We don’t often stop to think about where chocolate comes from, nor do we think about the farmers that grow and harvest cocoa beans to make the chocolate that we enjoy. The health news on chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is quite positive, and allows some guilt-free pleasure, after all! But not all chocolate is created equal, and educating students and staff about the differences in cocoa (also called cacao) bean farming was the end goal of the Fair Trade My Valentine event held on February 13th on all Moraine Park Technical College campuses. Continue reading

As a Transition Specialist at Moraine Park Technical College, I often help GED/HSED students transition into programs, making sure students are connected with outside community resources they may require, and assisting students in navigating the many amazing resources MTPC has to offer. I encourage potential students to take the leap to being a college student, and the enormity of that decision is not lost on me.

At times we all need to be encouraged to leap into uncharted territory. It helps us to grow as humans–to gain insight about ourselves and the world, and helps us realize our untapped potential. A student’s leap into college has some similarities to my own personal journey to becoming a relay runner for the nonprofit MS Run the US.  It’s a longer story, but here’s hoping you find it interesting and relevant….

When my good friend Amy Van Dyke asked me if I’d be interested in running six consecutive marathons while sipping Starbucks in early June of 2014, I flat out told her no. It wasn’t physically possible for me, I was sure of it.

She wasn’t convinced, and kept telling me that she could see my potential. She had run many miles for the nonprofit MS Run the US, once running across the entire state of Colorado–13 consecutive marathons. It was inconceivable to me, but I had run many of her longer training miles with her, so she thought I could do it–with training. Over months, her persistence and belief won me over, and I very reluctantly agreed. I had never run a marathon before, and I was pretty injured with a SI joint sprain that was constantly aggravated because I didn’t take the necessary time to rest. Continue reading

Sarai Picazo-Cruz has a champion’s heart with big dreams, though it may take some time to realize that given her gentle and quiet demeanor.  Continue reading

As you may already know, the big Career Showcase event is coming up on each Moraine Park Technical College campus on October 11th (West Bend), October 12th (Fond du Lac) and October 13th (Beaver Dam). This is an excellent opportunity to tour the campus, labs, and classrooms, and meet instructors and students. You will also be able to gather information about the various programs of study, college resources, student life, and support systems available to help you to be a successful student.

But what you may not know is there’s a special “On Ramp” session leading up to these big events as well – one that can help you visualize your road to success! Continue reading

Transition and change are a part of college life, for sure. The transition to college can involve changes to your life flow, your work schedule, your family’s life, your finances, and much more. Navigating the campus resources can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone! Continue reading

My name is Melissa Schmidt. I’m a Transition Specialist at Moraine Park Technical College, which means I’ll be helping students move from their GED/HSED into programs, and also helping dual credit high school students move into programs. I’m also encouraging and helping students who may have been part of a certificate program or technical diploma transition into an AAS degree. I offer that extra bit of time and attention that some students may require to navigate resources our College has to offer so that they may be successful.

Speaking of attention …

March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, and this topic has a lot of personal meaning to me.

In fact, I’m soon going to be running 152 miles in six days (think six consecutive marathons!) for this important cause. Yes, 152 miles!

You’re probably wondering two things: “Why?” and “How!?”

Well, I’m here to tell you, and, I hope you’ll be inspired to help those battling MS in your own way, too! Continue reading