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.

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 ^~

This year, MPTC Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa students have decided on a Spring Project to benefit area homeless shelters in their quest to help those in need of services. These shelters are often only thought of by the general population during cold weather, but homelessness sadly knows no season. Help us to provide some critically needed supplies and other items to these facilities so that they can continue to provide shelter and hope for some of our most vulnerable residents in their time of need.

Beginning April 4, we’ll be collecting donations on all three campuses and need YOUR help to make this a success by April 29! The requested needs are small, but the impact of giving will be huge. The donated items we collect will be 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. Each MPTC location will have a laundry basket for donations placed at the near school entrances, in front of the libraries, and at the cafeterias for a total of nine collection baskets. Whether you donate a few or many items, each will touch a heart in a lasting way!  Let’s do this!!

Critical Needs are as follows:

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

Moraine Park Information Technology student, Tim Reynolds of Van Dyne, has been named a 2022 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“The Coca-Cola scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, said. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

“This scholarship is going to help pay for school, because I cannot afford it on my own,” Reynolds said. “I have been putting in a lot of hard work, and one of my biggest accomplishments is being part of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. I hope that I have inspired my peers to work hard and put their best foot forward.”

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, to be held in Denver, Colorado, April 7-9.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa, said. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

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 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

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