Engaging with our communities is a Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) priority. That was evidenced as the College honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the College’s inaugural MLK Week of Service Literacy Project.

Throughout the week of January 20-24, more than 70 Moraine Park employees spread the joy of reading to elementary school students. Some read culturally responsive books to classrooms and individual students at three elementary schools — Chegwin in Fond du Lac, Green Tree in West Bend and Jefferson in Beaver Dam. Others personalized MPTC bookmarks to distribute to the schools’ nearly 1,000 students. Additionally, each school received more than 150 culturally responsive books for their libraries, thanks to donations from MPTC and Kiwanis of Fabulous FDL. What a great week it was!

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Congratulations to Moraine Park’s very own Pete Rettler on earning the Hometown Hero designation at the State Assembly Floor Session on January 22.

Pete was nominated by Representative Rick Gundrum for his selfless community efforts that span from volunteering to organizing his run event every year that raises funds for charity.

Pete’s most notable impact revolves around his 25 Runs of Gratitude event in 2018, which collectively raised $34,000 for the United Way of Washington County. To date, that is the largest donation they have received from an event like this. You can find more information on Pete’s 25 Runs of Gratitude here.

Most recently, Pete helped the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial raise $2,500 toward their efforts in building a memorial in Kewaskum.

Pete accepted his award with his son Max in attendance.

“I want to stress that I do not see myself as a hero. That title should be reserved for those that risk their lives every day,” Pete said. “ I am the one lucky enough to be here in Madison to receive this award, but I am merely a representative of a collection of friends, colleagues, and businesses that have donated to the year-end running event. Frankly, I’m just a guy with a streak that happens to throw a party at the end of every year. It’s the great people and businesses of Washington County that show up with their generous contributions. For that, I am incredibly thankful.”

Congratulations again to Pete for his continued efforts. This award is very well deserved!

You can watch his speech here (which begins around at the 12-minute mark).

Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial and Education Center, will host a 9-11 Lecture series every Thursday in February, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The events are free and will be held at the College’s West Bend Campus, 2151 N Main Street.

The lecture series will feature Mike Nichols, author of a Few Sleeps Away, on February 6; Secretary Mary Kolar, Wisconsin Dept. of Veterans Affairs, speaking on societal changes since 9-11, on February 13; Charlie Vitchers, foreman at Ground Zero, on February 20; and, Gordon Haberman, father of 9-11 victim Andrea Haberman, on February 27.

The purpose of the series is to bring continued awareness to the 9-11 Memorial efforts in Wisconsin through accounts of personal stories and the building of a memorial in Kewaskum. Current Moraine Park students are working with the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial and Education Center to offer assistance in some areas of the project. Refreshments will be provided.

This event is made possible thanks to generous donations from Dunn Brothers Coffee, MCR Services, LLC, Property Loss Management, LLC, The Candyman on Main, and Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center.

Seating is limited, and registration is required. The event will also be available on a live stream format. For more information on the event, the live stream, or to register, visit morainepark.edu/lecture.

The fall/winter 2019 NEXT magazine is filled with student, alumni, and faculty stories.

You can find the magazine throughout all of the Moraine Park campuses, or you can view the online version here.

The Moraine Park NEXT magazine is released twice a year. Please send story suggestions to khaensgen2@morainepark.edu.

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

The Moraine Park Foundation will be able to award 15 students with one-time scholarships thanks to the success of The Ledge Games 2019, which raised $7,500.

This family-friendly competition held in Eden challenges participants in a series of lumberjack activities such as caber toss, hammer toss, archery, keg toss, speed chop, and axe throw. One hundred percent of event proceeds support The Ledge Games scholarship, established through the Moraine Park Foundation, which focuses on engineering, manufacturing, and technology programs at Moraine Park. The event is co-founded by Josh Michels, of Fond du Lac and Tyler Oestreich, of Eden.

“It is an honor to have the support from this popular community event,” Dana Bourland, director of college advancement at Moraine Park said. “Their contributions directly benefit our local manufacturing economy, and our students have a greater opportunity for success thanks to their generosity.”

Students enrolling in engineering, manufacturing, or technology for the 2020-21 school year will be eligible to apply for this scholarship in February 2020. To be considered for a Foundation scholarship, students must have a Moraine Park Technical College cumulative or high school GPA of 2.75 or higher and enroll in a minimum of six credits per semester. For more information, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

Fall/Winter 2019 NEXT Magazine Feature Story

It’s no secret manufacturing facilities look much different today than they did ten years ago. The industry is producing more and at a faster rate. To meet production demands, companies now use advanced technology and require employees with a higher skill level.

Steve Henderleiter, a welding instructor at Moraine Park, is working to meet industry needs by educating students to utilize their strengths in the field.

“The industry has changed drastically over the years,” Steve said. “When I first started my career, the technology wasn’t nearly as advanced, and the diversity on the job was minimal. Females, my students in particular, offer a different and beneficial skill set to the welding profession. Mix that with the ever-evolving technology, and we have a fully collaborative and more effective welding lab.”

Today, women represent nearly one-third of the welding workforce, and this year, Steve has three female welders in his class. Mackenzie Markus, of West Bend; Kayli Mildbrandt, of West Bend; and Emma Parins, of Port Washington.

The three women are a dynamic trio, utilizing each other for support and camaraderie in the welding lab.

“There are more males in the class, but that doesn’t intimidate me,” Mackenzie said. “We are all very strong personalities, and we support each other. ”

All three women took advantage of tech-ed opportunities before coming to Moraine Park, preparing them to lead the way in their tech school classrooms.

“I was introduced to manufacturing in middle school,” Emma, a 2019 Grafton High School grad, said. “I was able to build upon those interests in high school. I enjoyed it, especially welding. I knew I would follow this career path.”

Emma suffers from an enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) that affects her hearing. She is deaf in her left ear and will soon be completely deaf. However, she finds comfort in knowing she will still have the ability to excel in her career.

“I don’t need my hearing to be a good welder,” Emma said. “It will be a transition, but I know American Sign Language and English Sign Language, and I trust that I will be able to communicate and grow in the field.”

In the classroom, the women enjoy having the mixed-gender dynamic and it often turns into a competitive challenge.

“This isn’t just a man’s job,” Mackenzie said. “I’m a good welder, and being in this program brings out my competitive nature. I want to do better than the men, and in most cases, I do.”

Due to the need for skilled workers, many of Steve’s welding students will have job opportunities available to them before graduation.

“The joy of this field is my pay is dependent on my skill, not my gender,” Mackenzie said. “The better I am, the more potential I have. So, there is a chance I could make more than a man in my field, which is almost unheard of elsewhere.”

The average entry-level salary for a welder in Wisconsin is *$39,100.
Mackenzie, Kayli and Emma say they have never felt out of place at Moraine Park.

“Everyone has been so welcoming,” Kayli said. “Steve is the best instructor. I look forward to his classes.”

Their welding classes are held at Moraine Park’s regional center in Jackson.

“Steve treats us as an equal,” Emma said. “In this program, we have the same opportunity as anyone to excel in our skills.”

Mackenzie will graduate in May 2020 and has goals to obtain a degree in criminal justice, with overall hopes to be in the FBI. Emma and Kayli are scheduled to graduate in 2021. Emma plans to remain in the field, and Kayli has aspirations to follow in her grandfather’s footprints and enlist in the Navy. Her overall goal is to serve as an underwater welder.

Welding is just one area of manufacturing. The College also offers programs for CNC/Tool and Die, Electromechanical Technology, Fabrication Technologies and Industrial Mechanical Technician.

“My advice to any young women looking at the manufacturing field is to just go for it,” Kayli said. “Don’t let anyone deter you from your dreams and don’t limit yourself. There are so many opportunities to grow.”

**Fall/Winter 2019 NEXT Magazine feature story. Read the entire issue here.

The Beaver Dam Welding Club donated their time and club resources for the Christmas in a Shoe Box event coming up on November 13th for our troops overseas.

Thanks Beaver Dam Welding Club for your support!

Moraine Park Technical College has earned the eleventh spot on the “Military Times Best: Colleges 2020” rankings. This honor recognizes career and technical colleges for their commitment to educating and providing opportunities to America’s veterans.

Moraine Park has made this list for the last five years and serves as the only technical college in Wisconsin to earn a place on this list. The Military Times surveys colleges and universities on an annual basis requesting documentation on services, special rules, accommodations, financial incentives, and student services that are offered to veterans and their families. There were nearly 500 survey entries for the Military Times Best College’s ranking, and less than half earned a spot on this list.

“The College is committed to making sure every veteran who steps onto our campuses are provided everything they need to be successful,” Steve Pepper, student veteran specialist said. “I truly believe having someone our veteran students can turn to who can speak their language or understand some of their frustrations is important to their college experience and overall success.”

Moraine Park offers many programs that qualify under Veteran Administration (VA) benefits, with flexible scheduling options. The College is continuously working to maintain a culture that supports the challenges that veterans may encounter.

“This recognition validates the proactive work that Moraine Park has been doing,” Lt. Col. Scott Lieburn, U.S. Air Force, and dean of students at Moraine Park said. “As a veteran myself, I am proud of Moraine Park for making it a priority to educate and provide opportunities to our local veterans, service members, and their families.”

The “Military Times Best” ranking is published in the Military Times magazine and is available to subscribers, as well as online at MilitaryTimes.com and other affiliated websites. For more information about Moraine Park’s Veterans Services, visit morainepark.edu/veterans.

Moraine Park Technical College’s nursing program earned an eight-year accreditation status, the maximum time frame that can be granted.

The Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) completed an on-site visit in February of 2019, and the College was notified of their award on October 15, 2019.

To earn this accreditation, Moraine Park had to meet the standards set by the ACEN and demonstrate compliance by having policies that support the College and mission, students, faculty, curriculum, resources, and outcomes.

“We are extremely proud that Moraine Park’s nursing program has achieved the highest level of accreditation possible,” Kelly Shafaie, associate dean of nursing at Moraine Park, said. “Earning this accreditation means our students are receiving an exceptional education in nursing. We are grateful for our communities and their continued support that promotes the success of our program.”

In 2018, Moraine Park’s nursing program pass rates were an impressive 99 percent, and currently, the program ranks in the top 10 for nursing programs in Wisconsin. For more information on Moraine Park’s nursing program, visit morainepark.edu/nursing