Moraine Park Technical College’s Fire/EMT program has received a generous donation from Woodland Fire Department. Last fall, the Woodland Fire Department announced their plans to cease their community services and made plans to donate their department fire engine to Moraine Park. The engine was presented to the College on Monday, March 22 during a small event at the Woodland Fire Department.  

“We hope this donation will help Moraine Park fill the industry with new firefighters,” Tony Roethle, Woodland Fire Department Chief, said. “There is a need for volunteer firefighters- without them, fire stations simply can’t survive.”  

This year, the College has an increased number of students in the firefighter certification courses, and in mid-May, they will undergo their testing to become certified.  

“We are pleased to see this increase,” Barb Jascor, Dean of Health and Human Services said. “We have been working hard to promote and support our local fire departments, and we hope to continue to see enrollments increase in the future as well.”  

The College will use the donation for hands-on student learning, which will help students learn on equipment comparable to what they will see on the job.  

“The donation of the fire truck complements the existing simulation equipment used for Fire/EMT students,” Barb Jascor, Dean of Health and Human Services said. “Currently, we have both a full-sized ambulance and apartment, along with high fidelity patient simulators, that many of our health and human service programs utilize for simulations. The addition of the fire truck allows further hands-on training for both existing and future firefighters throughout the Moraine Park district.”  

The ambulance and apartment simulation were added last summer, as part of the Beaver Dam campus remodel project, and have been a vital addition to the curriculum. 

“Hands-on learning offers an easy pathway from the classroom to career,” Jascor said. “We rely on our community partnerships, and the generosity of the Woodland Fire Department will directly impact fire training offered within our district for many years.”  

The Woodland Fire Department ceased operations effective January 1, 2021, and staff who elected to relocate are serving the Iron Ridge and Neosho departments. Additionally, Hartford, Iron Ridge and Neosho Fire Departments are now serving the community of Woodland. 

For more information on Moraine Park’s Fire Certification Training, visit morainepark.edu.

The Moraine Park Foundation has received a donation of $10,000 from Waupun Memorial Hospital, a member of Agnesian HealthCare, to purchase 44 Portable Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Jump Bags. This equipment will be used as an additional learning tool for the College’s Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Paramedic program students. 

“COVID-19 had a significant effect on our hands-on classroom time,” Drew Novak, paramedic instructor said. “While we’ve done an excellent job at adapting and finding alternatives, these bags allow students to continue their learning and practice skills outside of the classroom.” 

The EMS bags are designed around the tools and equipment that are needed in the field and are centered on the Wisconsin and National Curriculum’s scope for EMTs. Items include simple airway devices (oral and nasopharyngeal airways), SAM Splint, Blood Pressure Cuff, stethoscope, bandages, cervical collar, gloves, bag valve masks, tourniquet, and an assortment of bandages. The bags are designed to be safe for the student in an unsupervised environment and are a means to continually engage students in learning.  

“The EMS jump bags will allow students to practice their skills remotely,” Novak said. “Additionally, students can record their progress so we can evaluate and follow their learning.” 

This donation will serve the educational needs of approximately 400 students over the next five to ten years and will help to ensure that the local community has a pipeline of skilled emergency care professionals who provide competent, compassionate care to patients. 

“These kits will help our future paramedics and EMTs get the training they’ll need to provide the very best emergency care within our communities,” DeAnn Thurmer, President, Ripon Medical Center/Waupun Memorial Hospital, said. 

Moraine Park Technical College’s Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program strives to prepare competent entry-level EMT-Paramedics in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains to perform pre-hospital medical procedures. EMTs respond to emergencies and transport patients to appropriate care facilities while working collaboratively with various healthcare professionals to provide patients with the best care possible. The College is committed to upholding excellence in the standards of healthcare and safety, and this generous gift demonstrates a commitment to educating the next generation of EMS providers.  

“We are grateful to our community partner, Waupun Memorial Hospital, for their continued support of student learning,” Dana Bourland, Moraine Park’s director of college advancement, said. “Their generous donation will help ensure our students have access to robust learning tools- helping to make them ready to serve our communities.” 

For more information, visit morainepark.edu.    

Moraine Park Technical College’s Criminal Justice and Paramedic students collaborated with the Dodge County SWAT Team last month to offer a live emergency simulation.

The simulation was in response to the major remodel at the Beaver Dam campus last summer. The new layout required the Dodge County SWAT team to do a walkthrough and reassess the building- as a way to be prepared in the event of an emergency on campus. 

Moraine Park’s Criminal Justice and Paramedic instructors worked with the SWAT team to host and lead a simulation event featuring three different scenarios- as a learning opportunity for the students. 

“I am grateful for our partnership with the Dodge County SWAT team and the time they spent with our students.” Lisa Pollard, Moraine Park’s Beaver Dam campus dean, said. 

Throughout the simulations, students assisted the SWAT Team in the live emergency scenarios and were able to ask questions regarding their responses to different emergencies. 

“This simulation offered a valuable, real-world experience to our students,” Pollard said. “The SWAT team utilized our Moraine Park classroom spaces, including our built-in apartment and ambulance- used for hands-on classroom training. How they work in that environment, with their equipment, providing an emergency response is how Moraine Park prepares the students for their future careers.”

The SWAT Team, students, and faculty received valuable knowledge from the simulations that will help prepare them for emergency situations in the future, and the partnership between Moraine Park and Dodge County will help ensure a safer campus and community.

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu. 

Dajan Haley, of Fond du Lac, made a powerful and life-changing investment in himself when he enrolled at Moraine Park Technical College immediately after graduating from high school in 2018.

When Dajan came to the College, he didn’t have solid career plans. In fact, his goals were quite broad- he wanted to build upon his leadership and communication skills and find a career where he could use those skills to benefit others. The MPTC Career Center helped him to build upon those goals and map out his college journey to fulfill them.

Of course, this didn’t happen overnight. Dajan’s commitment to his education and future career allowed him to explore many program options at the College and eventually, he found that the Substance Abuse Counseling program was the best fit.

“Moraine Park allows me to continue to grow and build upon my goals,” Dajan said. “Their support of my pathway has ultimately led me where I am today, and I’m confident that I’ve found a program and career that I will love.”

His success at Moraine Park isn’t just confined to the classroom. Dajan’s extensive involvement in both student life and the Edge Program have opened many doors and allowed him to be a positive influence and friend to many at the College.

“I love being involved and helping people,” he said. “Being active at the College helped me find a home and extended family here at Moraine Park.”

Dajan is scheduled to graduate in May of 2022 and has goals to utilize his skills to benefit his local community.

morainepark.edu/ican

The final week of classes the Early Childhood program students supported the community by volunteering helping the Salvation Army to sort toys and put together stocking stuffers for all the good little boys and girls. These gifts were donated by the community Angle Tree patrons for distribution to low income families in Fond du Lac County.

To learn more about the Early Childhood program visit morainepark.edu/academics/programs

Are you a licensed EMT looking to advance your skills?

Moraine Park Technical College is offering an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) course at their Fond du Lac Campus.

Tuesdays & Thursdays
Jan 21 – May 14
6:30-10 p.m.
Room E-153.1

The advanced skills you will learn are:

• IV Therapy
• Advanced Assessment
• Pharmacological Interventions

Upon successful completion of the course, State certification requires:

• NREMT comprehensive written exam
• NREMT psychomotor exam

Acceptance into the AEMT program is required along with health requirements and a criminal background check. You must also be a licensed EMT.

Please apply early at morainepark.edu/apply.

For more information, please contact Renae Fischer, academic advisor, at 920-929-2477 or rfischer6@morainepark.edu.

When the need for 9-1-1 services arises, there is no better reassurance than hearing that help is on the way. On average, there are 765,000 medical emergency calls placed annually in the state of Wisconsin. In spring 2019, Greg Mowery, an emergency medical technician (EMT) student at Moraine Park, will be fully trained to help respond to these calls.   

“Helping others is my passion,” Greg said. “I am being trained to respond to emergencies quickly and professionally, and to get the patient the care they need as soon as possible.”

Greg was a fire department employee in the state of Oregon and worked on their emergency medical services (EMS) crew. It was there that he helped to save an 8-year old boy who was severely injured in a climbing accident.

“I’m glad I was there,” he said. “I helped stabilize him and with him rode to the hospital. A year later, I saw him out in the community. He didn’t remember me, but I remembered him. While some of his injuries were life-changing, he was alive and well. That is the best feeling, knowing I had a part in saving his life.”

It’s for this reason that Greg decided to become a licensed EMT in the state of Wisconsin, and upon completion, he will be furthering his education in the paramedic program.

“Moraine Park’s Paramedic program instructors are great,” Greg said. “Drew brings great leadership and innovative ideas, and Andy brings a wealth of experience. Together they make a great team.”

Andy Baus and Drew Novak, paramedic program instructors at the College, both have extensive backgrounds in the field and are working to fill our communities with educated paramedics.

Andy, a resident of West Bend, not only has previous on-the-job and teaching experience, but he also comes from a long line of emergency service professionals. Drew, of Waupun, is quite familiar with Moraine Park, having served as an adjunct faculty for the last five years.

Andy and Drew will be instructing the EMT, paramedic and advanced paramedic technical diploma, and the paramedic associates degree program. These are offered at Moraine Park separately or as an opportunity for career laddering by first taking the EMT program and then utilizing that diploma to advance into the paramedic field.

“For anyone in the emergency services profession, education doesn’t stop at the EMT level,” Drew said. “It’s important to keep learning. There are huge opportunities in the field and now is the time to take advantage of those.”

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for skilled employees in the paramedic field is expected to grow 15 percent by 2026, much higher than the average growth prediction of 7 percent for all occupations. This jump in growth is a result of an aging workforce and the need to fill the positions with trained and licensed professionals.

“The industry encourages students to pursue the paramedic associate degree program,” Drew said. “This allows the opportunity for an extensive hands-on internship and a chance to build a well-rounded background in the field.”

There are also opportunities to complete a fire certification, opening up even more doors for employment.

“Creating relationships with our communities is very important to us,” Drew said. “Many of our students will become employees of the municipalities and private companies in our district. It benefits everyone to make sure they leave the College skilled, educated, and ready to make a difference.”

As for Greg, he is looking forward to the future and expanding his career options. He will graduate in spring 2019 with his EMT diploma and will become a part-time employee of the North Fond du Lac Fire Department. His goals are to utilize his paramedic degree as an employee of the fire department and hopes to one day have the opportunity to follow in Drew and Andy’s footsteps and become an instructor.

“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from Drew and Andy at Moraine Park,” Greg said. “As a result, I will get the opportunity to make a difference and help save lives right in my community.”

On April 20, 2019 the Waupun High School Promise Program students came to meet MPTC EMS students and learn about Emergency Medical Services careers!

Nick Clarenbach, Waupun High School Special Education At Risk Instructor said, ” Thank you so much for this opportunity. The students learned a lot and really enjoyed the entire experience! They were talking about it all the way home!”

The Dream Big project started last year with Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac teens learning more about the over 100 careers available through MPTC.  This year, Dream Big expanded throughout the MPTC district to include Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area (Berlin, Green Lake County) and Waupun High School.  This is a great community partnership opportunity for Moraine Park students to showcase their degree programs and practice service learning  and for teens to get excited about their many career choices!

LaToya Singleton, of Kewauskum, has a love for children that has no limits. As an early childhood education student at Moraine Park, it is apparent that this career path is her passion.

Originally from Wisconsin, LaToya moved to New Orleans where she successfully operated her own childcare facility for seven years. She moved back to Wisconsin in 2015 to be closer to her family.

Her plan was to bring her childcare business here but found that Wisconsin licensing requires a degree in the field. LaToya is now working towards earning her early childhood education degree at Moraine Park.

LaToya’s love for children is the driving force behind her persistence to obtain her degree.

“My husband and I lost three babies to miscarriage,” LaToya said. “I still wonder why, but now I devote my attention to loving the children that I care for every day. I believe that it takes a village to raise a child and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of their lives.”

It seems that LaToya gives all of herself to everyone in her life. She regularly has a houseful of family and friends, has helped to raise her godson, and serves as a mother figure to many. She also volunteers at a childcare facility in Milwaukee. I guess you could say she’s everything to everyone.

“There is a need for good childcare,” she said. “I’m happy to provide some help.”

 LaToya admitted that when she first came to Moraine Park, she was frustrated to have to obtain a degree. She had worked successfully in childcare for many years and didn’t welcome the idea of having to go to school to continue her career. However, she now makes it known that she is adapting well to college life and is enjoying her journey.

“Moraine Park is now my sanctuary,” LaToya said. “I’m making friends and getting used to being around adults on a daily basis.”

She is a member of Moraine Park’s Promise and Edge programs. The Promise program is an opportunity for tuition-free schooling thanks to generous donors. The Edge program is a Student Support Services program that provides academic advising, study groups, cultural services, and many other resources for qualifying students. LaToya hopes that through her work, she can help bring awareness of diversity in the area.

“Moving back to Wisconsin was hard,” LaToya said. “I have experienced some direct racial hate. My hope is that I can show others that it is the brain and heart that really matters.”

Moraine Park works to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment. Support programs like Edge and groups like the Diversity Club, help to provide students with positive college experiences. Despite the obstacles she has had in her life, LaToya remains a positive ray of light.

“I have gotten everything I have ever prayed for,” she said. “I didn’t get them altogether or even on my terms, but I still got them. I asked for children to love, a house, an education, morals, and stability. In some way, I have all of those things. I am blessed.”

The quick conclusion I came to is that we all could use a LaToya in our lives.

She is expected to graduate in May of 2020 with her associate’s degree in early childhood education. She has goals to graduate summa cum laude and as a member of the Phi Theta Kapa Honor Society.

Congratulations to LaToya for her accomplishments so far! We look forward to following her journey!

For more information, visit morainepark.edu.