Moraine Park and Kreilkamp celebrated their first graduating class of truck drivers through the Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy yesterday, April 13 on the West Bend Campus.

The Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy is an eight-week program taught by two Moraine Park instructors. Cohorts run every eight weeks with 12-15 students in each session. After completion, the students are guaranteed full-time employment with Kreilkamp Trucking.

“It took a community to bring this together in less than a year’s time,” JoAnn Hall, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Moraine Park, said. “We are very excited to celebrate our inaugural class and the progress these students have made.”

The 12 graduating students (see below) were each presented with their certificates and keys to their trucks. After the completion ceremony, the students drove their convoy of trucks from Moraine Park’s West Bend Campus to Kreilkamp Trucking in Allenton, WI.

“This certificate isn’t just a piece of paper,” Vinice Savage, a Moraine Park Truck Driving Academy student, said. “This is an opportunity–a career. A new door is opening for me. The road may be long and windy, and I’m not sure where I’ll end up, but right now I am proud to say I am a Kreilkamp employee.”

The graduating students were Sarah Boese, John Brown, Jacqueline Fischer, Blake Hahn, Paul Lindl, KaNesha McGee, Bradley Miedke, Chris O’Brien, Bryan Ozuna, Luis Sandoval, Vinice Savage and Shane Werbelow.

Learn more about the Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy.

View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKDos.

Moraine Park Technical College has named Ryan Riley, of Oshkosh, their 2022 Student of the Year. 

Riley, a student in the Electrical Power Distribution program, came back to Moraine Park after completing the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)/Tool and Die Technology program in 2009. 

“I really like working in the trades, and after working as a CNC machinist for over 10 years, I wanted a change and more opportunity for my family,” Riley said. “I was always interested in electricity, so I decided to come back to Moraine Park, and I started my program in 2021.” 

Riley will graduate from the EPD program on May 21 and will speak at both the Student Awards Banquet and Moraine Park’s Commencement Ceremony. 

It is because of his dedication, humility and authenticity that Riley earned a nomination for the Student of the Year award. 

“Being nominated for Student of the Year was very unexpected,” he said. “It was not on my radar or anything I was expecting to get. I know there are so many other great students, so it’s really an honor to be chosen.”

Criteria for Student of the Year nominations include demonstrating excellence in and out of the classroom while modeling Moraine Park’s core abilities to communicate clearly, act responsibly, work productively, think critically and creatively, adapt to change, demonstrate integrity, and work cooperatively. There were five candidates this year, all of whom excel both academically and in their service-learning. There are very few student honors that exceed this award at Moraine Park, and to even be nominated is a tremendous accomplishment. Other nominees include Diego Barragan of Sun Prairie, Collin Sauer of Oconomowoc, Mina Vang-Xiong of Fond du Lac, and Haley Van Raden of West Bend.  

Riley will receive his award at the Student Awards Banquet on May 13. 

“I’m hoping to leave a positive message with the other students,” he said. “I’m probably a decade older than anyone in the program, and I want to show them that it’s okay to run your own race. Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to what everyone else is doing. I’m 32 and just went back to college. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. Just do you.” 

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

Moraine Park Information Technology student, Tim Reynolds of Van Dyne, has been named a 2022 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“The Coca-Cola scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

“This scholarship is going to help pay for school, because I cannot afford it on my own,” Reynolds said. “I have been putting in a lot of hard work, and one of my biggest accomplishments is being part of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. I hope that I have inspired my peers to work hard and put their best foot forward.”

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, to be held in Denver, Colorado, April 7-9.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, said. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are highlighting Moraine Park HVAC student, Aspyn Koslowski of West Bend. Koslowski found Moraine Park through her passion for robotics and engineering. She is in her first year and has already become a leader on campus.

Koslowski attended the University School of Milwaukee where she was captain of the robotics team for two years, leading the team to several championships. Through this role, she was inspired to pursue a trade.

“I originally wanted to go to a university for engineering, but I was not impressed with the programs and really wanted a hands-on experience,” Koslowski said. “My time on my high school’s robotics team taught me a lot about wiring and I really loved it. I chose MPTC’s HVAC program because of the mechanical and electrical engineering aspect, and it really encompassed everything I wanted to do.”

She decided to join Moraine Park’s West Bend Student Senate to try something new and get involved on campus. Since joining, Koslowski was elected president and has excelled as a leader on campus, enacting change and creating community.

“My main goal as President of West Bend’s Student Senate is to help make this place feel like a home for people,” Koslowski said. “The world right now isn’t exactly the most peaceful place, and there is a lot of uncertainty. I just want people to feel like they can come to campus and have a positive experience that they look forward to.”

Outside of her courses and extracurriculars, Koslowski works as a small engine mechanic at Barton Small Engine in West Bend. Recently, she used her coursework to fix a seemingly unfixable torpedo heater, impressing her boss and peers.

“To any woman who is nervous about entering a male-dominated field like HVAC, you can absolutely do it,” Koslowski said. “If you are confident in yourself and in your craft, that is worth more than anyone else’s opinion about what you can or cannot be. People can underestimate me all they want, but I am confident in what I can do, I know I can do it well, and I let my work speak for itself.”

Amanda Berndt of Columbus graduated from Moraine Park’s Leadership and Organizational Development program just three months ago in December 2021. Since then, she has received two promotions and entered a leadership role at Columbus Chemical.

“My time at Moraine Park provided me with the connections, experience, confidence, and shared support that I needed to succeed in my career,” Berndt said. “Instructor Mary Vogl-Rauscher is great at incorporating real-life scenarios into the course work. Her lessons helped me get to where I am today.”

Berndt started at Columbus Chemical working in production. After earning her degree, she went from Warehouse Lead to Warehouse Supervisor and has now taken on a dual role in the purchasing department.

She chose Moraine Park’s Leadership and Organizational Development program because her goal was to gain confidence as a leader to further her career, which she has since met with flying colors.

“If I have any advice to students who will soon be entering the workforce, it is to utilize their instructors, never be afraid to ask questions and be honest with the goals you set for yourself,” Berndt said.

The Leadership and Organizational Development associate degree program prepares new and current supervisors to meet the demands of a changing workplace as they learn how to become better leaders. Learn more about the program at morainepark.edu/academics/programs/leadership-and-organizational-development/.

There are many advantages to receiving technical education, including lower tuition, smaller class size, greater flexibility, and a shorter time commitment. In celebration of #CareerTechEd Month this February, join us in recognizing the value of career and technical education for our students, the future workforce and our economy. Keep reading to learn about why our students chose MPTC and a technical education.

Marisa Behlke, Surgical Technology

“After high school, I attended a university but ended up transferring to Moraine Park because I wanted a more hands-on career, and the surgical tech program had a lot to offer,” Marisa said.

Izak Gruber, Gas Utility Construction and Service

“I wanted to go to a technical college because you get more of an open schedule, and I didn’t want to commit four years of my life to learning,” Izak said. “Moraine Park seemed more appealing to me. I liked the idea of having more opportunity and fewer restrictions.”

Sydney Skindzelewski, Early Childhood Education

“I love Moraine Park because of the smaller class size,” Sydney said. “I transferred from a university, and I’m glad I did. There is more one-on-one attention here and you can tell the instructors really care about your success.”

Zachary Prator, Welding Bootcamp

“The Welding Bootcamp was exactly what I needed,” Zach said. “It’s quick, and I can begin working in my trade right away. Plus, the instructors here not only teach you course material, but they have also taught me meaningful life lessons and made me a better person.”

Mailia Bachleitner, Information Technology

“I came to Moraine Park because I want to further my education, and I heard that technical colleges are flexible and more affordable,” Mailia said.

Written by Kathy Mueller, Moraine Park Adult Education Instructor

At this time of very low unemployment and a major shortage of workers, many adults who didn’t complete high school wonder why they would go back to earn a high school credential. They can often get a job pretty easily anywhere they want to work. That might be true for getting their foot in the door of a company. However, many are learning that if they want to earn more and move up in their companies, they still have to get a high school credential. One of my students did just that.

Time for a Change

Lester was my former student at the Beaver Dam Student Success Center at Moraine Park Technical College. He worked for about 30 years at his company, but without a high school diploma, he was never able to move to a higher-level position or substantially increase his pay. Lester was not only ready to earn his high school diploma to make an upward move at his company, but he also wanted to show his son that a high school diploma was important enough to be worth the hard work he would have to put in to earn it.

Heading Back to School

Lester was like so many other returning adults. He wasn’t very comfortable when he first started, and he was pretty unsure of his skills. One thing he had in his favor was his willingness to work as much as it took to understand the materials. Today we call that grit, and he is full of grit! Lester was able to get through Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies pretty quickly with relative ease. But math? That was a different story. Lester studied math for months. Months turned into years. Every spring, summer, and fall semester for three entire years! In May of 2018, he finished. I was so happy for him. We were all very excited when he and his son got their high school diplomas at the same time.

An Awesome New Opportunity

Lester has kept in touch with me since he graduated. He contacts me on every holiday and sometimes in between to update me about himself and his family. In the Spring of 2021, he told me a position opened up at his workplace. He was nervous but excited about the possibility of making a change at work. Lester knew his High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) made him eligible for this new opportunity. I was very excited when he notified me of his promotion to Warehouse Dock Lead Supervisor position. What great recognition of all the loyalty and hard work Lester gave his company for so many years!

The Diploma Changed His Life!

Last week Lester texted me between holidays. He wanted me to know that since he earned his diploma three and a half years ago, great things happened. He earned a promotion to Warehouse Dock Lead Supervisor. Because he just received a raise, he is now making over $5 an hour more than he had been making without his HSED. We joked about him using all the extra money he was making now to help pay for his son’s college tuition. Lester thanked me for my help in pushing him to keep going. I can’t help but think I should be thanking him for getting to work with an awesome student like him. All I can say is that Lester exemplifies all the reasons a person would want to earn a high school credential. Look at the success all the hard work and grit has brought him!

Moraine Park’s Adult Education opportunities serve adults ages 18-65+ who are seeking to improve their academic skills to obtain or improve their employment, earn a high school credential (GED/HSED), and prepare for college. Students may also work to improve their English language skills and get assistance with their college courses. Learn more about Moraine Park’s Adult Education programs at www.morainepark.edu/academics/ged-and-adult-education/.

Moraine Park scored in the top quartile of midsize employers who participated in Gallagher’s 2021 Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey. The College was recognized as an organization that provides innovative solutions for creating organizational structures, workplace policies, and total rewards, which inclusively engages and motivates its employees.

Moraine Park was assigned points based on performances in:

• Planning horizons for the benefits and compensation strategies
• Extent of their wellbeing strategy
• Turnover rate for full-time equivalents (FTEs)
• Completion of a workforce engagement survey
• Use of an HR technology strategy and its level of sophistication
• Health plan premium increases or decreases at the most recent renewal
• Use of a communication strategy

“Moraine Park Technical College takes a proactive and structured approach to planning, developing and implementing comprehensive benefits and HR programs,” CEO of Gallagher’s Benefits & HR Consulting Division, William F. Ziebell, said. “In doing so, they are able to develop a winning formula to attract, reward and retain the right talent and position the company as a destination employer.”

About Gallagher

Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 68 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

About the Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis

Gallagher’s Best-in-Class Benchmarking Analysis profiles statistically significant attributes of top-performing midsize (100-999 FTEs) and large employers (1,000 or more FTEs). Data from Gallagher’s 2021 Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey was interpreted to identify participants that excel in optimizing employee and organizational wellbeing.

Moraine Park Technical College Nursing student, Carrie Kuehn of Beaver Dam, received the College’s first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Beaver Dam campus Pinning Ceremony.

The award was created to recognize and celebrate nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families. The DAISY Foundation hopes that this program will inspire and motivate students to provide the best clinical skills possible and to impact patients and families with human spirit and kindness.

Kuehn was nominated by a fellow Moraine Park Nursing student, Shane Keck.

“Carrie is an inspiration at clinical,” Keck said. “She is such a professional and so quick at clinicals that we all marvel at her competency. She’s also unbelievably kind and picks others up when they’re down and struggling. Carrie is a phenomenal leader and I truly believe she’ll be a shining star of an RN someday soon.” 

Kuehn, a fourth-semester student, was chosen through a blind selection process by Moraine Park’s DAISY committee made up of three Moraine Park representatives and one advisory member. Nominations for the award can come from any patient, staff nurse, fellow students, faculty or member of the community that the student has positively impacted.

“I had no idea I would be receiving this award,” Kuehn said. ‘It came as a complete surprise, and I am honored to have even been nominated. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a child, so the recognition means everything to me.”

Read more about the DAISY Award at Moraine Park.