Moraine Park’s Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program has been awarded accreditation for ten years. This is the maximum accreditation time frame that can be granted. This is a HUGE honor!
Moraine Park Technical College is committed to community engagement and student success. The College supports these commitments through the opportunity for students to participate in service learning and apply their classroom knowledge to an applicable, real world environment. Service learning is defined as a method of teaching characterized by student participation in an organized service project that meets an identified community need and is connected to course content/learning outcomes with structured reflection related to the service activity.
May 19 was a momentous day for the nearly 350 graduates who participated in Moraine Park Technical College’s commencement ceremony, held at the Fond du Lac High School Field House. In all, the College had nearly 800 graduate candidates eligible to receive their associate of applied science degrees and technical diplomas.
Keynote speaker, John Torinus Jr., praised students for their impeccable timing, stating that the job market is heavily looking for skilled and educated workers. He also impressed on the graduates to never stop learning and challenged them to always keep moving forward.
“To be adaptable, you will need to keep on learning. Your degree is a couple of steps toward first base, but there will be other bases to round, either at the same company or in a new career choice,” said Toriunus. “Learning is fun, it keeps us young in mind and at heart. I thoroughly believe that the day you stop learning, is the day that you start hearing harp music from afar. For that reason, I never intend to retire.”
Joseph Jaeger, a nursing graduate and Moraine Park’s 2017-18 Student of the Year, was the featured student speaker at the event. He also encouraged graduates to keep learning, and through telling his own story, reminded everyone that it’s never too late to go after your dream career.
“We work too long and too hard in this world to be doing something we don’t find joy in. Every day isn’t going to be great, but why not go to work with an honest smile on your face because you really don’t mind being there,” Jaeger said. “I have come to realize that if you want something bad enough, and are willing to dedicate the time and energy it takes, you really can accomplish anything. I urge everyone to dig deep and stop ignoring the truths you know about yourself. It’s never too late to find yourself. It’s never too late to try something new.”
Dr. James Eden, vice president of Academic Affairs, presided over the presentation of candidates with the conferring of degrees and diplomas done by Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald. Dr. Kristen Finnel, dean of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Fred Rice, dean of Applied Technology and Trades, announced the graduate candidates. From the Moraine Park District Board, Chairperson Mike Staral, Employee Member Cindy Fields and Additional Member Cindy Laubenstein recognized the graduates.
Staral, who welcomed the Class of 2018 and their guests to the ceremony, congratulated the graduates and their families on their accomplishments and encouraged them to keep moving forward.
“This ceremony is symbolic in many ways. It does mark the fulfillment of your commitment to earn a credential. It proves that the hard work, perseverance, and dedication has paid off. It does mean a lot to those who have supported you through this journey. They’re proud of you, and today is a celebration for them as well,” said Staral. “This ceremony does not end your education. Moving forward in your career means constant learning and growing. Work hard, be open, and embrace this! You’ll be surprised where it will take you!”
President Baerwald extended her congratulations to the graduates and extended her personal gratitude to the commencement speakers, Moraine Park District Board, Moraine Park faculty and the President’s Cabinet.
Moraine Park Technical College was established in 1912 and is one of 16 technical college districts that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System. With campuses in Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac, and West Bend, the College offers more than 100 associate of applied science degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeships and certificates delivered in a variety of formats — classroom, online and blended. Training and technical assistance for businesses are also offered.
To learn more about Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.
To view more photos from the 2018 Commencement Ceremony, go to facebook.com/moraineparktech.
Moraine Park students in the Electrical Club earn the top three spots in the Industrial Motor Controls category. Pictured left to right: Brandon Schuster of Horicon, second place; Evan Kehrmeyer of Mayville, first place; Nick Freres of Brookfield, third place.
Moraine Park Technical College students from both the CNC Tool and Die and Electricity clubs recently participated in the 2018 Wisconsin SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.
Moraine Park Technical College staff members, Michelle Duran and Bonnie Baerwald, were honored for their contributions to technical education during the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education’s (WACTE) annual conference held in Madison.
Aurelio Rosas celebrates his May, 2017 graduation with family.
Aurelio Rosas knew it was time for a change and found great value in Moraine Park Technical College’s Medical Assistant program. “I enrolled in Moraine Park Technical College’s medical programs because I could obtain an affordable and valuable education in a short amount of time. Also, the hands-on learning and the one-to-one interaction with my instructors at Moraine Park was very important and appealing to me. You get to know the instructor and the instructor gets to know you rather than a four-year college where you are with 40-plus students, which can make it difficult to get the instructor’s attention or help.”
Front Row: Heather Evenson, April Herrera, Kerry DeGroot, Anne Kallas, Dr. Marylou Mercado, Sandra Kirchner, Dr. Andrea Dobogai; Second Row: Michele Mengert, Heidi Martin, Mary Scheuermann, Kelly Shafaie, Chris Frederick; Third Row: Vicki Nelson, Cathy Bosch, Nikki Repp-Butzke, Barb Brown, Melissa Rodriguez, Danyel Giacomini; Fourth Row: Jamie Zwicky, Casey Truse, Karrie Bruegman-May, Heddy Pahnke, Kimberly Mueller, and Laura Glass. Missing from photo: Grace Rommelfanger.
The 2017-18 academic year is coming to a close for the Associate Degree Nursing Program at Moraine Park Technical College. The Nursing team held their final meeting on Friday, May 11, 2018, in Fond du Lac. They gathered for lunch prior to the meeting and shared all the great accomplishments that took place over the year. The team has much to celebrate!
Don Charleston is the epitome of a Moraine Park success story. He came to the College in 1973 looking for more career opportunities and a better life. At the time, his family was living on his wife’s $4 per hour nursing wage.
Sue Edminster, SSM Health, Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac Board member, presents the Commitment to Kids Award to MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald, Nursing Instructor April Herrera and Experiential Learning Coordinator Anne Lemke
“Congratulations Moraine Park Technical College on the 2018 Commitment to Kids Education Partner Award! As anyone who works in a non-profit organization knows, partnerships with other local organizations and businesses are what carry you through the good and bad times. The Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac has a great group of local supporters that have provided various levels of dedicated service to our organization. These organizations and individuals have donated their time, talents, and treasures for anything that we might need. Their willingness to offer their staff, programming, ideas, and financial support have been an invaluable resource for our organization. ”
Dan Hebel, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac
“Over 10 years ago, Mary Alsteens (MPTC retired nursing faculty) set up the partnership with the FDL Boys & Girls Club. It was set up for the accomplishment of the competency in the class Nursing Health Promotions of teaching at various developmental levels. Nursing students in second semester set up a time to teach children about a health topic the students choose. Examples of the topics have been dental hygiene, healthy eating, bullying, helmet safety, and many more. Students write up a paper discussing the teaching theory they used, how it went, and how they will use the experience to improve future education for children in their nursing role and present their experience to the class at the end of the semester. Boys & Girls Club kids from each site attend the presentations and bring thank you cards and pictures of their teaching day. Sometimes the Club kids write special notes and it is a very rewarding experience!”
April Herrera, MSN, RN, CPN, Moraine Park Nursing Instructor
“This spring semester several of our MPTC students in Cosmetology, Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Welding, Criminal Justice and IT programs, had the great opportunity to partner with FDL Boys & Girls Club to teach kids about careers. I believe Experiential Learning is a key element of a college education, enriching the student experience for greater academic and career success. This experiential service learning opportunity connected our students with a local non-profit partner, cultivating connections and collaboration, and serving community needs, while impacting individual student success.”
Anne Lemke, Experiential Learning Coordinator
To learn more about Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.
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