”

The competition included two challenges: Hot Food, a team competition; and Cold Plate, an individual competition.  

Moraine Park’s Hot Food team included Lynn Sabel and Lee McClendon IV of Fond du Lac; Melissa Bauer and Zachary Stokdyk of Sheboygan, and Michelle Bruss of Lomira. The team was tested in taste and presentation of a four-course meal that required the incorporation of veal and beef into the menu.

            Moraine Park students had individual success in the Cold Plate competition, which is judged solely on presentation. Judges track appearance, presentation and creativity to form final scores. Bringing home a silver medal in Cold Plate was Carol Lince of Fall River. Julie Streblow, Libby Breister and Chrissy Williams, all of Fond du Lac, received Bronze medals.

Both competitions are sponsored by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation to give students the opportunity to exercise their culinary skills and showcase their talents. Judges used a 100-point scale to evaluate each plate and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to the top-ranking entries. 

For more information on Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program, visit morainepark.edu/programs.

Retirement intentions among the health care workforce within the next decade increased sharply since 2008 and will pose a number of challenges to employers in the Fox Valley, according to a survey released by the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board (FVWDB) and the Fox Valley Health Care Alliance  (FVHCA), in conjunction with Moraine Park Technical College. Health care employers could see nearly one-third of their current workers retire over the next ten years, and close to half retire within 15 years.

The study titled “Sustaining Wisconsin’s Healthcare Workforce: A report on Healthcare Worker Retirement and Departure Intentions in the Fox Valley,” confirmed that shortages are certainly on the horizon. While just over 15 percent of the employees surveyed said they plan to retire within the next five years, the study projects a cumulative loss of nearly 32 percent of health care workers over the next 10 years, and nearly 48 percent within 15 years. While a significant number of workers will retire within the next 15 years, nearly 40 percent of workers are at least 20 years from retirement. 

Numerous technician, physician and support positions will see retirements exceeding 40 percent over the next 10 years. Several patient care provider positions will be hit particularly hard by retirements over the next 10 years.  Licensed practical nurses will see retirements nearing 43 percent of the workforce, while losses of registered nurse managers will near 67 percent over the 10 year period.

This is the second survey predicting future health care workforce needs and providing information necessary for planning to meet future workforce requirements in the health care sector. Since the initial study release in 2008, hospitals and other health care providers have made concerted efforts to attract and retain employees in key areas. Despite this progress, a shortage of health care workers is imminent in the Fox Valley.

Sue Edminster, vice president of human resources at Agnesian HealthCare stated, “As the face of healthcare evolves, the data from the study will be a critical tool to assist organizations as we forecast our talent and skill needs for the future.  Working collaboratively with our area education partners, it will be important to develop long range recruitment and retention strategies to support our current employees and plan for future skill gap needs.”

Linda Mingus, director of Human Resource Services at Aurora Medical Center Oshkosh emphasized the value of the study to regional health care partners stating, “The Fox Valley Healthcare Alliance members are fortunate to have the data outlined in this report to aide in workforce planning. This survey process helps Fox Valley Healthcare Alliance members ensure an integrated process for identifying, securing and developing the workforce required to support our organizations' mission and for developing and implementing strategies to manage workforce supply and demand instead of reacting to business and market changes.”

Additionally, the survey data assists local educational institutions in determining programmatic adjustments to curriculum and capacity for meeting future demand. Clear and precise retirement projections by occupation means workforce planning in the Fox Valley may become a reality.

“We are pleased to be part of the Alliance and this important research,” said Dr. Sheila Ruhland, Moraine Park Technical College president. “The results of the survey will allow technical colleges to be proactive in addressing our educational programs to ensure a future skilled healthcare workforce.”

Dr. Susan May, president of Fox Valley Technical College added, "Participation in this study by our region's health care providers has been outstanding. From a higher education perspective, having information about anticipated retirements and available positions in this important industry is critical. It certainly helps inform our plans for new or expanded programming to support high demand health occupations here in the region."

Over 8,500 regional health care employees representing eight major health care employers, including Agnesian HealthCare, Affinity Health System, Aurora Health Care, Evergreen, State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Northeast Regional Office, ThedaCare, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, and Lutheran Homes and Health Services, completed the survey.  In total, more than 60 percent of the employees across those eight organizations participated. 

The FVHCA was formed by FVWDB to bring together educators and healthcare employers from the Fox Valley to collaborate on regional healthcare initiatives.

“The survey report will help FVHCA partners as we continue collaborating to ensure there is a high quality healthcare workforce in northeast Wisconsin”, noted Jen Meyer, chief program officer at FVWDB. “We now have a more solid grasp of our strengths and weaknesses, and what we need to do to be successful in the future in what is an extremely important industry sector,” she added.

The survey results, along with detailed information on the partners who comprise the Fox Valley Health Care Alliance, are posted at:  www.fvhca.org.

Moraine Park students compete through video
Public voting open through March 17

The public is welcome to help choose the semifinalists in the Futuremaker Video Competition sponsored by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). The statewide competition gives WTCS students, including those who attend Moraine Park Technical College, a chance to demonstrate their creative spirit, hard work, talents and innovation. It also demonstrates the importance of technical college experience from the student perspective and allows students to show how, through college, they are making their futures.

Through March 17, anyone can rank the 40 video entries in the Video Gallery on wearefuturemakers.com. Public voting is one aspect of the contest; judges at each of the colleges with competing students will also consider creativity, originality of presentation and effectiveness of communication to select a video to compete in the semifinals.

“We are very pleased to have four entries in the competition this year and encourage everyone to show their support by voting,” said Sheila Ruhland, Moraine Park president. “This is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their talents and demonstrate how Moraine Park and the WTCS are helping to shape their futures.” Moraine Park’s Interactive Media Design, Web Designer/Developer and Culinary arts programs are represented in the videos from Moraine Park.

The semifinalists from each college will face a different panel of judges on the state level. One of three students will be awarded the Futuremaker Video Competition top prize of $2,000 at a Wisconsin Technical Colleges District Boards’ Association luncheon. Students placing second and third will receive prizes of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.

This year’s entries come from students studying a variety of programs, including graphic communication, early childhood education, nursing, welding, engineering, administrative professional and accounting. Entrants of all ages are using the videos to share career preparation experiences at Wisconsin’s technical colleges.