!Hola!: “O-la” Means “hello” in Spanish.

Meet our English student Eliud Justo. Eliud is from Ixtapaluca, Mexico. He has been living in the United States for seven years.  In Mexico, Eliud worked for Coca-Cola for over 25 years. Here in the United States, Eliud works for the Elbe family at the Golden E dairy farm helping with the milking process.

He has been working on the same farm for the past seven years. Throughout the day, Eliud helps to milk 2,500 cows. That’s a lot of milk! Eliud lives in Fredonia, Wisconsin, and often makes trips to visit family in Sheboygan and Milwaukee. He enjoys eating seafood and highly recommends Tsunami in downtown Milwaukee.  

Eliud has been taking English classes here at Moraine Park for two years. In his job, many people speak Spanish.  He wants to learn English so that he can better communicate with people outside of work and hopes to teach English to others when he retires and moves back to Mexico. He is always encouraging his coworkers to try English classes and to embrace the language.  

If you are interested in classes, please reach out to Tony Rodriguez at 920-887-4496 or 262-306-5302 arodriquez@morainepark.edu (West Bend and Beaver Dam) or Becky Melo 920-924-6339 rmeloenriquez@morainepark.edu (Fond du Lac).

Justine’s mom wanted her to earn a diploma- she was Justine’s biggest supporter and best friend.

Justine was working toward earning her HSED in the 5.09 program, an option from the state of Wisconsin that allows a student to earn a high school diploma without taking the timed tests. Instead, students work through each competency in the curriculum at their own pace. There are no deadlines or due dates.

Justine was not in good health. She experienced many health concerns and underwent a surgery during the pandemic that did not work. It was very frustrating to have to go through doctor visits and surgery without a support system and then to receive no relief from her pain felt overwhelming. There were extra hoops to jump through because of COVID. Family had to drop her and leave.

Justine worked in a medical health facility and lost her job during the pandemic. Everything was so much harder without an income. Trying to find a job in pandemic circumstances was very difficult.

Her mom had been sick for awhile and passed away as the fall semester was beginning. She was worried she would not be able to finish her goal of earning her diploma. Then her stepdad passed away unexpectedly, too! Justine was devastated! How would she go on without her mom? She was the one that supported Justine the most. It seemed like an impossibility. She was thrown into a world of estates and moving her family’s belonging while mourning her losses. It was difficult to mourn her family properly with social gathering restrictions and everyone so fearful of being in groups.

But Justine came to class whenever she could even if she wasn’t feeling well. She was also a role model to other students. She was kind to them and helped them with their problems and even their homework. They looked up to her. She kept trudging forward, motivated by the knowledge her mother wanted her to take this step. She was doing it in her mother’s memory, no matter how difficult it was.

Justine graduated last month. When her instructor told her she was done, she was incredulous. She couldn’t believe she had made her dream come true. She had been trudging for so long she lost site of where she was on the journey. It was bittersweet without her mom. She couldn’t share in person the joy of her achievement but she knew she honored her mother by graduating.

Next Thursday, Justine will attend her graduation ceremony. Her children and her boyfriend, Mike, will be watching the event live-streamed. Just like during the rest of her journey, she will walk the last bit by herself. But everyone who loves Justine will be watching and celebrating her success with her, including her mom! She is a graduation speaker at this year’s ceremony. She will dedicate her speech to her mom, telling her mom, “This one’s for you!”

If you, or someone you know, is interested in this alternative to earning a GED or HSED, visit morainepark.edu/ged-hsed/ for more information.

สวัสดี : “S̄wạs̄dī” means “hello” in Thailand!

Meet our English student Suchanat Buckman, known by many as “Kate”.  She is from Roi Et, Thailand and has been living in Wisconsin for a little over 2 years.  In Thailand, Kate worked in jewelry design and designed both her and her husband’s wedding bands.  She is a very talented seamstress as well.  During the pandemic, she has been designing, creating, and selling beautiful fabric masks.  What an entrepreneur!  

Kate recently started a job working at Goodwill Industries pricing clothing.  Her coworkers and managers love her friendly and positive attitude.  In April, she was awarded with Employee of The Month.  Way to go Kate!

Kate  is an ELL student here at Moraine Park.  She has been taking classes here since May of 2019.  Kate also participated in computer classes in our Student Success Center (SSC) with Shannon Huberty.  Using the skills and language learned from these classes, we were able to help Kate apply and interview for her job.  

If you are interested in classes, please reach out to Tony Rodriguez at 920-887-4496 or 262-306-5302 arodriquez@morainepark.edu (West Bend and Beaver Dam) or Becky Melo 920-924-6339 rmeloenriquez@morainepark.edu (Fond du Lac).

Happy spring, and congratulations to all students receiving a GED or HSED this year. On May 27, we’ll be celebrating all the graduates from this year and last, so look for your invitation and join us on the 27^th!

Each year, students work hard to complete their GED/HSED requirements, and every student comes with a story of how they came to Moraine Park Technical College. Many also have a clear plan for what they want to do next, whether it’s to get a great job or pursue further education. One such student is Ariel Baute, who chose a different path.

Ariel came to MPTC last fall, with a determination to earn his HSED and move on to his next goal of joining the army. He did just that, earning his HSED in January, but Ariel will miss the graduation ceremony because he is currently doing his basic training in Georgia. His plan is to continue with advanced training to become a member of 19 Delta Airborne, where he’ll be a Cavalry scout and paratrooper.

Ariel hasn’t chosen the easiest path, but we’re sure he will approach it with the same grit and determination he did his HSED. We wish him every success in his service to the country. Thank you, Ariel!

For more information about the GED program or this year’s graduation ceremony, call Ann at 920-924-6393.

Photo: Ariel Baute of Fond du Lac, with Deb Schuh, Fdl Instructor

The Moraine Park Foundation has a scholarship available for students who complete the Moraine Park GED program and are enrolled at the College for the fall 2021 semester. Two $800 scholarships will be awarded, and entries are due by May 16.

Details are listed below.

Requirements:

• Must have completed a GED/HSED at Moraine Park Technical College (this includes spring 2021 graduates).
• Must be enrolled or plan to enroll in a minimum of 6 credits for fall semester 2021.
• Must maintain a 2.75 GPA (will be checked before spring semester 2022) to receive 2^nd half of scholarship award.

Application Information:

• Applications can be completed at www.morainepark.edu/scholarships.  Click on Foundation Scholarships to access the correct application.
• Answer YES to the following question on page 2 of the application: 

“Have you received a GED/HSED from Moraine Park Technical College or are you in the process of receiving a GED/HSED from Moraine Park Technical College?”

• In order to be eligible for the GED Completer Scholarship, applications must be received no later than May 16, 2021.
• Two letters of recommendation are requested as part of your application. Requests are automatically sent to the recommenders listed on your application (you just need to provide their email address).  Please give recommenders plenty of time to complete the recommendation.
• By applying for the GED Completer Scholarship, you are eligible for ALL other Moraine Park Foundation Scholarships for 2021-2022
• Need assistance completing your application? Please call Joan at (920) 924-3281 to schedule a time to work on your application together.

TTY/VP: Use Relay/VRS

Moraine Park Technical College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action College. Women, minorities, those with different abilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit morainepark.edu/nondiscrimination.

Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with the Specialty Cheese Co., worked to develop a training to benefit employees. Harley Lemkuil, Training Specialist at Specialty Cheese identified a need for English Language Learning (ELL) classes and began seeking out options in 2019. 

“At Specialty Cheese, we treat language skills like any other skill that an employee may possess,” Lemkuil said. “We know that language can be a barrier to personal growth- and lack of personal growth affects company growth. We want our employees to succeed and helping them to build English speaking skills is one way to do that.” 

Lemkuil worked directly with supervisors to identify employees whose English skills were at a point where they could communicate at work but in a limited fashion. Employees could participate if they wished, but the training was not mandated. Once participants were identified, they assessed everyone by asking a series of questions and ensuring that participants were comfortable through the process. Lemkuil then took the data he gathered from employees and worked with Moraine Park’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) department to develop an ELL training plan.  

“Moraine Park helped provide good insight into the different learning styles and were very flexible with the training during the Pandemic,” Lemkuil said. “We initially planned for the training to be in-person, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted that possibility. Moraine Park was able to seamlessly transition the learning material to be done over zoom meetings.” 

As with many industries, the transition to an online platform offered some valuable learning opportunities for the organization as well.  

“The online format made it more difficult than usual to keep the employees engaged with grammar material,” he said. “Jennifer Elliot, the Moraine Park ELL instructor, made some innovative changes such as finding a printed publication that included the employees, to heighten engagement. Through that, we learned that the more personal the material, the more likely the students are to engage and practice their grammar skills.” 

The goal of providing this round of training was to help employees who wanted to grow their language skills. For this reason, Lemkuil relied on anecdotal feedback from the employee participants to access effectiveness, rather than testing each participant. However, he is hoping that future ELL programming will include a more subjective analysis of the program.  

Lemkuil is looking at program growth the same way he approached the start of this training- slow, thoughtful, and taking into consideration the needs of employees.  

“It’s very important to not only have the commitment of your employees but to also create an environment where the employees are free to practice their skills,” Lemkuil said. “This is a crucial step in getting the learning process. If an employee uses new grammar topics and is made to feel embarrassed by native English speakers, that employee isn’t going to want to practice their skills ever again.” 

By creating an atmosphere that fosters growth and inclusivity, Lemkuil is opening the doors of possibility for his employees.  

“In the coming years, Specialty Cheese would like to provide this opportunity to all employees who are interested in learning English,” he said. “The goal is to provide a more convenient class location which helps improve attendance to the program. It’s an ambitious goal, but we are confident that this continued training will be a benefit all around.” 

For more information, visit morainepark.edu/training. 

Did you know that many times, the barrier to education is financial?

A student who wants to earn their GED/HSED diploma can come to Moraine Park for free adult education instruction. However, the testing, required by the state, costs approximately $150.

The instructors in the adult education department wanted to help break this financial barrier. So, they started a scholarship through the Moraine Park Foundation in 2011. This funding helps not only with the testing fees, but students who enroll in a program at Moraine Park can also apply for a $500 scholarship to help with application fees, textbooks, or tuition. To date, 16 of those scholarships have been awarded, and one of the previous recipients recently earned their Master’s Degree!

As you begin to determine your year-end giving, know that a contribution to the Moraine Park Foundations Basic Education Fund could help change the lives of individuals right in your community.

For more information, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

Moraine Park Technical College is celebrating over 100 students who earned their General Education Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificate during the 2019-20 school year.

Like other celebrates at the College and around the district, this year’s ceremony had to be canceled, and while celebration details are still being finalized, the College’s Basic Education department is planning to celebrate when conditions allow.

“This is a big accomplishment, and for many, it’s a stepping stone to other educational opportunities,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president, said. “It’s important that our students feel supported and valued as they work to achieve their educational goals, and that they know we are here every step of the way.”

Students who earned their GED/HSED certificate for the 2019-20 year are Austing Albright of Pickett, David Almeda of West Bend, Idaliah Appel of Beaver Dam, Dominque Balistreri of Hartford, Steven Barlow of Carlisle, Jennifer Bateman of Jackson, Alexander Baum of Beaver Dam, Steven Beckman of Kewaskum, Nathan Bermudez of West Bend, De’Shawn Bolden-Washington of Manitowoc, Jantzen Bond of Milwaukee, Veronica Borja of Theresa, Kendall Bragg of Fond du Lac, Steven Bulawa of Cedarburg, James Carlisle of Oostburg, Aaryn Carlson of Fond du Lac, Victor Carr of Colgate, Amy Ciborosky of Randolph, Thomas Cooley of Waukesha, Alaura Copeland of Waupun, Zachariah Counsell of Juneau, Caiden Crumer-Barry of West Bend, Charmane Cruz of Beaver Dam, Erin Daley of West Bend, Ronald Dexter of Horicon, Austin Drozok of West Bend, Austin Droz of Columbus, Kristine Ellenbeck of Fond du Lac, Destinee Ellenbecker of North Fond du Lac, Brandon Ellis of Milwaukee, Michelyn Estrada of Beaver Dam, Erica Feuerhammer of Fox Lake, Nathan Gibbs of Reeseville, Jacob Gill of North Fond du Lac, Cameron Guerra of Beaver Dam, Joshua Hagenstein of Jacakson, Diana Haseltine of Milwaukee, John Hennessey of Beaver Dam, Keri Henrickson of Beaver Dam, Eva Herringa of Hartford, McKenzie Holtz of Green Bay, Lori Howe of West Bend, Alexandria Hubred of Columbus, Kylie Hurkmans of Hartford, Josheph Hutchings of Mayville, Clarissa Hynes of Columbus, Joshua Jacobs of Brandon, Kayleigh Javoroski of West Bend, Mason Karoses of Dundee, Dylan Kelsey of Hartford, Tracy Kienzle of Jackson, Justin Koconis of Hartford, Caitlin Krueger of Green Lake, Mariah Lacky of Fond du Lac, Whitley Laird of Campbellsport, Abraham Lange of Fond du Lac, Cassandra Leon of Lowell, Paige Lloyd of Omro, Richard Mantz III of Fond du Lac, Tamerik Marshall of Columbus, Branden Mayer of West Bend, Danairis Melendez of West Bend, Dakota Mickel of West Bend, Scott Mielke of Rosendale, Samantha Mills of Beaver Dam, Edward Mills of West Bend, Katrina Munro of Oakfield, Amber Murphy of Fond du Lac, Adolfo Narez Orozco of Cambria, Emma Navas of Fond du Lac, Kathryn Neibauer of Horicon, Jose Ortegon of Berlin, Miguel Perez of Fond du Lac, Dylan Pocius of Juneau, Daniel Pokrzywinski of Wauwatosa, Jerome Rahn of Mayville, Devin Ramirez of Beaver Dam, Kaleb Reardon of Clyman, Molly Reuter of West Bend, Nathan Rosbeck of West Bend, Seth Rose of West Bend, Fanny Salas of Fond du Lac, Ivan Salazar of Iron Ridge, Gloria Sandberg of Hartford, Danielle Schaeffer of West Bend, Michael Schallock of West Bend, Nicoli Scheuers of Princeton, Michael Scott of West Bend, Nicholas Serrato of Beaver Dam, Kimberly Sheffield of Beaver Dam, Brian Speake of Beaver Dam, Skylar Stamper-DeQuardo of Jackson, Adrianna Stromberg of West Bend, Cody Strong of Fond du Lac, Summer Stuker of Green Lake, Melissa Thiel of West Bend, Alex Tuveson of Fond du Lac, Lorena Vannocker of Fox Lake, Zoila Volkmann of West Bend, Samantha Warren of Theresa, Trent Webster of Kewaskum, Kayla Wetzel of West Bend, Aislynn Wiedmeyer of West Bend, Hunter Winter of Fall River, Nathan York of West Bend, Kaija Yule of Oshkosh, Alejandro Zamora of Fond du Lac, and Melanie Zander of Beaver Dam.

The GED/HSED students had to pass all four subject portions of the nationally recognized GED tests to receive their diploma. They also had to meet requirements in employability, digital literacy, health, and civics. Moraine Park’s GED/HSED instruction is available year-round and is one of the many services at the College that is offered for free to the community. For more information about Moraine Park’s GED/HSED classes, visit morainepark.edu/GED.

Moraine Park Technical College held its 27th annual GED/HSED graduation ceremony on May 30. For the 2018-19 school year, 126 students received their General Education Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificates.

Rebecca Carreon of Fond du Lac, Natasha Peters of Ripon, Sandra Pfund of Slinger, and Betty Zimdars of West Bend served as student speakers.

Carreon and Peters, sisters and twins, spoke together on the struggles of life and how important it was to both of them to complete the journey together.

“I tried multiple times to finish my HSED on my own but never followed through with it because I never thought I could do it,” Peters said. “The support of family, friends, the teachers at the Student Success Center, and my sister gave me the courage and push I needed to finish.”

Both Carreon and Peters plan to continue their education at Moraine Park this fall, with an overall goal to earn their college degree.

“I have always wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, and I finally feel like that isn’t just a dream anymore,” Carreon said. “Now I can make it a reality! We plan on starting school here at Moraine Park Technical College in the upcoming year.  After all the support we had to finish our HSED here, we can only imagine the support we will get once in our programs!”

Pfund shared her story of deciding to complete her high school diploma with the support of her friend and fellow GED student, Zimdars.

“We have maintained our friendship and motivated each other along the way,” Pfund said. “My success has been helped with a special friendship and someone to hold me accountable. Nothing is impossible, no matter what age you are. Our journey was not an easy one, but our friendship helped immensely.”

Pfund and Zimdars have decided to continue their educational journey together as Moraine Park college students.

Abby McGeehen of Berlin and Zimdars were each the recipients of $500 student scholarships.  These scholarships are awarded to GED/HSED graduates who are continuing their education at Moraine Park.

The GED/HSED students had to pass all four subject portions of the nationally recognized GED tests to receive their diploma. They also had to meet requirements in employability, digital literacy, health, and civics. Moraine Park’s GED/HSED instruction is available year-round and is one of the many services at the College that is offered for free to the community.

For more information about Moraine Park’s GED/HSED classes, visit morainepark.edu/GED.

View all of the photos from the GED/HSED graduation at https://www.flickr.com/gp/148240170@N03/Y00FC2.