Point your future in the right direction at Future Fair 2023!

Moraine Park Technical College will host Future Fair on Wednesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Campus Conference Center.

The event will feature over 60 employer exhibitors and 10 four-year colleges/universities.

Moraine Park students, alumni and community members will be able to network, explore internships, job opportunities and learn about college transfer opportunities. Registration is not required.

“This event gives Moraine Park the chance to enhance our partnerships with four-year colleges and employers, and we are excited to open our doors to share a wide array of opportunities with our students and community,” Michele Sabel, career and employment services specialist at Moraine Park, said.

For more information, contact Michele Sabel at 920-924-3205 or msabel@morainepark.edu.

Participating Employers/Colleges:

ADVOCAP, Inc.

Advocate Aurora Health

Amcor

Aurora Medical Center

Sheboygan County

Badger Liquor

Badger Meter

BCI Burke Company, LLC

Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac

Chamberlain and Walden

City of Fond du Lac

Concordia University Wisconsin

Custom Fabricating and Repair

Delaware North

Department of Corrections

Didion

Dodge Correctional Institution – Dept of Corrections

Fives Giddings & Lewis

Fond du Lac County

Froedtert

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin

Froedtert Health

Grand Canyon University

Harbor Haven Health & Rehabilitation

Healing Elements Day Spa

Hotel Retlaw

IPW – West Bend Medical

Kettle Moraine YMCA

Kohler Co

KS Energy Services

Lakeland University

Landmark Landscapes

Lifestar EMS

Lutheran Homes and Health Services, Inc.

Marian University

Markesan Resident Home

Marshfield Clinic Health System

McMahon Associates, Inc.

McNeilus Steel, Inc.

Michels Corporation

Mid-States Aluminum Corp

MilliporeSigma

Moraine Park Technical College

National Exchange Bank & Trust

ProHealth Care

Quest Engineering, Inc

Randolph Health Services

Senior Helpers

Signicast

SSM Health

Steel Craft Corporation

Strohwig Industries, Inc.

Total Care Group

UW – Oshkosh (Online Degree programs)

UW-  Parkside

UW – Stout

Via Moda Group

Visiting Angels

Viterbo University

West Bend Fire Department

WI Department of Corrections

WI Department of Natural Resources

WI Dept of Corrections/Division of Community Corrections

Willer Tool Corporation

Winnebago County

Winnebago Mental Health Institute

Wisconsin Spine and Pain

Wisconsin State Patrol

X-cel Tooling, Inc.

Zeal Clinical Staffing

Zips Express Car Wash

In honor of Black History Month this February, Moraine Park Diversity Relations has partnered with MPTC alumna and business owner, Christal Shipp, in an initiative supporting black-owned businesses.

The initiative–A Taste of Black Excellence–allows MPTC employees and community members to purchase boxes filled with products and services from several Wisconsin black-owned businesses located inside the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace (https://www.shermanphoenix.com/vision) in Milwaukee.

The Sherman Phoenix is a hub for small businesses of color offering wellness services, cultural activities, business services and diverse foods. One of those businesses is CTRL+C, a copy and print service company owned by Moraine Park graduate Christal Shipp.

Recently, Shipp presented on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus to speak about the Taste of Black Excellence boxes and share her story.

“Once you purchase a box, you will get the products with a story about the businesses and a QR code information to rebuy any of the products,” Aryana Barudin, Moraine Park multicultural student support and programming specialist, said. “The big push behind these boxes is that we want the products and services to go to people with spending power. We want you to share these products and talk about them with each other and with the community so people will keep buying. As great as awareness is, this is an awesome opportunity for people to put their money where their heart is.”

To purchase your Taste of Black Excellence box, visit https://forms.office.com/r/T7qFrgMN2X. Boxes can be purchased through Feb. 27.

In 2017, in a Moraine Park ethics course, students Mike and April sparked a connection and found much more than just an education.

Mike was enrolled in Moraine Park’s HVAC program and April was enrolled in the Medical Assistant program.

The pair began officially dating in January 2018. Their first date was at Texas Roadhouse in West Bend. In July 2020, they bought their first home together and were married in their backyard a month later. They welcomed their son in September of 2021.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Written by Crystal Guell, a fellow parent and Moraine Park student

Feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Struggling to balance family life and furthering your education?  You’re not alone. According to a study by the National Center for Education, approximately four million college students are parents (Williams, 2022). You took the first step and committed to going to college, now what? Embarking on this new journey it is essential to feel prepared and confident. As a working parent going to college, you might face some obstacles along the way. To ensure that you are successful in all aspects of your life, here are some tips and tricks.

Time Management

One of the challenges that most college students face is time management. For most parents their children are their number one priority.  Time is valuable.  Managing time can get a little tricky but is not impossible.  The first thing you need to do is:

• Set a routine. As a family, decide what your routine will look like. Will schoolwork be worked on at the same time as your children? Or, do you work on homework when they’re in bed? Whatever you decide for your routine, make sure you have one and that you stick with it.
• Limit the number of distractions and interruptions. Designate an area to do your schooling. Make sure this area is quiet and provides enough space to work. During this time, turn off your phone to give your full attention to your studies.

Organization

Life can sometimes be complete chaos. Laundry that’s overflowing onto the floor and a to-do list that never ends. Don’t get discouraged and remember to do the following:

• Plan ahead. To be organized is to be prepared. Look through your class content. Get an idea of how much time assignments will take to complete. Do not wait till the last minute to complete. Keep track of those assignments in a planner. Write out all your commitments and reminders there. If you are a parent, you probably already use a cell phone calendar or application to keep track of all the extracurricular activities that your children are involved in. The takeaway here is to use whatever works best for you. In doing so, it will help you stay organized and decrease stress.
• Breaking up assignments into smaller manageable chunks. After going through the expectations for your classes you can break down those assignments into smaller sections.  This will result in lifting the burden of feeling overwhelmed and completing homework a lot easier.
• Organizing your notes.  It is good practice to take good notes. Your notes should be written clearly so that you can use them to help in future assignments. Each class should have its own section for notes. Properly labeling the topic, the class, and the date will help keep your notes organized and easy to find when you study.

Stress Management

As humans, we all experience stress at some point in our lives. It’s how we handle ourselves in those situations that either has a positive or negative impact on our life. To limit the stress in your life as a parent going to college:

• Stay positive. First and foremost, you are a parent, and you need to set a good example for your children. I don’t need to remind you that your children are always watching. Control of your emotions is vital. Recognize stress when it comes on, calm yourself, and figure out a solution to overcome it.
• Allow for breaks. When you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, tired or stressed–take a break.  You won’t be able to accomplish anything feeling this way. Giving yourself time to clear your mind will give you a chance to relax.  I like to take a break from my schoolwork by walking to pick up my children from school. When you go back to your studies you may discover the solution to the problem you faced from the beginning.
• Set goals and reward yourself. You are working, supporting the family, and still finding time to do your schoolwork. It is okay to reward yourself for doing a good job. Set up weekly, monthly, or semester rewards for a job well done. The reward should be something that you enjoy doing.  Include the whole family in this celebration if you prefer. Who doesn’t like ice cream?

Support is Available

• Ask for help. Never feel hesitant to ask for help no matter how you’re feeling. Know that you’re not alone and that there are people in your life that can help. Reach out to family members, your spouse and friends. Find other college parents going through the same struggles.
• Have a plan.  As a parent, you are juggling many tasks daily. Set up a plan of action in case something comes up and you need to be in two places at once. Have a plan in place for someone to watch your children while you do schoolwork or to give you a break.
• Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) Resources- Get in contact with your school or academic advisor and ask for help with the areas that you are struggling in. Here is a list of some of the services offered at MPTC (www.morainepark.edu/experience-mptc/student-resources/)
  • Counseling
  • Career services
  • Tutoring

There is no cookie-cutter mold for how to be a successful parent in college. Some tips that work for some college students may not work for others. I can assure you that by following these tips on time management, organization, stress management, and knowing the support that is available for you will result in decreasing the amount of stress in your life and as a college student. Sacrifices might need to be made in managing your time. Your family might have to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches sometimes because you don’t have time to cook a meal. You need to make those choices and decide what is important to you. Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It’s all about staying positive and taking things one step at a time.

Written by Crystal Guell, a fellow parent and Moraine Park student

*Due to weather, the February 16 lecture has been postponed to March 2nd at the same time and place.

Did you know that 80% of Washington County overdoses are fentanyl-related? Learn more about fentanyl, substance use disorders and the community’s response at Moraine Park’s West Bend lecture series this February.

The lecture series is hosted in partnership with Washington County, the Washington Ozaukee Health Department, Aurora Health Care, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin and Elevate.

There will be a lecture each Thursday in February from 6-7:30 p.m. View each week’s topics and presenters below. Register for free at eventbrite.com/e/fentanyl-facts-fiction-and-future-tickets-516851415497.

Pictured above: MPTC Dean Dr. Bobbi Fields, Experiential Learning Specialist Kim Spartz and Bronze Community Impact Award Recipient Anna Jacobs. Anna is enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at MPTC.

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 student community impact and apply their classroom knowledge to an applicable, real-world environment. We encourage students to participate in our community impact awards program where students can track their service-learning or volunteer hours, submit their reflections, and earn a Bronze Award for 25 hours, Silver Award for 50 hours, Gold Award for 100 hours, and President’s Award for 200 hours!

In the Fall 2022 semester, 21 students earned awards and logged over 1,300 hours of service!  Congratulations to our Fall 2022 award winners!

Gold Award
Completing 100-199 hours of service-learning or volunteering.

Nelson, Victoria – Emergency Medical Technician

Oestreich, Victoria – Medical Assistant

Silver Award
Completing 50-99 hours of service-learning or volunteering.

Anderson, Hannah – Marketing and Social Media

Gurke, Chloe – Medical Assistant

Kaiser, Marissa – Medical Assistant

Nelson, Victoria – Emergency Medical Technician

Oestreich, Victoria – Medical Assistant

Bronze Award
Completing 25-49 hours of service-learning or volunteering.

Aguilera, Silvia – Medical Assistant

Anderson, Hannah – Marketing and Social Media

Bates, Corinna – Leadership Development

Becker, Jeremiah – IT: Network Specialist

Bednarek, Courtney – Medical Assistant

Behling, Kalli – Medical Assistant

Bickelhaupt, Lydia – Medical Assistant

Bostwick, Joleen – Medical Assistant

Churchill, Kelsey – Medical Assistant

Glynn, Maura – Medical Assistant

Guell, Crystal – Early Childhood

Gurke, Chloe – Medical Assistant

Jacobs, Anna – Early Childhood

Kaiser, Marissa – Medical Assistant

Nelson, Victoria – Emergency Medical Technician

Oestreich, Victoria – Medical Assistant

Siebenaler, Rhiannon – Medical Assistant

Strohwig, Emily – Medical Assistant

Van Buren, Katie – Medical Assistant

Vera, Samantha – Medical Assistant

Williams, Jennifer – Medical Assistant

It was a busy day on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac Campus today, Jan. 5, with the return of Career Connections 2023!

Throughout the day, 800 8th-grade students from local middle schools attended presentations on campus covering various topics. The event is hosted by Envision Fond du Lac with the goal of teaching students about the wide variety of jobs available within the greater Fond du Lac area; specifically in agriculture, healthcare, information technology, services, skilled trades, and manufacturing.

Schools in attendance included Lomira Middle School, Central Wisconsin Christian, Rosendale Intermediate, Bessie Allen Middle School, Faith Lutheran, Sabish Middle School, Theisen Middle School, Woodworth Middle School, Redeemer Lutheran & Luther Memorial School, and Fond du Lac STEM Academy.

Presentations were given by J.F. Ahern, Adashun Jones, Little Farmer, Envision FDL, Quest Interiors, FDL County, Mercury Marine, Krug Haircuts, Wisconsin Kenworth, Holiday Automotive, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, NEBAT, Society Insurance, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Michels, FDL Fire & Rescue, C.D. Smith, Moraine Park, UW Plattville, YMCA, Wisco Hotels, Local 400 Pipe Trades, Cong. of Sisters of St. Agnes, Verve, FDL Sheriffs Department, Country Visions, and Five Giddings and Lewis.

More than 100 Moraine Park employees volunteered to be greeters, guides, and presenters. Big thanks to all who participated in this event!

View more photos of the event at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAmZdm.

Moraine Park Technical College’s Diversity Relations Office raised funds for ASTOP Sexual Abuse Center by decorating a holiday tree for the Festival of Trees at THELMA Sadoff Center for the Arts. The event was December 9th and 10th, and all who attended could vote for their favorite decorated tree!

The event showcased local nonprofits that decorated a unique tree for display around the THELMA facility. The decorated trees were listed for silent auction bidding and funds raised supported the nonprofit.

The Diversity Relations tree, Candy Cane Lane, was one of over 35 trees decorated for the event! In support of MPTC’s mission of growing minds, businesses, and communities through innovative learning experiences, attendees were to encouraged to view our tree and envision students from all ages and walks of life choosing their path/lane to learn a trade, earn a degree, obtain a certificate, participate in training or simply gain knowledge. White signified an opportunity for a new beginning, a blank page of a notebook that waits to be written upon. Red signified the chance to take action to pursue a professional or personal passion with energy and confidence.

“Moraine Park’s students and employees are active in the community and dedicated to volunteerism. I am proud to work for a organization that is so involved and to work on a team that rises to the occasion when there is a need or want in the community,” said Leslie Laster, director of diversity, accessibility and support services.

Many thanks to Moraine Park Technical College Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa students, along with staff, students, and community members at MPTC who donated to this year’s Giving Trees! Items were collected through the month of November and delivered the first week of December.

Three area homeless shelters are now better prepared to help keep clients warm with generous donations of hats, scarves, mittens, and gloves! The items were delivered to the Solutions Center of Fond du Lac, the Promise Housing Program of West Bend, and to the New Beginnings Homeless Shelter of Beaver Dam.  

Phi Theta Kappa and MPTC Academic Honor Society is open to students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits towards an associate degree. Check out our web page for more information on PTK and AHS.