Did you know that October 23, 2019 was National “Imagine a Day Without Water” day?

With all these special days throughout the year we tend to lose track of all those important days. I personally like “pi day.” Some restaurants on “pi day,” which is March 14^th (3.14 or π), will give you a free piece of pie with an entree. That is pretty neat if you like pie, and I do fall into that group.

However, when we think about a day without water, there is really nothing fun about that at all. Having spent many days in that situation, I can state honestly that it is truly not fun. The longest time was after a typhoon that hit the island of Guam. We were prepared in that we had stored water, nonperishable food, and had water stored in two tubs. The 15 days seemed like an eternity, but imagine those experiencing these issues several times a month or more. Not all from storms, but from failed aged equipment, water shortages, dry wells, poor water quality, and other issues.

For many of us, we do not think about water until the faucet no longer has running water, but water is a key to healthy living, hygiene, proper waste water disposal in populated areas, and so much more.

At Moraine Park Technical College, our Water Quality Technology program, which is a two-year associates degree, covers some of these exact issues. It covers water supply, from the ground and surface. Courses include advanced subjects in water and wastewater, hydraulics, chemistry and management.

If you have interest in working in a field that is highly rewarding, has numerous employment opportunities here and abroad, and can also involves working in areas that need assistance with the supply of safe drinking water, then take a look at our program. Graduates and those holding degrees in this important area of expertise have obtained positions working for municipalities, States, Territories, the US Government, private companies, engineering firms, water parks, breweries, packaging plants, mills, consultants, non-profits, and many other positions in industry and water related areas.

The sky is the limit, the opportunity is here to be a part of something important. Imagine, a day without water. Maybe you can be a part of ending that type of real experience reflection for many people-here locally, or overseas.

Learn more about the water quality technology associate degree program here.

Moraine Park Technical College earned fourth place in Humana, Inc.’s Go365 National Step Challenge. Go365 is Humana’s health and wellness rewards program focused onimproving the fitness of employees from companies across the country. Moraine Park has been utilizing the Go365 wellness platform for three years as an employee benefits tool.

“We implemented Go365 in 2016,” Lori Schrage, benefits coordinator at Moraine Park said. “The tool not only encourages employees to be more active, it also provides rewards for doing so.”

The National Step Challenge is a competition in which employer groups with two or more Go365 members compete for the highest team average step count. All winning teams receive a donation to their local member food bank of Feeding America® in their name. 

As a result of Moraine Park’s efforts, they placed fourth earning 10,000 meals, which will benefit individuals in eastern Wisconsin and the MPTC district, through Feeding America.

The Challenge featured 2,939 competing organizations that collectively logged 10.6 B steps earning one million donated meals. 

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