This Saturday, September 11, Moraine Park culinary students will participate in downtown Fond du Lac’s 14^th annual Fondue Fest! 

Throughout the week, 10 students in MPTC’s Culinary Arts program have been hard at work preparing 2,600 icebox cookies and over 300 loaves of bread to be served with about 3,000 portions of fresh fondue. The cheese fondue is made with 90lbs of mozzarella cheese mix, donated by Grande Cheese, and mixed with cheddar and other cheeses. The chocolate fondue is a ganache made with chocolate, cream and butter. In total, the students will clock in over 150 hours of volunteer work for the event. 

“Being a part of Fondue Fest allows students to interact with the community and gives them a taste for working in a fast-paced environment,” Tom Endejan, MPTC Culinary Arts Instructor, said. “The students learn a lot and have to face unique challenges that they aren’t exposed to in the classroom.” 

Fondue Fest is Fond du Lac’s largest downtown event with an attendance of more than 20,000 people annually. The fest features live music, unique vendors and delicious food. 

Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts Club has been participating in Fondue Fest for 10 years. Proceeds from the Fondue sales go directly towards the culinary club and are utilized for continued learning at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago in May 2022. At the conference students are able to learn about different cuisines, visit various ethnic areas in Chicago and learn about new practices in the industry. 

“I’m excited to get this extra experience outside of the classroom,” said Grace Westphal, Culinary Arts student. “The production takes a bit of time, but it’s worth it to help get us to the conference in Chicago at the end of the school year.” 

Fondue Fest is Saturday, September 11, from 9-5 p.m. in downtown Fond du Lac. Show up to support MPTC students, eat fondue and have fun! 

MPTC Culinary Student Volunteers: 

Grace Westphal – Luxemburg, WI 

Aiden Cole – Fond du Lac, WI 

Andrew Hoepfner – Fond du Lac, WI 

Destiny Smith – West Bend, WI 

Dan Hartsougl – Fond du Lac, WI 

Jonah Riley – Fond du Lac, WI 

Damon “Matt” Matthews – Waupun, WI 

Brendan Schraufnagel – Lomira, WI 

Brianna Eberhardt – Adell, WI  

Jordan Lambert – Green Bay, WI 

Thanks to MPTC Beta Mu Kappa Academic Honor Society students, over 150 area area homeless shelter kids and adults will have new socks this spring. Students hosted a Sock Tree drive at all 3 campuses over the past month, and delivered the donated socks to area homeless shelters this past week.

Beta Mu Kappa is our local MPTC chapter for the international Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society. Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits are invited to join the honor society. Check out our web page for more information on PTK plus our leadership and community service opportunities.

On April 15, 2021, MPTC held a virtual induction ceremony for 108 students with a GPA of 3.5 or above and 12 credits or more, who have joined Phi Theta Kappa since Fall of 2019. Each of these students received a special invitation to join the Beta Mu Kappa Honor Society Chapter at MPTC.

MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald said, “Established over 100 years ago in 1918, the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society recognizes and encourages academic achievement of students at two-year colleges.  The American Association of Community Colleges recognizes Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society of two-year colleges.  PTK is also our official academic honor society here at MPTC.   Phi Theta Kappa provides many opportunities including:

• Development of leadership and service
• An intellectual climate to exchange ideas
• Fellowship for scholars
• And the stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence

Phi Theta Kappa is an organization that has over 3.5 million members in the United States and 10 sovereign nations.  The PTK Foundation awards $1.5 million in scholarships to members each year, and the Society as a whole is dedicated to helping all students succeed.  This spring we welcome 108 students into our local Beta Mu Kappa chapter. Congratulations on your academic achievement!”

Dean of General Studies Brenda Raad explained the PTK symbolism of the torch, white rose, and golden emblem. Dr. Jim Eden, VP of Academic Affairs inducted the student participants and lead the reciting of the PTK pledge. Students were welcomed and congratulated by MPTC PTK Co-Advisors Amy Harmsen and Anne Lemke. PTK Student Representative Mollea Greylord was the keynote speaker.

Dr. Eden said, “It is my pleasure to welcome you as a new member of Phi Theta Kappa and congratulate you on your accomplishments.  I encourage you to always search for truth and to dedicate yourselves to the cultivation of lifelong education, service and honor. Each year thousands of students attend Moraine Park Technical College; today we acknowledge those whose achievement, commitment and performance deserve the highest recognition.  Congratulations new members of Phi Theta Kappa!”

Phi Theta Kappa 2021 Inductees

Did you know?

*70 percent of cocoa is produced by small holder farmers in West Africa, primarily Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Indonesia, Brazil, and Ecuador are also major cocoa-producing countries.

*Cocoa trees take about five years to reach peak production and can continue producing at that level for about ten years.

*Chocolate is made from the seeds of cocoa pods, a tree-grown fruit. After harvesting, the seeds are removed from the pods and processed (fermented, dried, then roasted).

*It takes about 500 cocoa beans to make one pound of chocolate. In an average year, a cocoa tree produces enough fruit to make about two pounds of chocolate.

An estimated two million children work on cocoa farms. Up to 40 percent of these children are not enrolled in school. Many Cocoa farmers are exposed to numerous hazards, including dangerous tools, dust, flames or
smoke, hazardous chemicals, and physically demanding labor. Fair Trade standards prohibit child labor, and community development premiums are often used to improve access to education. Fair Trade standards also prohibit harmful chemicals and provide a framework for environmental sustainability. The Fair Trade minimum price protects farmers against market volatility by ensuring a minimum sale price for their crops.

We love chocolate and other products made with cocoa. It is part of our daily lives. At the same time, many people do not know how tough cocoa farming is, nor do they know the impact of choosing one chocolate bar over another. By choosing chocolate with the Fair Trade logo, you are standing up for the people and places involved in the cocoa industry.  MPTC bookstores carry Divine Chocolate bars. Look for the Fair Trade logo on all chocolate you buy at your grocery store or local market.

Find out more about Fair Trade and MPTC Fair Trade College!

Thanks to MPTC Beta Mu Kappa Academic Honor Society students, 55 area kids will have warm winter mittens this winter season. Students hosted a Mitten Tree drive at all 3 campuses over the past month, and delivered the donated mittens to Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac and Boys & Girls Club of Washington County Jackson site this past week.

Karissa Schneider, Operations Director at Fond du Lac Club said, “We are so thankful for our partnerships with Moraine Park Technical College and this is no different!  Thank you to Phi Theta Kappa for holding a mitten drive to help keep our members hands cozy and warm.”  

Beta Mu Kappa is our local MPTC chapter for the international Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society. Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits are invited to join the honor society. Check out our web page for more information on PTK plus our leadership and community service opportunities.

Veteran’s Day was a very special experience for twenty-one Veterans residing at the St. Francis Home campus in Fond du Lac this year.

Steve Pepper, Moraine Park’s Student Veteran Specialist, and one of the Student Veteran’s Club advisors arranged and participated in a Zoom video call with the veterans and several students and staff from Moraine Park. Nathan Evrad, one of Moraine Park’s academic advisors, even created personalized video greetings thanking the Veterans for their service.  He stated, “As a fellow military veteran, I want to thank you for your service and let you know that you are not forgotten.” During the call, the veterans reminisced about basic training, their jobs while serving, flying overseas for duty, and even pesky chiggers.

Due to COVID restriction, some residents had not seen each other in a while, so it was great to see some veterans talk among themselves during the call. Before the event, donations of chocolates, snacks, puzzles, and other goodies were collected. Staff at St. Francis home filled patriotic bags that morning and handed them out after the call.

Which included a surprise of a specially designed “I Served” pin and Moraine Park’s military challenge coin.

Anne Lemke, Student Community Impact Coordinator, had this to say about the event: Thank you so much for this wonderful extra special effort! My Dad loved his “interview” with Steve Pepper… and the goodie bags, especially the black licorice.

“When it was over, Steve remarked, “What a great day, and thanked all of the staff at the St. Francis Home who made this Day possible. Hopefully, things will get back to normal next year, and the college will be able to visit with the veterans in person.””

For additional information regarding veterans’ events and benefits, please contact Steve Pepper at 920-924-3489 or spepper1@morainepark.edu

Dajan Haley, of Fond du Lac, made a powerful and life-changing investment in himself when he enrolled at Moraine Park Technical College immediately after graduating from high school in 2018.

When Dajan came to the College, he didn’t have solid career plans. In fact, his goals were quite broad- he wanted to build upon his leadership and communication skills and find a career where he could use those skills to benefit others. The MPTC Career Center helped him to build upon those goals and map out his college journey to fulfill them.

Of course, this didn’t happen overnight. Dajan’s commitment to his education and future career allowed him to explore many program options at the College and eventually, he found that the Substance Abuse Counseling program was the best fit.

“Moraine Park allows me to continue to grow and build upon my goals,” Dajan said. “Their support of my pathway has ultimately led me where I am today, and I’m confident that I’ve found a program and career that I will love.”

His success at Moraine Park isn’t just confined to the classroom. Dajan’s extensive involvement in both student life and the Edge Program have opened many doors and allowed him to be a positive influence and friend to many at the College.

“I love being involved and helping people,” he said. “Being active at the College helped me find a home and extended family here at Moraine Park.”

Dajan is scheduled to graduate in May of 2022 and has goals to utilize his skills to benefit his local community.

morainepark.edu/ican

Grab your friends, family, and animals WE ARE GOING ON A HIKE! What better way to enjoy much-needed family time or alone time than taking a walk with the beautiful landscapes of Wisconsin following you? Do not worry, I have done the research for the best places to go in fall around all three of the campuses. However, if you have the time to drive all the way up to Devils Lake, which is hands down my favorite hiking spot. I would also recommend going to Lion’s Den Nature Preserve or Harrington Beach State Park! Pike Lake State Park is another popular one. 

Washington County 

• Ridge run park 
• Parnell tower 
• Friends of lac Laurence conservatory  

Dodge County 

• Ledge park 
• Harnischfeger park 
• Horicon Marsh 

Fond du Lac County 

• Hobbs woods 
• Kiekhaefer park 
• Lakeside park 

-Haley VanRaden, Moraine Park District Student Ambassador

Here is why I think voting is important:

It may not seem like it, but government and policy impacts how we live our lives each and every day. I strongly believe that voting is the cornerstone of a positive society and a strong democracy. If we choose not to vote, we’re putting our lives in the hands of people we may or may not support and the policies that they create. These exact people write policies that will affect every facet of our lives like healthcare, social security, climate change, housing, poverty, student debt, and many more.

So in order to create and uphold a strong democracy, we need to choose the right people to solve problems such as these. And students such as ourselves are the most important in the election process. Our Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes recently said that if every student in Wisconsin voted this November, we would make up the second largest city in our state! That makes a HUGE impact on our election process.

It has even been proven that the lowest turnout rates in past elections have been younger voters and students. According to the Campus Vote Project, “Young adults (ages 18-29) made up about 21% of the voting eligible population in 2014, but voter turnout for this demographic has reached record lows in recent years.” Community college and tech college students matter even more because we share a close relation to the communities in which we go to school, live and work. 7.1 million students go to tech or community colleges across the U.S. With such a large student representation, we can make our voices be heard this election and help politicians create policies that help us all directly – like federal financial aid, student debt forgiveness, more funding for our school programs, and more jobs within our communities.

So get out there on November 3rd and let your voice be heard! Let’s preserve our democracy for generations to come.

WI Online Registration Deadline: October 14, 2020

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Learn more at:       myvote.wi.gov

Cortland Henning, MPTC 2020-21 Newman Civic Fellow