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!
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 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.
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.”
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.
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
Moraine Park
Technical College students have selected their 2019-2020 student government leadership
representatives to serve the Student Senate, District Student Government (DSG),
and Wisconsin Student Government (WSG).
Student Senate is a
local campus group that is open to the entire student population. This group
provides individualized attention to campus issues and activities. Each year,
members have the opportunity to vote for their peers to represent the College
in the leadership opportunities within the Student Senate, as well as the DSG
and WSG.
The DSG provides a forum to
share opinions on college issues and offers opportunities to get involved in
college life. Students work with each other, plan student development
opportunities, act as liaisons amongst the student body, and interact with
faculty and the administration in the promotion of student rights. The WSG
consists of student representatives from all 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges.
Their mission is to represent, promote, advocate and protect the interests of
the technical colleges and their students establish positive relationships with
state legislators in support of the needs and interests of WTCS students and
colleges, communicate relevant information to legislators at the state level,
and garner support for the WTCS.
The individuals
selected to represent the Moraine Park student government leadership roles for
Student Senate are Abby Muenchow of Horicon, Beaver Dam president; Koy Straks
of North Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam vice president; Caitlin Pieper of Burnett, Beaver
Dam secretary; Izzy Clark of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac president; Mollea
Greylord of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac vice president; Maurice Artiles of
Campbellsport, Fond du Lac secretary; Cortland Henning, Fond du Lac community
manager; Anthony Fiore of Waupun, West Bend president; Lauryn Slade of Hartford,
West Bend vice president; and Brisa
Vasquez of Allenton, West Bend secretary.
The students
selected to represent leadership roles for DSG are District Student Government,
and Wisconsin Student Government for 2019-20 are Koy Straks of North Fond du
Lac, President; Tom Martin of Fond du Lac, Vice President; Trina Anderson of
Fox Lake, Parliamentary; Nicole Nowicki of Burnett, Secretary.
Representing student
leadership roles for WSG are Queenie Weesen of Mequon, WSG governor; Barbara
Turner of Beaver Dam, WSG lt. governor.
For more information on Moraine Park’s student government offerings and opportunities, visit morainepark.edu.
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