The following was written by Brittany Hahn, a Moraine Park Interactive Media Design student who recently attended the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo.

Moraine Park’s Interactive Media Design Club (IMDC) and I, an IMDC member, are extremely thankful that we were able to attend the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) as a club outing. Due to expenses and transportation, I would not have been able to attend without the support of the IMDC. It was very important to all of us that we were able to make it to C2E2, not only because it is fun (It was a blast!) but also because it is a great opportunity to learn, grow, and expand as an individual looking to make a career in the industry.

One of my favorite things to do at C2E2 is visit the vendor hall and artists alley. This isn’t because I love shopping (though I do – and WOW did I find a lot of things to buy), but rather because it is an outstanding opportunity to see other artists’ current work. When viewing the countless pieces of work done by others, we can learn to better differentiate between their various styles, composition structures, and chosen display methods (print, clothing, accessories, etc.) Not only are we learning to deconstruct and recompose their work, but so too are we learning what is popular and selling, which is an important thing to understand in any work line.

Seeing the vendor hall and artists alley is motivational. After leaving the convention, everyone in our club found themselves inspired to get home and get to work on new compositions. As an artist or anyone working within media design, it can sometimes be a struggle to find inspiration or material that piques one’s interest – With that in mind, C2E2 was very refreshing, refilling our hearts and minds with enthusiasm and creativity towards our work!

The vendor hall and artists alley are just two of countless attractions that make C2E2 an academic hit! While C2E2 is filled with attractions that everyone loves, such as the Maid Café, Autograph signings, the gaming hub, and more – There is one thing that everyone comes for, PANELS!

Panels are the core of C2E2, and they are what truly make it a great academic experience. Multiple panels are always running at once, giving a large variety of choices and opportunities to those who attend. As for what the panels feature, the variety is nearly endless!

Some of my favorite panels I noticed that were listed and running were:

Script to Screen/Screen to Script – A panel run by Legendary professionals that teach attendees how to write and polish their scripts, getting them screen-ready – and vice versa!

Kubert School Portfolio reviews – Have your portfolio looked at and critiqued! For those finishing up their degree, this is an awesome opportunity to be accepted to a large art school, or create a solid portfolio for leaving school behind and stepping out into the work field to become hired.

Libraries & Nerds Blerds, Books, and Making Bank – This panel explains how to use your local library to help you host events and promote your product/book/work to ultimately make bank!

Anti-Hero Sip and Sketch – Learn to draw in the style of Anti-Hero with Melissa of Salsa Sharks, picking up a bunch of new techniques while you fill out your now provided sketchbook.

Education in the stacks – A program giving advice in programming, giving 1 on 1 time that allows you to hone ideas for viable programs, connect it to education, find a good space/fit, and find a price range you should be asking for.

Play and Sculpt with Clay – A panel that covers anatomy, color theory, texture, proportion, and composition – Teaching you how to make Character design art with clay!

The list of panels goes on and on. There are panels for learning to write, panels teaching how to draw, program, sculpt, voice act, animate, and even panels that go over what your school and classes should be teaching (That’s right, there are panels designed for teachers and colleges!).

While I was at C2E2, after spending the majority of my time in the vendor hall, I made it to the panel “Passion to Profession – Your skills pay the bills!” The panel was great! It had professionals who went over how to find a career you enjoy by mapping your hobbies and skills, how to get over common job market fears. While I already knew how to turn my hobbies into a career – I found the entire panel very motivational. The panelists really pushed for everyone to stop waiting and perfecting their craft. They each gave personal stories where they took their work and just shoved it into the hands of companies, those of which snatched it up and hired them. They explained that most companies either couldn’t find the best of the best, or they can’t afford it – So even if you think you aren’t the best, they need you. It’s not to say that anyone isn’t less than the best, but rather, they wanted everyone to understand that they were good enough and that they were ready. They continued to offer advice and inspire everyone within the room, allowing for personal questions and sharing advice from seasoned experts in the crowd.

The panel was so motivational, that when I got home, I took images from a local nail parlor (their images looked very bad – dry skin, paint over flesh, just a bad job all over) and I edited them, cleaning them up using things we learned in past classes and online tutorials. I sent the edited versions back to the business and explained what I had done and that I could do more if they would like. Right away, they asked for more/for me to continue doing edits! This was a great way for me to continue building my portfolio, and something I wouldn’t have had the courage to do without attending the panel.

C2E2 is filled with countless opportunities for students and teachers to learn, grow, and expand within their desired field of study/work. I am extremely happy that I went, and I can’t wait to go again in the future. Again, had it not been for the IMDC and Moraine Park Technical College, I would not have been able to go. Not only did they cover the cost of the ticket to attend, but so too did they handle transportation. It was great traveling with like-minded individuals, bonding and having an awesome time at the convention. I am very thankful to have MPTC and the IMDC, as well as our amazing club overseers and teachers Mr. Ward and Mr. Sibilski–they suggested, set up, and attended the trip!

Moraine Park’s West Bend Interactive Media Design (IMD) Club attended the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) in December for students to view and meet artists, attend panels, have fun and learn more about the field.

“Seeing the vendor hall and artists alley was motivational,” Moraine Park IMD student, Brittany Hahn, said. “After leaving the convention, everyone in our club found themselves inspired to get home and get to work on new compositions. As an artist or anyone working within media design, it can sometimes be a struggle to find inspiration or material that piques one’s interest. C2E2 was very refreshing, refilling our hearts and minds with enthusiasm and creativity towards our work.”

The students attended several informational panels surrounding topics such as scriptwriting, portfolio creation, event planning, product promotion, new drawing techniques, programming advice, character designing with clay, career finding, turning hobbies into skills and more.

After attending the convention, Hahn was more motivated than ever to start building her career. When she returned home from C2E2, she took images from a local nail parlor, cleaned them using skills learned in her coursework and sent the images back to the salon. The nail salon immediately asked her to continue doing edits for them.

“This was a great way for me to continue building my portfolio, and something I would not have had the courage to do without attending the convention,” Hahn said. “Had it not been for the IMD Club and Moraine Park, I would not have been able to go. Not only did they cover the cost of the ticket to attend, but also transportation. It was great traveling with like-minded individuals, bonding and having an awesome time at the convention. I am very thankful to have MPTC and the IMD Club, as well as our amazing club overseers and instructors Mr. Ward and Mr. Sibilski.”

Moraine Park’s Interactive Media Design program is a two-year degree program giving students the creative control to produce a variety of unique animations and graphics. Graduates from the program are well-versed in creating animated and live videos, commercials, digital signage and other media for the web. For more information on IMD visit morainepark.edu/academics/programs/interactive-media-design/.

Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac (FDL) Student Senate and participating student clubs collected over 175 gifts for families in need this holiday season through Moraine Park’s new Holiday Helpers program.

The gifts were dropped off by Moraine Park Holiday Helpers on Dec. 16 as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County’s Adopt a Family program. The donation supported 30 children and adults in need from the Fond du Lac area.

Big Brothers Big Sisters assists children with social, emotional and character development through one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adults. The Adopt a Family program allows people in the community to purchase gifts for families who are unable to do so.

“A very special thank you goes out to Moraine Park Technical College for their support of our Adopt a Family program this year,” executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County, Tammy Young, said. “Many of our children in the BBBS of Fond du Lac County program would not have presents under the tree if it weren’t for their generosity.”

After Moraine Park’s Holiday Helpers received the families’ wishlists from Big Brothers Big Sisters, each item was written on the back of an ornament and placed on Student Life boards around Moraine Park’s FDL campus. Students, faculty, staff and the public were encouraged to select an ornament, purchase the item, wrap the gift and return it to the Holiday Helpers to be donated.

“I was blown away by the response and generosity by our students, employees, and clubs with this program,” said Moraine Park student involvement specialist, Lucas Nieman. “All the ornaments were selected within two weeks, and the people I was able to meet and speak to about their reasons for giving gave me an even better perspective on the impact we were making in our community. Being a Holiday Helper wasn’t just about purchasing a gift for someone in need, it was about making a difference in the lives of others.”

Moraine Park’s FDL Student Senate organized the Holiday Helpers effort with ten student clubs including IT Club, Criminal Justice Club, Medical Lab Technicians Club, Cosmetology Club, Culinary Arts Club, Emergency Medical Services Club, Civil Engineering Technology Club, Student Nurses Association Club, Society of Manufacturing Engineering Club and Respiratory Therapy Club.

Thanks to Moraine Park Technical College Academic Honor Society, PTK students and the abundant generosity of all the people involved with MPTC who donated, 88 area kids will have warm mittens and gloves this frosty winter season! That is over 40% more donations than last year and really demonstrates what warm hearts can do together. Even some hats were collected this year!

A Mitten Drive holiday donation tree was placed at all three campuses throughout November, and the collected mittens and hats were delivered to the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Boys & Girls Club of the Tri County Area, and Boys & Girls Club of Washington County sites.  Fifty pairs of adult gloves were also donated and delivered to the Solutions Center homeless shelter in Fond du Lac.

“We have so many kids from the community, and as it gets colder it is just wonderful to have these mittens on hand, or to be able to put out a table with them on it,” Johnsonville Elementary Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Aimee Christenson, said. “That way, kids can just take a pair if they need them without having to ask or feel embarrassed by their need. Our increased ability to provide mittens to all age groups of kids, thanks to the MPTC Honor Society and all of your donors is just so important, and we are so grateful for your help to keep little hands warm!”

Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits are invited to join our local and/or national honor society. Check out our web page for more information on our leadership and community service opportunities.

Written by Linda Huckaby

Last month, instructors and students from the MPTC Criminal Justice Program hosted 5-12 graders and staff from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Fond du Lac for a fun, interactive Dream Big event.

The Dream Big project started in 2017 with Boys and Girls Clubs of Fond du Lac and Tri-County Area teens learning more about the over 100 careers available through MPTC. This is a great community partnership opportunity for Moraine Park students to showcase their careers and make a true community impact and for area teens to get excited about career choices!

Fond du Lac Boys and Girls Club Teen Services Director Dillon Wiese said, “We love Dream Big opportunities for our teens! At Boys and Girls Clubs we work hard to prepare teens with life skills to get ready for the world of work.  At this Dream Big Criminal Justice event, our students experienced handcuffing, jail cell searches, and what professional skills it takes to work in a criminal justice career. They also learned about the wide variety of careers within the Criminal Justice field. Our partnership with MPTC is a great way for teens to explore their interests, learn about careers, get ready for college and know they really can achieve their dreams! Thank you MPTC!”

Last year, the Phi Theta Kappa (Beta Mu Kappa chapter) students were able to ensure warm hands for 55 area children during the cold Wisconsin winter via our Mitten Tree Drive.  We’re doing it again on all three campuses and need YOUR help to decorate our trees and spread some love!  Let’s do even better this year! The donated mittens we collect will be delivered to the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri County Area at the end of the drive. Donations are being accepted November 1 – 22.

Mitten trees will be located outside the libraries on each of our campuses. Whether you donate one pair or many, each will touch a heart!

In addition to Phi Theta Kappa, Moraine Park has a NEW Academic Honor Society. Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits towards an associate degree are invited to join the honor society. Check out our web page for more information on PTK and AHS.

Written by Linda Huckaby

This Saturday, September 11, students from Moraine Park’s Culinary Arts program 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