If at first, you find success, keep looking for new ways to grow! Moraine Park alumnus and current student, Cory Bennett of Beaver Dam, has been doing just that.

After graduating from Beaver Dam High School in 1999, Cory found employment and began to build his life.

“I’ve always succeeded in school, but didn’t consider continuing my education right after high school,” Cory said. “I found success in my employment, but eventually I wanted more for myself.”

In 2010, Cory began his mechanical design technology degree at Moraine Park. It didn’t take him long to adapt to college life and soon he was a member of the student senate and Phi Thea Kappa, a 2-year college high honors program. He was also a part of the National Community College Aerospace Scholarship Program, an elite group of students who were given the opportunity to participate in research, space rover robotic design, and mock missions. In fact, of the 6,000 applicants, only 200 were chosen nationwide.

“This opportunity was a result of my membership with Phi Theta Kappa,” he said. “The aerospace certificate is just one of the many opportunities that came as a result of my time at Moraine Park.”

There’s no denying that Cory worked hard at the College, and that was noticed by not only his instructors but also by a local employer, Wells Vehicle Electronics in Fond du Lac. Cory had uploaded his resume to Wisconsin Tech Connect, a statewide online employment tool for students and graduates of the Wisconsin Technical College System. It didn’t take long for Wells to find Cory’s resume, and he secured a job two months before graduation. When he graduated from Moraine Park in 2014, he was ready to work.

“I’m very fortunate to be at Wells,” Cory said. “I started working in product design and advanced to automation when I came back to Moraine Park in 2016.”

As a returning student, Cory understood the skills he needed to advance in his career, and that Moraine Park has the tools to help build them. This December he will graduate with his associate degree in electromechanical technology.

“I appreciate that Moraine Park teaches the skills that are needed to succeed in the field,” he said. “The classes are flexible, and they provide useful knowledge that prepares you for life after college.”

It’s clear that Cory sees the value in his education, and he has goals to continue in the future in both the Process Engineering Technology and Quality Assurance programs.

“Moraine Park helps to make the college journey an easy one,” he said. “I know that I will continue to have their support as I grow my career.”

High School students from West Bend East recently visited Moraine Park’s West Bend campus for some hands-on learning. The students are enrolled in dual credit classes, which qualify for Moraine Park college credits.

West Bend East technology education instructor, Jacob Gitter, brings the dual credit students four times a year to the CNC/ Tool and Die lab to learn from Moraine Park instructors on equipment found in the industry.

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Jerod Splan of Iron Ridge is a student unlike any other. He was born completely deaf, but it is clear that he has the determination to face any challenge on this path. As a student in the automotive program, Jerod has spent the past 2-years perfecting his life-long passion.

“I’ve been around cars all my life,” Jerod said. “My Dad and Grandfather both enjoy working on cars as a hobby. I knew from a young age that this was my life calling.”

Jerod is a 2008 graduate from Lomira High School, and after graduation, he enrolled at Moraine Park in the CNC/Tool & Die program at Moraine Park. He enjoyed the program, and learned a lot, but couldn’t deny that his mind always drifted to back to automotive. So, Jerod enrolled at Moraine Park again in 2016. He came into the program already familiar with cars and the automotive industry but was looking to build upon those skills.

“The program gives a good introduction to the industry,” he said. “I’ve learned the right way to do things and how to perform my job safely. My instructors Jim, Frank, Craig, and Tim are great. I’ve learned a lot.”

In fact, for the automotive instructors, Jerod was their first deaf student, offering learning opportunities all around, such as introducing deaf culture, visual aids, and supplying a videophone to call customers.

“Moraine Park has worked hard to accommodate my learning,” Jerod said. “I’ve had my interpreter, Tammy, by my side daily, and the learning is very visual. English is not my first language, American Sign Language (ASL) is, but I’ve found the transition to learning here to be very easy.”

There’s no denying that Moraine Park is working to fill employment gaps in the industry, but there is also an overall goal to make sure learning is possible for all who aspire to earn it. Of course, Jerod didn’t stop with just utilizing the classroom, he also involved himself in student life.

“Jerod has brought such a fun dynamic to the student life department,” Sam Saeger, student involvement specialist said. “He has made the most of his college experience by joining student senate, attending conferences, and being a part of the Automotive Club. ”

Jerod can be found around Fond du Lac’s campus, participating in activities or simply enjoying the company of his friends at the College.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting new people,” he said. “I’ve made some great friendships, and have been given opportunities to grow.”

Jerod will be graduating on May 18 with his automotive technician associate degree.

“I’m proud that I have faced the challenges,” Jerod said. “I could have been afraid or have hidden, but instead I embraced it. I have been given many opportunities and am happy with my experience at Moraine Park.”

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Congrats to Moraine Park’s nursing program on a HUGE accomplishment.

The College’s 2018 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Nursing pass scores raised from 96% to 99%!

What this means?

That 99% of Moraine Park Nursing students pass their NCLEX exam!

For comparison, the national pass rate average is 85%.

Congrats to the students and faculty for working hard to provide top-notch nurses ready to provide quality care in the field!

morainepark.edu/nursing

Moraine Park Technical College’s 2019 Retirement and Service Recognition event on Thursday, May 2, honored retirees and staff who have reached service anniversaries during the 2018-19 academic year.

“These individuals have been an essential part in the success of Moraine Park. They have benefited our organization and the communities that we serve,” said Bonnie Baerwald, president of Moraine Park. “This year we had 120 combined years of service from our retirees and 655 combined years from our staff members that received service recognition awards.”

In all, the College recognized six retirees and 62 staff members. The retirees include Pam Erickson of Fond du Lac, student support representative; Sandy Justman of Kewaskum, contract training operations manager; Jay Peartree of Oconomowoc, fire training instructor; Steve Reinke of West Bend, building and grounds maintenance worker; Jodie Schneider of Fond du Lac, executive assistant- president’s office; Terri Wilkens of Morrison, Ill., social science instructor.

Staff members recognized for years of service included Linda Harmsen of Waupun, 40 years; Sherry Hackbarth of Watertown, 30 years. Celebrating 25 years of service were Tammy Freund of North Fond du Lac, Bruce Hahn of Fond du Lac, and Mary Nyhouse of West Bend. Staff recognized for 20 years of service were Cynthia Bernhard of Campbellsport, James Hokenson of Slinger, Christine Kuhaupt of Kewaskum, Daurren McCarthy of Fond du Lac, Beth Mendoza of Combined Locks, Dee Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Tami Smith of Fond du Lac, and Debra Stoffel of West Bend.

Moraine Park also recognized 49 employees for service to the College at the 5-, 10-, and 15- year levels.

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

Being an adult student or making the decision to enroll in college isn’t easy. If any current Moraine Park student knows that, it’s Aurelio Rosas of Beaver Dam.  Aurelio came to Wisconsin from Crystal City, TX in 2013. As a divorced father of two, he was looking for an opportunity to provide a life for his children.

“I worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Texas,” he said. “I knew I wanted to further my education in healthcare, which is what brought me to Moraine Park.”

He found a home in Beaver Dam with his brother, Armando, and enrolled at Moraine Park. He decided to pursue both the medical assistant and medical office support Technical Degrees.

“I came to Moraine Park Technical College because I could obtain an affordable education in a short amount of time,” Aurelio said. “Also, the hands-on learning and one-on-one interaction with the instructors was important to me.”

Life settled into a routine pace for Aurelio until his brother tragically died of a drug overdose. As a result, Aurelio ended up homeless and living in his car. He briefly relocated to Milwaukee to live with his sister but could barely afford the gas to get to and from school. 

“It was a horrible time,” he said. “I wanted to give up, but I knew my children needed me to keep going.”

That’s when he connected with Karla Donohue, a counselor at Moraine Park’s Beaver Dam campus. Together, they were able to find immediate solutions to help him get to class.

“The College’s Foundation has emergency funding set aside to help students in situations just like Aurelio’s,” Karla said. “Once I met with him, we were able to work together to ease his life stresses so he could focus on his education and future.”

Moraine Park support services, like counseling, are always free to students.

“Connecting students to campus services helps to give students a sense of belonging, and they realize they aren’t alone,” Karla said. “I am impressed with Aurelio’s determination to overcome some major life barriers. He is a great example of strength.”

The determination that Aurelio demonstrates in his personal life is also brought into the classroom and on campus. For this reason, he was named as the 2018-19 Moraine Park District Student Ambassador for the Wisconsin Technical College System. This role requires the student to actively serve as a member of student government, advocate for Moraine Park and the Wisconsin Technical College System as a whole, assist with college activities and events, and represent the student body within the community. Aurelio’s tenure in this position will soon end, and his final assignment as the Moraine Park student ambassador is to serve as a student speaker at the 2019 commencement ceremony. 

“Aurelio is a great student and a deserving recipient of the Student Ambassador award,” Karla said. “Even more important, Aurelio is a great person. By nature, he is kind, compassionate, and relatable, which makes him a perfect fit for his selected career path.”

Aurelio took advantage of career laddering opportunities at the College. He is a three-time Moraine Park graduate, and holds a medical billing specialist certificate, technical diplomas in medical assistance and medical office specialist, and is working towards his medical office management associate’s degree. His overall goal is to become a registered nurse (RN).

“I enjoy working in my community,” Aurelio said. “I have the God-given gift of speaking Spanish, and it makes me feel good knowing that I can help with translations if need be. Overall, I just like caring for people, regardless of who are they are, and I hope to continue to do so for years to come.”

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

College isn’t one size fits all, and Tyler Duel of Van Dyne learned quickly that despite his path, Moraine Park was his fit all along.

As a 2014 graduate from North Fond du Lac, Tyler had every opportunity available to him. He had earned an impressive score of 33 on his ACT’s and easily got accepted into the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where his plan was to pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

“UW- Madison is wonderful, but early into my first semester I realized it wasn’t for me,” Tyler said. “I didn’t excel in the university setting, tuition was expensive, and honestly I wasn’t mature enough for that atmosphere.”

Tyler may not have felt mature enough for the university setting, but his actions following showed the opposite. He completed his year at the UW, moved back home, and began to explore his options locally.

“I originally thought a 4-year college was my only option for success,” Tyler said. “When I found Moraine Park I was hesitant. I didn’t know if the same career opportunities would be available for me.”

Despite his initial hesitations, he decided to enroll at Moraine Park in the Mechanical Design program.

“I easily adapted to the College,” he said. “My classrooms were set up like an industry, so what I was learning every day would easily transfer into a job setting.”

Tyler excelled at Moraine Park and in his program. He interned at BCI Burke in Fond du Lac, and prior to graduating in May 2018, he had three job offers from local industries on the table.

“Moraine Park prepared me all around,” Tyler said. “Not only did I learn about the industry and my career, but I received help on my resume, searching for jobs, and preparing for interviews. I felt ready and able to start my career.”

Today, Tyler is employed at Marchant Schmidt, Inc. in Fond du Lac as a mechanical designer. He has a steady career, very minimal school debt, and endless opportunities for growth- all before the age of 25. His goal is to continue his education so he can further his career.

“I love what I’m doing,” Tyler said. “I’m advancing in my field and enjoying my work. I’m glad I chose Moraine Park.”

Interviewing and accepting positions in local health care facilities prior to graduation. $2500-$3000 sign on bonuses. Say What???? Imagine all this being possible in 1 year!

The career opportunities of the Medical Assistant are trending in our area and they are looking for YOU! There are currently 130+ openings for Medical Assistants through our local health care facilities including Froedtert, Aurora, Agnesian, UW Health, and Beaver Dam Community Hospital.

What is a Medical Assistant, you ask? A medical assistant is an integral part of the health care team that supports the work of physicians and other health care providers in the clinic setting. They are able to support both the administrative and clinical aspects of the health care facility.

What do our Medical Assistants learn? Our students are taught administrative tasks such as scheduling, coding, and billing. They also get to perform hands on skills such as obtaining vital signs, assisting with procedures, drawing blood, giving injections, performing EKGs, and running various laboratory tests performed in the physician’s office.

At the West Bend Campus we are proud to offer a cohort model to provide an accelerated learning opportunity. Within a years’ time our students will complete their education and obtain a technical diploma as a medical assistant.

Want to learn more? We are offering an orientation to our program on the West Bend Campus on 5/16 from 9-1130am. If you want IN on this amazing opportunity please contact Moraine Park Advisor Marisa Arneson or Program Instructor Erika Herriges. We look forward to helping your achieve your goals!

Erika Herriges RN, BSN MA/MO Cohort Instructor West Bend Campus

eherriges@morainepark.edu

Marisa Arneson, MPTC Academic Advisor West Bend Campus

marneson@morainepark.edu

A total of 14 Moraine Park apprentices will benefit from the Tools of the Trade scholarship offered by Ascendium Education Group scholarship (formerly Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates).

Currently, both the construction and industrial trade industries have a high demand for skilled workers. An apprenticeship offers up to five years of real-world work experience while attending school, and businesses gain access to skilled workers with legitimate on-the-job experience. However, financial pressure can make it hard to complete an apprenticeship, and students are often juggling the demands of school, work, and family. Additionally, apprentices incur substantial costs beyond tuition, such as purchasing tools, clothing, and other supplies. The Tools of the Trade scholarship provides funding to help cover those expenses.

“Many students struggle to meet the financial obligations of their school commitments on top of their personal obligations,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president said. “We serve many first-generation, low-income students. This generous gift will certainly ease the burden and help them purchase the tools of their trade. My sincere appreciation to Ascendium Education Group for their interest in helping our apprentices succeed!”

The Moraine Park apprentices who received the 2019 Tools of the Trade scholarship are, Brock Ayers of West Bend, Austin Baumann of Rubicon, Nicholas Beine of Campbellsport, Aaron Brewer of Slinger, Jeremiah Cantrall of Fredonia, Jared Deming of Jackson, Joshua Frederick of Horicon, Kate Kilp of Milwaukee, Ethan Moldenhauer of West Bend, Daniel Reineke of Oostburg, Robert Riedijk of Milwaukee, Ripley Sartain of Port Washington, Taylor Schauer of Plymouth, and Erick Schmidt of Waupun.

Each student receives a total of $1,500 for the 2019-20 school year. A total of $298,500 in scholarships were awarded to 199 construction and industrial trades apprentices from 15 Wisconsin Technical College System institutions.

For more information on Moraine Park apprenticeship opportunities, visit morainepark.edu.