Growing up in a small town, going to the county fair was something my friends and I always looked forward to! It was the place nearly everyone from the community gathered to check out a child, friend or neighbor’s 4-H project, listened to music or visited the barns to see animals.  

This year, Moraine Park was proud to be a fair sponsor at three of the counties that make up the MPTC District. Moraine Park Day at the Washington County Fair was a lot of fun and gave us a chance to engage with young and old alike. Visitors were able to spin the Diversity Wheel for prizes, (Did you know more than 22 different languages are spoken at our three campuses?), talk to our Veterans Specialist, try their skills on our virtual welder, play a game of bags or share a high five with MPTC mascot, Maximus!  

We were thrilled that Alex Prunty, 2018 Slinger Speedway Super Late Model Champion, and MPTC alumnus, hung out with us for the day with his #11 race car. Visitors were able get Alex’s autograph, collect some APR swag and even get inside his car! Alex was a big hit!  

We also were pleased to sponsor the tractor and demo derby at the Green Lake County Free Fair and the Pig, Duck and Goat races at one of three Family Stages at the Dodge County Fair. That’s the best thing about a county fair – there’s fun for everyone! If you were at any of these three fairs, I hope you were able to stop by our booth and say hello, or enjoy the great entertainment these community events have to offer. We were glad to be able to be a part of it!

Congratulations to the winners of our Spring 2019 Next magazine trivia contest!

• Tom Otte, Family 4 Pack of Field Level Tickets to a Brewer game, donated by Magnum Radio (WMBZ)
• Heidi Christensen, 2 Brewer tickets, donated by WBEV/WXRO
• Sandy Schmitz, 2 tickets to Dock Spiders Baseball, donated by KFIZ/WFON
• Jane Best, 2 Brewer tickets , donated by AFFIRM
• Diane Simon, Fond du Lac DockSpiders Prize Package, donated by DockSpiders
• Joan Mayer, 4 tickets to the Washington County Fair, July 23-28, donated by the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center

CORRECT ANSWERS ARE:

• What program is Janine Williams enrolled in? Substance Abuse Counseling
• What award did Renee receive? Newman Civic Fellow
• Who are the paramedic instructors? Drew Novak and Andy Baus
• What program is Isaac enrolled in? CNC Tool & Die
• What community outreach organization is utilizing Beaver Dam’s Energy Education Center? Second Harvest Food Bank
• Who is the 2019 Student of the Year? Ashley Martin

Stay tuned for the Fall/Winter 2019 NEXT magazine, set to release in November 2019.

Moraine Park has been all over the district this summer, from DockSpider games to festivals and fairs. Needless to say, our Maximus knows how to have fun in the sun!

Enjoy the photos below, taken at the Fond du Lac DockSpiders games, Fiesta Latina in Beaver Dam, and the Washington County Fair!

morainepark.edu

Starting a small business is no small decision. If you’re thinking about taking the plunge and starting a business of your own, there are some key steps you need to take first.

Step One:  Understand Your Own Strengths and Skills.

Take a look inside of yourself and ask the following questions. What is your prior work experience? What are your personal interests and hobbies?  What education or courses have you taken? What skills and talents do you have? What are you an expert in?

Norman Vincent Peale said it best, “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”

Looking closely at your strengths and skills can help you identify specific expertise that may lend themselves to starting your own business.

Step Two:  Ask yourself, “Is My Idea Feasible?”

I know this one sounds obvious. Aren’t all things possible to those who believe? Certainly, but quite a few great ideas didn’t make it either because the service or product was not timely or too expensive.

Ask yourself the following questions. Will your product or service serve an existing market in which there is a demand? Will your product or service be competitive in the market based on its price and quality? If you answered yes to these questions, you are on the right track.  If you answered no, you need to carefully assess your business idea before moving forward. A feasible idea has to be right for you and for the market.

Step Three: Seek Support and Guidance.

As you receive the proper support and guidance your confidence will grow. Let those with experience guide you through the steps of business development. Returning to school and taking part in professional development coursework can help you learn more about entrepreneurship, how to create a business plan, marketing and financing a business.

Having the right strengths and skills and matching them with a feasible idea is a good place to start. At Moraine Park, we support your journey  by offering workshops that help you accomplish your goals. Get started today by enrolling in a face to face class in September in Green Lake or take a class in November in Fond du Lac. 

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2ZAvoZz.

Did you know that Moraine Park offers free services to the entire community?

• Career assessment
• Basic education instruction
• College entrance exam prep
• Resume help
• Help with college coursework
• GED/HSED courses
• Career center resources/job search
• English Language Learners (ELL) classes

Learn more today at morainepark.edu/student-resources

Moraine Park instructor, Tom Endejan, is busy preparing for the Wisconsin State Fair- known, in part, for their famous cream puffs!

For the last three years, Tom has helped in the Cream Puff Pavilion, utilizing his baking skills to help thousands enjoy this sweet treat.

“The famous recipe was developed by the Wisconsin Baker’s Association. I converted their recipe so that we could use it more effectively and test it when needed,” said Tom.

While he is an active part of the WI State Fair cream puff production, he is quick to clarify the fact that this isn’t a one-person operation.

“I am supervising the early shift that mixes the cream puffs. There are a lot of people involved, and I am just one of many helpers,” he said. “We mixed and baked 7000-8,000 puffs yesterday (July 29). It doesn’t sink in until you are here just how many people it takes to get the puffs made.”

We are proud of Tom for his accomplishments and being a part of this huge Wisconsin event.

morainepark.edu

https://wistatefair.com/fair/

Thomas Hopp of West Bend was sworn in on July 8 as the newest member of the Moraine Park Technical College District Board. He will serve as an employer member representative, with a term expiring in June 2022.

Hopp learned from a young age the all-around benefits of volunteering within the community.

“My father was a large influence in my life,” Hopp said. “Through his dedicated volunteer work, he taught me that volunteering and helping others creates a strong, vibrant, and growing community by simply taking time to help others.”

Hopp has been an active part of the community of West Bend for many years. He currently serves on multiple boards including Albrecht Free Clinic, Commerce State Bank, and the United Way of Washington County. Additionally, he is involved with the City of West Bend Safety Commission as a volunteer for over 10-years and the Kettle Moraine YMCA as an active member and volunteer for over 20-years. 

“I have always believed that continuing education benefits everyone and what better organization to contribute as a board member than MPTC,” He said.

Also sworn in alongside Hopp were Renee Almeida of Beaver Dam and Vernon Jung of Kewaskum, retaining their spots on the board as an employee member and additional member, respectively. Their new terms will also expire in June of 2022.

The 2019-20 District Board members for Moraine Park were also nominated into office during the meeting. The following board members will serve as officers: Bur Zeratsky, chairperson; Vernon Jung, vice chairperson; Bob Lloyd, treasurer; Lowell Prill, secretary.

Two Moraine Park students were recently recognized for their heroic and life-saving actions.

This spring, Scott Lieburn, Moraine Park’s dean of students, received a notification that a 911 call was placed on campus. Upon his arrival at the scene, he immediately identified that it was near the nursing classroom. Natasha Sokoloff, a second-year nursing student, and Andres Morales, a first-year respiratory therapy student, were providing care to an unresponsive person. They were supported by instructors and classmates and administered life-saving care until EMS arrived.

“It is clear that these students are in the right field,” Scott said. “They showed a sense of urgency and remained calm during the intense situation.”

This person was within minutes of death, but because of Natasha and Andres’s teamwork, they are alive today.

It is because of these heroic measures that the Fond du Lac Fire Department presented Natasha and Andres with a Lifesaving Award at Moraine Park’s June 19 board meeting.

Additionally, the person sent a message.

“To the person or people who found me, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I literally owe you my life, and I hope you know how grateful I am for that.”

Moraine Park staff and board members gathered at the College’s monthly board meeting on Wednesday, June 19 to honor Mike Staral’s retirement from the Moraine Park board and his many years of service to the College.

Staral is a 1978 graduate from Moraine Park’s Tool and Die Technologies Apprenticeship program, and since then has been a self-motivated advocate and ambassador for the College.  He served for 40-years at Willer Tool Corp. in Jackson, retiring in June 2016 from his role as Vice President. He was also an active member of the Moraine Park CNC/Tool and Die Technologies Advisory Committee for 15 years, the Moraine Park Alumni Advisory committee for four years, and served on the Moraine Park Board for six years, two of those as the Chairperson.

He’s dedicated a large part of his life to spreading the good word about technical education. It’s no wonder, then, that 65 percent of Willer Tool Corp.’s employees are Moraine Park graduates.

 “I’m Moraine Park’s biggest fan,” Staral said.

Aside from himself, three other members of his family are graduates of Wisconsin technical colleges, including his wife, Kate, with a degree in interior design; his son, Jason, with a tool and die degree; and his daughter-in-law, Krista, with a degree in dental hygiene.

A lifelong West Bend resident, Staral will continue to serve his community as president of Friends of West Bend Parks and on the West Bend Baseball Association Board of Directors and the West Bend Park and Recreation Commission.

At the June board meeting, President Bonnie Baerwald extended her gratitude and presented Staral with a gift in honor of for his service to the College.

“Mike is one of those unique board members,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president said. “I’m a firm believer that the success of an organization is built around strong leadership, which comes directly from the board, especially its chair. Mike has been one of my strongest supporters and the biggest cheerleader for Moraine Park. He is passionate about career and technical education, and it is felt through all that he did for the College. He not only served in various leadership roles on the Board, but also advocated for legislation, attended conferences to learn best practices, and challenged, as well as supported, fiscal and strategic decisions. He is a wonderful ally and dear friend, and the College and I will certainly miss him.”