It’s been an exciting week on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus! Our Tech Knowledge College campers had a blast flying drones, giving facials, getting CPR certified, making chocolate pasta, fighting lego robots, fighting court cases, and so much more. 

With 58 kids in attendance, this hands-on event gave campers an interactive look at the skills and careers needed today and in the future. Each camper attended a morning session and an afternoon session. The sessions for 2022 were Lego Sumo Robots, The Business of Drones, Foods from Around the World, Courtroom in Session, All About Healthcare, Salon Techniques, Rescue 911, and Law Enforcement.

On the last day, the campers were celebrated with a pizza party and an open house to showcase their work.

“My favorite park of TKC was doing CPR on the baby dolls,” Liam Garcia-Chavez, a Rescue 911 and Lego Sumo Robots student, said. “It was also fun to fight the robots.”

Thank you to all of our amazing TKC instructors!

Foods from Around the World – James Simmers

Salon Techniques – Sherri Theisen and Jennifer Wirkus

Lego Sumo Robots – Henry Hathaway

Law and Order – Jeffrey Gruss and Joan Barfield

The Business of Drones – Jeffrey Stueber

All About Health Care – Erika Herriges

Courtroom in Session – Carrie Kutz

Rescue 911 – Drew Novak

Take a look at all the fun we had this week!

View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA2oVo.

Pictured above: President Bonnie Baerwald and Student Community Impact Coordinator Anne Lemke present Mina Vang-Xiong with her President’s Award.

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 Spring, 2022 semester, 29 students earned awards and logged over 1,600 hours of service!  Congratulations to our Spring, 2022 award winners!

Presidents Award

Two graduating students earned the President’s Award for over 200 hours of service each in their time at MPTC!  The students are Alaska Burroughs – Marketing and Social Media; and Mina Vang-Xiong – IT Technical Support and Network Specialist. MPTC President Bonnie Baerwald celebrated with and congratulated each student, stating: “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments of Mina and Alaska. Each has their own unique story and came to Moraine Park Technical College to explore and create new career opportunities. In addition to their work and college obligations, their volunteer efforts exemplify the college values of continuous improvement, collaboration, and impactful learning. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!”

Gold Award

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

Burroughs, Alaska – Marketing and Social Media

Dziuba, Austin – Marketing and Social Media

Vang-Xiong, Mina – IT Technical Support and Network Specialist

Silver Award

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

Burroughs, Alaska – Marketing and Social Media

Dziuba, Austin – Marketing and Social Media

Hackett, Richard – Leadership Development

Rogers, Dorothy – Paralegal

Smith, Brooke – Medical Assistant

Vang-Xiong, Mina – IT Technical Support and Network Specialist

Bronze Award

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

Bille, Ellen – Medical Assistant

Brantmeier, Samantha – Medical Assistant

Burroughs, Alaska – Marketing and Social Media

Carbajal, Yaneli – Medical Assistant

Corona, Ruby – Medical Assistant

Davis, Jada – Medical Assistant

Detert, Jozee – Medical Assistant

Devries, Kelly, Medical Assistant

Dziuba, Austin – Marketing and Social Media

Goldbach, Courtney – Medical Assistant

Hackett, Richard – Leadership Development

Jetzer, Jennifer – Medical Assistant

Krause, Michael – Leadership Development

Lear, Jamie – Medical Assistant

May, Chantel – Medical Assistant

Neitzel, Amanda – Medical Assistant

Nieman, Emily – Medical Assistant

Nieman, Olivia – Medical Assistant

Olson, Kara – Leadership Development

Peplinski, Samantha – Medical Assistant

Race, Miranda – Medical Assistant

Roecker, Kayla – Medical Assistant

Schick, Hailey – Medical Assistant

Smith, Brooke – Medical Assistant

Swedowski, Stephanie – Medical Assistant

Ward, Sydney – Medical Assistant

Wendt, Madelynn – Medical Assistant

40+ Nursing students in Julie Lepianka and Ashley Gilson’s Mental Health and Community Concepts courses recently completed their community advocacy projects as part of our Spring, 2022 service-learning opportunities.

Julie said, “Everyone has their own story. Each of us has a bigger purpose on this earth to share our story. Thank you for being vulnerable in your sharing! It was a privilege to teach all of you in this important community mental health learning. Best of luck in your final semester!”

Students spent over 200 hours researching and collaborating with community partners in Fond du Lac, Washington, and Dodge Counties to learn more about substance abuse, foster families, gun violence, elderly depression, bullying, human trafficking, poverty, domestic violence, sexual assault, and more. Students formulated detailed plans to address how a nurse can help a community identify and address these issues, providing education, awareness, advocacy and resources. Students gathered data to help determine strengths and weaknesses in their own communities. Project presentations were held in May. Ashley said, “My students did a phenomenal job assessing their surrounding communities for health concerns and building advocacy plans that we, as nurses, have the power to implement within their communities. These students were drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, and to help…..and they did just that!“

Congratulations on all of this great work on important mental health issues in our MPTC community!

Moraine Park Technical College will host Tech Knowledge College, a summer camp for students entering grades 6 to 8. This event gives participants an interactive look at the skills and careers needed today and in the future. Registration is now open for this annual three-day camp, held August 9-11, at Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus.

The sessions for this year’s event are The Business of Drones, Rescue 9-1-1, Lego Sumo Robots, Respiratory Therapy, All About HealthCare, Courtroom is in Session, Inside the World of Law Enforcement, and Salon Techniques. The sessions are available on a first come, first served basis, and early registration is encouraged.

The cost of Tech Knowledge College is $115 and includes a choice of two sessions, a t-shirt, and a morning snack and lunch each day. The camp is held from 9 a.m. -3:15 p.m. each day.

For full details including session descriptions and registration information, visit morainepark.edu/tkc.

Pictured: Jody Glindt, Domestic Violence Services Coordinator at Solutions Center of Fond du Lac (Left) with Moraine Park Technical College Honor Society member, Darlene Andersen.

Thanks to Moraine Park Technical College Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa students along with all the people involved with MPTC who donated! Three area homeless shelters are now better able to provide for their clients.  A great job of collecting much-needed supplies, snacks, food, beverage and other items was done! 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 sites, and the centers were so grateful!

Jody Gindt, Domestic Violence Services Coordinator at Solutions Center of Fond du Lac, said, “These items are so needed! The snacks are great ice breakers when we get kids here and are really appreciated by every client all year long. Some of these supplies not only go to service our clients while they’re staying here, but we are also able to send some with clients who are able to eventually relocate. It’s so important to not only be able to help in the immediate, but during the transition period back to independent living, so truly, these things mean so much! Thank you to Moraine Park and the members of the honor society for seeing us, the need, and stepping in to help!”

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.

— Written by Linda Huckaby

Pictured from left to right: Brandon Belanger, Seth Lane, Nathan Stocks, Linda Huckaby, Tim Reynolds, Heather Tennies, Tim Vukosich. 2nd row left to right: Leona Meyer, Darlene Anderson, Deanna Bagley, Amanda Neitzel, Cassandra Schultz, Amber Schultz, Jennifer Ainslie, Heidi Quackenboss, Shellin Eck, Megan Marks. Front row left to right: Mina Vang-Xiong, Christina Brueggemann, Blanca Almarez, Tammy Wentlandt, Rebecca Christenson, Ashley Aden, Alaska Burroughs

On April 21, MPTC Academic Honor Society/PTK Advisors Amy Harmsen and Anne Lemke, hosted a celebration to congratulate the 146 MPTC students who attained a 3.5 GPA or above with at least 12 credits towards an Associate’s Degree during this academic year; and are new members of our MPTC Academic Honor Society, and/or Phi Theta Kappa. Special recognition was given to 66 Academic Honors Students who are graduating this Spring with Honors (3.5-3.74 GPA) or High Honors (3.75 and above).

President Bonnie Baerwald and Dean of General Studies Brenda Raad presented each student with a flower and honors emblem keepsake. Graduates also received their Silver (honors) or Gold (high honors) cords to be worn with pride at graduation.

President Baerwald said, “It is an honor for me to participate in this ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate academic excellence. 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.  PTK is an organization that has over 3.5 million members in the United States and 10 sovereign nations.  Our own MPTC Academic Honor Society is also an opportunity for our students achieving high academics.  Membership in both or either of these groups is a special honor for outstanding students.  Congratulations!  I applaud your commitment to academic success and wish you all the best for your future endeavors.”  

Dean Brenda Raad said, “It is my pleasure to congratulate you all on your accomplishments.  Each year thousands of students attend Moraine Park Technical College; today we acknowledge those whose achievement, commitment and academic performance deserve the highest recognition.  I encourage you to always search for truth and to dedicate yourselves to the cultivation of lifelong education, service and honor.  Congratulations!”

High Honors PTK/AHS Student Graduate Mina Vang-Xiong was the featured speaker. Mina said,

“Today, I stand here because I decided to change my career path from Healthcare to Technology. I enrolled in the IT l dual program- Network Specialist and Technical Support specialist January of 2020 with a goal to just achieve a degree. I have a full-time job, am a full-time student, and mother of 3. I became an MPTC leader and a voice for my fellow students.  I achieved academic excellence and was on the Dean’s list for all semesters. I am currently an Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa member, President of IT Club, Vice President of Student Senate, and active around my community. I am a nominee for student of the year, recipient of the Leadership and Services award and the recipient of the Presidents’ Student Community Impact Award.  What I learned from being engaged in opportunities Moraine Park offers allowed me to tap into my sense of purpose. Involvement and opportunities gave me the resources I needed to be a successful leader.”

Students being recognized include: PTK Member ^ AHS Member ~

Honors Graduate * High Honors Graduate **

Olaide Adams ^

Ashley Aden ~**

Jennifer Ainslie ^~*

Blanca Almaraz Ortiz ~ *

Kaci Al-Saadi ~*

Trina Anderson ^**

Darlene Anderson ~**^

William Arkens ~

Deanna Bagley ^~

Jasmine Barma ~

Brandon Belanger ~**

Taylor Biermann ^

Amanda Blawat ^~

Brianna Bliesner ^**

Kira Bock ~

Heather Boden ^~

Krysta Bohl ~**

Jeanna Brault ~**

Christina Brueggemann (Sutula) ^**

Alaska Burroughs ^**

Sabrina Bury Weymier ^**

Alyssa Buske ^~**

Rebecca Christenson ~**

Halle Collins-George ^~**

Sydney Comstock ^~*

Annmarie Costa ^**

Chad Crass ^

Hannah Cunningham ~

Laura Davis ~**

Jasmine Davis ~

Morgan Diels ^~

Jamie Dornaus ^

Michelle Drake ^*

Madeline Dumproff ~*

Maxfield Dunkirk ~

Schellin Eck ^

Ariana Estep ^~

Deanna Fabela ^*

Gilbert Flocker ~**

Eric Freiberg ~*

Meredith Freund ^*

Callie Gappa ~

Kassandra Garcia Enriquez ^**

Edward Gbordzi ^**

Laurie Gerth ^*

Tanner Goodchild ~

Emily Gosh ^~**

Katherine Gripentrog ^**

Lindsey Gruber ~

Kylie Guell ^

Taylor Hafemeister ^

Amanda Hartsell ^

Joshua Hebard ^

Lindsey Held ~

Dylan Henriksen ~

Skyler Hibicki ~

Linda Huckaby ~

Emma Huehns ^~**

Kylie Hupf ^~

Jessica Hurley ^

Kelly Ingish ~*

Annette Ireland ^*

Samantha Kahlscheuer ^~

Bethany Kasten ^~**

Quinton Kauper ~

Christopher Kempf ^

Jeffrey Kern ^~ **

Dulcie Kind ~

Erika Kirchoff ^

Kaitlyn Koenitzer ~

Adelina Korcari ~

Chera Koss ^~

Ala Kowalske ^**

Haley Krumenauer ~

Elizabeth Kussmann ^*

Seth Lane ^~*

Stephanie Langlois ^**

Kelly Macheel ^*

Megan Marks ^~**

Emmet Mason ^*

William McGrath ~

Denise Meyer ^

Leona Meyer ~

Daniel Mischler ^

Danielle Nealey ^**

Amanda Neitzel ^~*

Victoria Nelson ~

Allison Newman ~

Olivia Notz ~

Dustin Odden ^**

Hannah Oliver ~

Christopher Ormsby ^

Emily Peschong ^

Kristen Petzer ^~*

Kira Pirrung ^

Brian Pitt ^~

Alexander Poston ~

Cynthia Prosser ^~

Heaven Protsman ~

Heidi Quackenboss ^

Heather Quickle ^~**

MacKenzie Rahn ^**

Debbie Ramos ^

Benjamin Raupp ^~

Meghann Reigle ^*

Tim Reynolds ^~

Amberly Ritchie ^*

Kelly Robinson ^**

Holly Rodgers ^~

Nicholas Rodriguez ^**

Johnathon Roeber ^

Angela Rose ^~

Georgia Roth ^*

Katey Ryan ~*

Hannah Schaefer ~

Kaylene Scherer ^~

Amber Schultz ~**

Cassandra Schultz ~*

Natasha Scott ~

Paige Seymer ~

Sydney Skindzelewski ~

Brittany Snyder ^**

Jeffrey Sonnleitner ^**

Kaytlin Sterba ~*

Nathan Stocks ^~*

David Stringham ^**

Carmen Struck ^

Austin Strutz ^

Shawna Talakowski ^~

Heather Tennies ^~

Ceann Thuecks ^**

Dominic Tisler ^

Saul Trevino ~**

Mina Vang-Xiong ^~**

Willow Vellema ~

Abigail Verhunce ^**

Gabrielle Vickman ~

Timothy Vukosich ^**

Brooke Wargula ^

Olivia Weikert ^

Jacqueline Wells ^

Tammy Wentlandt ^~**

Laine West ^~

Go Song Yang ~

Kyle Zeitlin ^~

On April 21, 2022, MPTC West Bend Electricity Instructor Gus Boyle-Gustavus and her students hosted Washington County Boys and Girls Club scholars in grades 5-11 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. Each semester, Moraine Park students showcase their program and make a true community impact for area teens to get excited about career choices!

West Bend Boys and Girls Club Teen Program Director Ashlyn Poling said, “Our teen members loved partnering up with the Electricity students from Moraine Park Technical College. We are always looking for opportunities to inspire our youth and encourage learning new skills, and this Electricity Event allowed us to do just that! Thank you MPTC!” Ashlyn herself got to wire up a circuit to turn on a lightbulb and had great fun! Electricity Instructor Gus said, “What an awesome event! Our Electricity students each partnered up with a BGC scholar and had a blast! I was so impressed with each of our students’ teaching, mentoring and patience skills to do this 2-hour activity with teens. I surprised them today with this event and they all came through!”

For more info on Electricity at MPTC.

Need a little break from all that studying? Have you heard that stressed is really desserts spelled backwards? Your MPTC Campus Library is the place to get a little relief during this crazy finals time end of the semester! Stop in during regular library hours from May 2 – 20 for a tasty bite of Fair Trade chocolate and grab an Alta Gracia Fair Trade MPTC t-shirt (while supplies last). Our libraries will also have extra resources available for study skills and stress management.

Did you know Moraine Park is a Fair Trade College? Actually we are the very first Fair Trade technical college in the U.S. Way to go MPTC! We are now celebrating 7 years as a Fair Trade College! World Fair Trade Day is May 14. Let’s all celebrate and choose FAIR! You can find Fair Trade coffee and Honest Tea at MPTC cafeterias.

Fair trade supports farmers and artisans in developing countries who are socially and economically marginalized. Fair Trade is about making a tremendous impact on artisan and farmer communities while offering great products to the public all around the world. Fair Trade certification promises quality products, fair pay for producers, environmentally sustainable practices, safe and empowering working conditions, no child labor, no human trafficking and more.

Moraine Park is a recipient of a $2,500 grant from the United Way of Dodge County to help support Dodge County students experiencing financial emergencies.

“I am grateful for the United Way of Dodge County’s generosity to award MPTC funding to help our Dodge County and Beaver Dam campus students who experience financial hardships. These dollars make an impact and help keep these students enrolled in school during times of need,” Jackie Morgan, Moraine Park’s Student Community, Equity and Engagement Specialist, said.

The grant dollars will support students in the form of gas cards, grocery store cards, and meals from the on-campus food service.

“Working with our campus food service partner is yet another way we can ensure students’ basic needs are met,” Morgan said.

Find more about the United Way of Dodge County and the work they do to improve lives and empower caring.