Jeffrey Kern is driving over 1,200 miles from State College, PA, to walk the stage at Moraine Park’s Commencement Ceremony this Saturday.
Kern, originally from Hurley, WI, is graduating from Moraine Park’s online Small Business Entrepreneurship Program. He is also enrolled in MPTC’s online Business Analyst program and is set to finish in May 2023.
“There was a significant amount of global insecurity at the start of 2020,” Kern said. “This uncertainty fueled personal anxiety and depression, but it also provided a reason to further my education.”
In 2017, Kern launched a fitness application called BOSS Running. Unfortunately, he did not find as much success as he had hoped. He was able to financially rebuild from 2018-2020 working in other jobs, but his mind always remained on his app.
“BOSS Running was always on my mind,” Kern said. “I wanted to know what I did wrong and how I could prevent making similar mistakes in the future. Knowing this, I began researching schools that offered degrees in Entrepreneurship.”
He found Moraine Park through researching various universities and programs.
“Moraine Park Technical College offered was the best option from the schools I researched,” he said. “MPTC had positive online reviews, the highest graduation rate, a simple application process, and offered an online program in Entrepreneurship with specific prescribed classes with minimal electives.”
Kern started a new job at Travelers Insurance as a Software Engineer earlier this year. In June, he will make the move to Hartford, CT, to start his next chapter and work with his colleagues in person.
“Despite the challenges thrown at me, I’ve never lost sight of who I am as a person or what makes me unique,” Kern said. “Not only that, I’m thriving. I lost 35 lbs of weight during the pandemic, but I have gained the ability to be assertive and to argue for what is right and kind. Walking the stage signifies the start of a new chapter in my life, one where past trauma can no longer hold me back.”
Last week, Moraine Park Technical College hosted their 5th annual Veterans Hail and Farewell Ceremony, celebrating 40 graduating veterans. The event was held in Park Terrace, Moraine Park’s student-led restaurant on the Fond du Lac campus.
The event was established to recognize graduating veterans and allow staff and faculty a chance to interact with graduates outside of the classroom. There were five graduating students in attendance accompanied by members of their families. Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park’s President, presented each student with the college’s challenge coin (see below) and a red, white, and blue cord to wear at Commencement.
“The Hail and Farewell Ceremony is an opportunity to recognize veterans and currently serving students who have graduated in December or will become eligible in May,” Stephen Pepper, Moraine Park’s Student Veterans Specialist, said. “It is especially significant if they cannot go to the commencement ceremony or feel uncomfortable attending the event.”
Jovan Sanders, of Sheboygan, was the guest speaker at the event. He spoke about his life growing up in Milwaukee, joining the forces, working as an Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist from 2006 to 2013; to currently working as a Load-Out Manager for Amazon.
“I thank you for your service and for selecting Moraine Park as you transition or advance into your career, and I look forward to shaking your hands as you walk across the stage next Saturday,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park President, said.
Immediately following the ceremony, the guests were served an all-American style meal consisting of fruit salad, fried chicken, steak, twice-baked potato, corn, asparagus, sweet tea, and dessert. The lunch was planned, cooked, and served by culinary student, Destiny Smith, who will be graduating this May.
Heather Quickle will graduate from Moraine Park’s Nursing program this Spring, and she has already accepted a job and made the move to North Carolina.
Quickle started in Moraine Park’s Nursing Program in 2020 and just recently accepted a position at Atrium Wake-Forest Baptist-High Point Medical Center as an ICU Nurse.
“I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl,” Quickle said. “My husband and I started a family early and we decided I would stay home with them. I wouldn’t change my time at home with them for anything, but now that they are older, I decided to pursue the dream I have always had.”
She is originally from High Point, North Carolina, but has moved around with her husband who is in the Army.
“We decided to move back to North Carolina when I graduated so we could be close to family again,” Quickle said. “It has been 18 years since I lived near my family, and I knew that one day I would be able to come back.”
She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the Academic Honors Society and will graduate from Moraine Park with high honors. In the fall 2021 semester, Quickle earned the President’s Award for reaching over 200 hours of service.
“I plan on getting my Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification in the next two years,” she said. “I’m deciding what to do after that. I tutored while I attended Moraine Park, and now I think that educating new and upcoming nurses might be in my future.”
Machines hum, metal sparks and concentration fills every corner of the room. It is midnight, but nothing is still inside the walls of Metalcraft of Mayville. Amongst the production, a Moraine Park student is hard at work fueling his passion and igniting his career.
Mason Higgins, of West Bend, was first introduced to welding while attending West Bend East High School. He took all the manufacturing courses available to him through the Start College Now program including Intro to Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing, Intro to Welding, Advanced Welding and a Manufacturing Capstone. He is 18, in his first year at MPTC and only a few credits shy of a college degree.
The Start College Now program enables high school students to enroll in occupational/technical courses and/or general education courses and earn high school and college credit at the same time.
“I was told by a couple of family members about welding and after looking at pictures and information online, I really wanted to try sticking some metal together,” Higgins said. “I took Intro to Welding as a high school freshman and after hours of welding time, I knew for certain this would be my career.”
Higgins began working at Metalcraft of Mayville as part of his high school’s Youth Apprenticeship program. Now, he works full-time, five nights a week from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. while taking courses at Moraine Park.
“The opportunities I got from Moraine Park’s partnership with my high school have helped me get ahead financially,” Higgins said. “I was able to start laying the groundwork for my future before graduating. I’m confident and prepared as I move into my next chapter.”
Higgins is enrolled in Moraine Park’s Welding program and takes classes at the West Bend Campus. He plans to finish his degree by December. In the future, his goal is to start his own portable welding business. He is already rebuilding a trailer to support an additional welder, an oxyfuel cutting set-up, tools and other essentials.
“My favorite part of welding is passing the bend test because it gives you such a good feeling knowing the weld actually did its job,” Higgins said. “Later, I look forward to the feeling of satisfaction knowing that I’ve built and repaired things that people are happy with, whatever the product may be.”
Pictured: Jody Glindt, Domestic Violence Services Coordinator at Solutions Center of Fond du Lac (Left) with Moraine Park Technical College Honor Society member, Darlene Andersen.
Thanks to Moraine Park Technical College Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa students along with all the people involved with MPTC who donated! Three area homeless shelters are now better able to provide for their clients. A great job of collecting much-needed supplies, snacks, food, beverage and other items was done! The items were delivered to the Solutions Center of Fond du Lac, the Promise Housing Program of West Bend, and to the New Beginnings Homeless Shelter of Beaver Dam sites, and the centers were so grateful!
Jody Gindt, Domestic Violence Services Coordinator at Solutions Center of Fond du Lac, said, “These items are so needed! The snacks are great ice breakers when we get kids here and are really appreciated by every client all year long. Some of these supplies not only go to service our clients while they’re staying here, but we are also able to send some with clients who are able to eventually relocate. It’s so important to not only be able to help in the immediate, but during the transition period back to independent living, so truly, these things mean so much! Thank you to Moraine Park and the members of the honor society for seeing us, the need, and stepping in to help!”
Pictured from left to right: Brandon Belanger, Seth Lane, Nathan Stocks, Linda Huckaby, Tim Reynolds, Heather Tennies, Tim Vukosich. 2nd row left to right: Leona Meyer, Darlene Anderson, Deanna Bagley, Amanda Neitzel, Cassandra Schultz, Amber Schultz, Jennifer Ainslie, Heidi Quackenboss, Shellin Eck, Megan Marks. Front row left to right: Mina Vang-Xiong, Christina Brueggemann, Blanca Almarez, Tammy Wentlandt, Rebecca Christenson, Ashley Aden, Alaska Burroughs
On April 21, MPTC Academic Honor Society/PTK Advisors Amy Harmsen and Anne Lemke, hosted a celebration to congratulate the 146 MPTC students who attained a 3.5 GPA or above with at least 12 credits towards an Associate’s Degree during this academic year; and are new members of our MPTC Academic Honor Society, and/or Phi Theta Kappa. Special recognition was given to 66 Academic Honors Students who are graduating this Spring with Honors (3.5-3.74 GPA) or High Honors (3.75 and above).
President Bonnie Baerwald and Dean of General Studies Brenda Raad presented each student with a flower and honors emblem keepsake. Graduates also received their Silver (honors) or Gold (high honors) cords to be worn with pride at graduation.
President Baerwald said, “It is an honor for me to participate in this ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate academic excellence. Established over 100 years ago in 1918, the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society recognizes and encourages academic achievement of students at two-year colleges. PTK is an organization that has over 3.5 million members in the United States and 10 sovereign nations. Our own MPTC Academic Honor Society is also an opportunity for our students achieving high academics. Membership in both or either of these groups is a special honor for outstanding students. Congratulations! I applaud your commitment to academic success and wish you all the best for your future endeavors.”
Dean Brenda Raad said,“It is my pleasure to congratulate you all on your accomplishments. Each year thousands of students attend Moraine Park Technical College; today we acknowledge those whose achievement, commitment and academic performance deserve the highest recognition. I encourage you to always search for truth and to dedicate yourselves to the cultivation of lifelong education, service and honor. Congratulations!”
High Honors PTK/AHS Student Graduate Mina Vang-Xiong was the featured speaker. Mina said,
“Today, I stand here because I decided to change my career path from Healthcare to Technology. I enrolled in the IT l dual program- Network Specialist and Technical Support specialist January of 2020 with a goal to just achieve a degree. I have a full-time job, am a full-time student, and mother of 3. I became an MPTC leader and a voice for my fellow students. I achieved academic excellence and was on the Dean’s list for all semesters. I am currently an Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa member, President of IT Club, Vice President of Student Senate, and active around my community. I am a nominee for student of the year, recipient of the Leadership and Services award and the recipient of the Presidents’ Student Community Impact Award. What I learned from being engaged in opportunities Moraine Park offers allowed me to tap into my sense of purpose. Involvement and opportunities gave me the resources I needed to be a successful leader.”
Students being recognized include:PTK Member ^ AHS Member ~
Moraine Park Technical College has announced Jim Spannbauer, of Fond du Lac, as the keynote speaker for the 2022 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 21 at the Fond du Lac High School.
Spannbauer has held various positions with progressive experience during his 33-year tenure at Fives Giddings & Lewis in Fond du Lac. He started as a Machinist Apprentice, then advanced to many positions including Application Engineer, Technical Writer & Instructor, Six Sigma Black Belt, Director of Assembly, Director of Sales and International Sales, VP of Operations and finally VP and General Manager of the Fives facility in Hebron, Kentucky. The last 6 years, he served as the President and CEO of Mid-States Aluminum in Fond du Lac, growing the business while always putting people first. Spannbauer retired on April 1.
Spannbauer is a Moraine Park Alumni, where he holds a diploma in Machine Tool Operations, an associate degree in Industrial Engineering and completed a 4-year apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Machinist.
Outside of work, Spannbauer belongs to the Fond du Lac Yacht Club and Knights of Columbus. He has served on the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corp. and Envision Greater Fond du Lac boards and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Fond du Lac Boys and Girls Club and the Columbian Club. Spannbauer is a native of Fond du Lac, married to the love of his life Debbie, and has two beautiful grown daughters, Katie and Melissa. In his free time, he enjoys boating, fishing, woodworking and traveling.
Nearly 800 graduate candidates will be receiving Associate of Applied Science degrees and technical diplomas, with over 350 graduate candidates expected to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president, will preside over the ceremony.
The prevalence of cyberattacks has been heavy in the news, and at Moraine Park we want to take all necessary steps to ensure your data is protected.
Earlier this year, we recommended all students and employees set up Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) to access the College computer systems and networks. MFA is an additional layer of security that makes it harder for hackers to log in to your account. With MFA, you will use something you know (your password) with something you have (your phone) to confirm your identity when signing in.
Starting June 20, MFA will be required for everyone accessing Moraine Park online systems; this includes Canvas and the Microsoft online environment. Faculty will need to establish MFA in both the staff and student environments.
It is strongly recommended that you set up MFA now to avoid any interruption in access. A step-by-step guide has been prepared to assist you. You can view the guide here.
If you encounter any issues or questions during the setup, contact the Help Desk by phone at 1-877-230-3509 or email at AskIT@morainepark.edu.
The Moraine Park Foundation has received a $6,000 certified nursing assistant (CNA) scholarship gift from SSM Health. The scholarship is given on behalf of SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital. The donation will allow the Foundation to provide scholarships for students seeking to become CNAs.
“Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) represent an essential part of the patient-care team,” according to Nicole Gill, vice president – Patient Care Services & chief nursing officer, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital. “In assisting the medical staff, CNAs not only provide physical care for patients but also emotional and spiritual support, truly making a difference in the lives of patients and families. SSM Health values the CNA profession and is honored to help support the career in our communities.”
The scholarship is one way that the SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region can meet a growing demand for CNAs.
“These clinicians play a vital role on our care delivery team working closely with patients to ensure their physical and emotional needs are met,” Tami Schattschneider, vice president Patient Care Services/chief nursing officer, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital. “St. Agnes deeply appreciates the value that CNAs bring to the care we provide and is pleased to partner with The Moraine Park Foundation to provide financial support through scholarships for those who have chosen this noble career path.”
Moraine Park’s Nursing Assistant training prepares students for work as nursing assistants by teaching the foundations of how to communicate and interact with patients, family and co-workers, maintain and protect client rights, and record observations. Students also learn ethical and legal responsibilities of nursing assistants, how to provide safe care for a diverse population, assist clients with long-term, disabling conditions, and more. The program also prepares students to take the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry exam through a combination of more than 75 hours of classroom theory, laboratory work and clinical experience.
“SSM Health is a generous partner in providing scholarship funds that make education affordable for Moraine Park students,” Dana Bourland, director of college advancement at Moraine Park, said. “Their gift also ensures there is a pipeline of talented healthcare professionals to fill workforce needs in our local communities.”
All Moraine Park campuses will be closing to the public on Tuesday, May 24 at 11:00 AM and reopen at 4:00 PM on May… https://t.co/WKkWa01Cee4 hours ago
Starting June 20, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will be required for everyone accessing Moraine Park's online s… https://t.co/7ZEQFNhoyj12 days ago
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