Moraine Park Technical College will again host Tech Knowledge College (TKC) this summer, a camp for students entering grades 6 to 8. This event gives participants an interactive look at the skills and careers needed today and in the future. Registration is now open for this annual three-day camp, held August 8-10, at Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus.

Get ready- Registration opens on January 2!

The 2023 sessions can be viewed here. The sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and early registration is encouraged.

The cost of TKC is $115 and includes a choice of two sessions, a t-shirt, and a morning snack and lunch each day.

About 2023

• More sessions to choose from!
• Bussing available from Beaver Dam and West Bend Campuses.
• Register early- sessions fill fast!
• After registration, visit the getting ready for camp link!

For full details, visit morainepark.edu/tkc.

December 16 is a momentous day for our fall 2022 graduates. For one student in particular, this day has been long-anticipated.

Colleen Hoth-Jaquet, of Horicon, started her journey into healthcare as a lifeguard when she was very young. Even after a knee injury and knowing healthcare requires standing for long periods of time, she still wanted to continue, but that was not the only obstacle she would face.

Growing up, Colleen never thought she was smart enough to pursue nursing, and she did not have the support to even consider the possibility. So, she found success doing other things. She became an art teacher for the Girls and Boy’s Club, worked in aquatics, and worked at a youth camp. Eventually, she came to Moraine Park to pursue the Medical Assistant program and began working as a LPN at Aurora Health in the Urgent Care unit. 

“I love helping people and showing them they have a support system in a place that can be really scary,” Hoth-Jaquet said. “I especially love working with kids and teaching them that being hurt is only temporary.”

In 2020, she returned to Moraine Park to pursue a degree in nursing. After graduation, she hopes to transition to an RN and eventually earn her bachelor’s degree.

“I want to show my kids that wherever they’re at in life, they can always achieve their goals,” Hoth-Jaquet said.

Congratulations to all of our fall 2022 graduates!

Earlier this week, Moraine Park first-year Culinary Arts students hosted their first public event–The Food Truck Challenge.

The students were tasked with creating their own food truck menu. There were five students participating. Moraine Park employees were invited to sample each vendor and leave a tip to vote for their favorite team.

The Culinary students selected their menus two weeks ago and had five hours to prepare their dishes.

The Food Truck Challenge winner was LuAnne Salmon, who made Szechuan chicken with spicy peanut sauce, fried rice, and Thai beef cucumber salad. LuAnne has always had a love for cooking and considered opening her own food truck 10 years ago. The items she made at the Food Truck Challenge were going to be on her menu. Although she never opened her food truck, she has had time to prepare the food to perfection.

The Food Truck Challenge participants and their dishes:

LuAnne Salmon, Asian theme: Szechuan chicken with spicy peanut sauce, fried rice, and Thai beef cucumber salad

Calesha Krenzke, Nigerian theme: Chicken and beef suya with a red cabbage side salad

Preston Schmuho, Spanish theme: Beef empanadas and two salsas

Mia Mihajlovic, Serbian theme: Gibanica (egg-based pastry), Cevaps (beef and pork meatballs), and Ajvar (red bell pepper and eggplant puree sauce)

Alex Kollaszar, comfort foods: Creamy sweet potato soup and panini with salami, hot ham, mozzarella, and a tomato-mayo sauce

For more information about Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program, visit morainepark.edu/academics/programs/culinary-arts/.