This summer, teens from the Fond du Lac, Tri-County, and Jackson Boys and Girls Clubs will be learning about various careers through the MPTC Dream Big community service project.

The Dream Big project started in 2017 with  area BGC teens visiting MPTC or MPTC students visiting the Clubs each semester to help teens learn more about the over 100 careers available through MPTC. This past year, due to COVID, no visiting was possible. The MPTC Student Community Impact Team, in partnership with faculty leaders, came up with a plan to offer summer career exploration of welding, blueprint reading, cosmetology, and culinary through interactive videos with fun hands on activities.

Dream Big is a great community partnership opportunity to showcase MPTC careers and for area teens to get excited about career choices! Tri-County Boys and Girls Club Director of Operations Mindy Collado said, “We are so excited for these Dream Big opportunities! Thanks for stopping in today and delivering all the goodies. The teens already had a lot of fun and I am sure we will get good use out of the careers materials all throughout this summer! Thank you MPTC!”

Students in Moraine Park’s Marketing and Social Media Management program applied their video editing skills and created 19 videos to promote local United Way agency partners in Fond du Lac, Washington and Dodge counties.

“The MPTC Community Resource Project Team was in the middle of planning an in person community resource/volunteer fair for each MPTC campus when COVID put a halt to our plans.  A new idea was how about doing it virtually?  We reached out to our Marketing and Social Media Management Instructor Sarah Ninmer, who was eager to have her Fall, 2020 students work on a service learning project.  Next we reached out to FDL, Dodge and Washington County United Ways to ask their agency partners who would like to make a video with our students?”  Anne Lemke, Student Community Impact Coordinator.

“Anne contacted me with her project needs and I was so excited our class could help her and the United Way Community. The students ended up dedicating over 160 hours of their time and gained valuable real-world experiences”. Sarah Ninmer, Moraine Park Marketing and Social Media Management Instructor.

Students learned so much from this project!

“Completing this project was a great way for me to use my skills to give back to my community as well as learn more about creating ads for small business. Overall, I loved this assignment and hope to get similar experience in other classes!” Emma H., Moraine Park Marketing and Social Media Management Student

“Overall, I feel that this project was successful in helping me improve my digital design skills and it opened my awareness to new opportunities in the community.” Peyton W., Moraine Park Marketing and Social Media Management Student

United Way partners are so pleased with the project results!

“Wow!!!  What a great job on the videos. Thank your students and teacher for us. I have gotten a lot of feedback from Arc members and they are loving it.”  Bernie Hafenstein, The Arc of Dodge County

“United Way is grateful to the students and faculty at MPTC for producing a video series.  Each video features a local nonprofit agency that is funded by United Way.  They highlight the great work being done every day by nonprofit agencies to help our residents in need.  United Way funded programs served over 15,000 individuals and families last year.  United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community #UnitingForceForGood.” Kristin Brandner, Executive Director, United Way of Washington County

Community Impact is a strategic priority at MPTC. Connecting the college and community for the goals of fostering collaboration and connectivity among business, alumni and community partners, increases the visibility of the college impact to the communities we serve.  Moraine Park students and employees are also helping fulfill community needs, sharing their time and talent, connecting and volunteering to help and improve the communities where we live, work and go to school.

In the summer of 2018, MPTC started posting and tracking service learning and volunteer opportunities online for students and staff. To date, we are so proud to report over 11,000 hours of community service have been tracked with a total economic impact of close to $286,000 throughout the MPTC district of Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Dodge and Washington Counties. Way to go MPTC!

Here is a little breakdown of the service hours so far:

• 250+ students and staff have participated

• 360+ community partners have been served

• As of Spring Semester 2021, 135 students have earned Community Impact Awards

• As of April 2021, 15 employees have earned Community Engagement Awards

Please join in celebrating this important milestone of our college commitment to making an impact on our communities. Together we are truly making a difference!

When MPTC Leadership Development student Nikki Toombs needed to choose a service learning capstone project, she knew just what she wanted to do! Nikki said, “I chose to take on this project because I wanted to help people who are going through tough times in our Ripon community. I also know the effects stress can have on a person — that is why I love the food pantry and what they do for those who could use a helping hand.”

Nikki designed an entire food drive event for the Ripon Community Food Pantry, complete with gathering a volunteer team, creating a logo, facebook page, web postings, business contacts database, silent auction fundraiser, flyers and outreach plan.

Nikki’s project helped the Ripon community gather 876 pounds of food donations at Webster’s Marketplace and raise $722 through the silent auction and monetary donations. Way to go!! One special donation was made in memory and honor of Ron LeMahieu; to help his family always remember the moments and love they shared. Nikki stated, “I think the little things, like a simple “thank you” go a long way. I have received some great feedback from people. My goal of getting the community together to support those in need is being recognized and I am achieving my goals!”

Congratulations on your successful project Nikki and on earning an MPTC Gold Community Impact Award for over 100 hours of service!

Find out more about Nikki’s project in the Ripon Commonwealth Press.

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. 

In 2018, MPTC started a community impact awards program where students can track their service hours, submit their reflections, and earn a Bronze Award for 25 hours, Silver Award for 50 hours, Gold Award for 100 hours, or Presidents Award for 200 hours of service learning or volunteering.

This fall we have awarded our third President’s Award Winner – Barbara Turner! Barbara earned the President’s Award with over 240 volunteer hours. For her exemplary service, Barbara was also recently honored with the Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader Award.

Barbara plans to graduate in May 2021 with her Associate Degree in Business Management. She has already earned an associate degree in Leadership Development.

Upon receiving the President’s Award, Barbara stated:  “I am very grateful and honored to receive this award. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mary Vogl-Rauscher, Leadership Development Instructor in MPTC, and Tracy M. Propst, the Executive Director in Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce, for the volunteering opportunity.” President Bonnie Baerwald said, “Barbara consistently demonstrates that she is a committed, dependable, hard-working individual with a high degree of integrity. She brings a positive attitude and a natural curiosity to plan, learn and do – no matter what the task or project. She has a tenacious gift to persevere and a real desire to make a difference in this community. Barbara has a proven track record for success and has demonstrated her commitment to lifelong learning and volunteerism.”

Congratulations Barbara!

Amanda Kollmorgan, a Leadership and Organizational Development student, is getting fired up! As a part of her capstone course, Amanda is conducting a service learning project. Service learning takes the learning experience outside of the classroom, connects students to community, and provides a mutually benefit to the student and community through the service. Amanda is applying skills and knowledge acquired through the completion of her program in a project with the Village of St. Cloud Fire Department. She is partnering with local heroes to provide a COVID friendly online auction to help meet department needs.

When asked why she chose a community project, she reflected on her feelings about the community and why giving back was important to her. “I am not from the Fond du Lac area and come from a very small family. When I married my husband, I married into a large Fond du Lac and Holyland family. When I started a job in St Cloud, everyone immediately made me feel like family. The community out there is so warm and friendly. It just really feels like home, even though it’s not. That’s why I chose to support the Fire Department. They are volunteer based and rely completely on the community to run, so what better way to give back to all of those folks who became part of my family than do a fundraiser”.

Amanda is set to finish the associate degree program this semester and reflected on her experience at MPTC. “I truly love how involved in the community it is, the number of resources there are, the ability and support of the staff available, and the quality of teachers. This is my third time attending college, and I regret not having been able to start my journey here. In fact, I love this school so much I signed up for a second degree starting in the fall!”.

Amanda plans to leverage the knowledge, insight, and tools gained from her experience in the program to achieve her short and long-term career goals which include owning her own bakery. She shared that she now has”…a better understanding of how to manage people plus be aware of the laws and regulations that pertain to them. I feel better apt to provide trainings as well as plan and manage projects. For the bakery, I am aware of what will take to plan my project proposal, as well the laws governing recruiting, hiring, and employing personnel”.

The Moraine Park Community extends their appreciation to Amanda to all of her service to community!

Way to go Amanda Leslie! For her Leadership Development Capstone service learning project, Amanda put together a virtual pet show fundraiser to support the FDL Humane Society and was able to raise $725! “Join me to support a good cause and possibly win a prize without ever having to leave the house! Donate $5 or more and message me a photo of your pet to enter into our virtual pet show and help raise money for FDL Humane Society Inc. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Winners of the pet show were announced on October 25th, 2020 on a virtual event! Thank you for your support!

Amanda’s instructor, Mary Vogl-Rauscher said, “Very Impressive Amanda!! You are a Rock Star!!” Associate Dean of Business, Bobbi Fields, said, “Amanda – I want to congratulate you on the success of your project and to thank you for your contributions to the community. I am very supportive of service learning and greatly enjoy hearing stories of how students effectively leverage the projects to enhance their education and their community. Undoubtedly, you have promoted your own professional profile; however, I see the benefits of your altruistic project yet another amazing outcome of your project. Again,  thank you applying the leadership skills you have gained in Mary’s program to promote your community. “

Amanda said, “The reason I chose this project is because I have always been passionate about animal welfare and rescue. Animals are precious to me and I want to help any way I can to aid in their protection.  We are in unprecedented times with this pandemic and many non-profit organizations, such as the Humane Society, have had to close their doors to the public and cancel upcoming public fundraising events.  This has deeply impacted them financially.  Therefore, my project was a fun alternative means to engage the community and help provide financial aid to an organization that does amazing work providing humane care and protection to animals in need, while keeping supporters safe in their own homes. The virtual pet show had an element of convenience and engagement for my supporters by having them share photos of their beloved companions in the contest, rather than simply asking for a donation.  There was 5 different categories they could enroll their pet into, which allowed for creative freedom and 5 chances to win. It was an encouraging experience interacting with so many individuals who had a similar passion and love for animals as me. There was so many generous donations from supporters resulting in a total of $725 and I can’t thank them enough!” 

Congratulations on your Bronze Award for Student Community Impact Amanda!

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. 

MPTC encourages 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, or Presidents Award for 200 hours!

In the 2020 fall semester, despite all the Covid-19 challenges, 16 students earned awards and logged over 900 hours of service!

Congratulations to our Fall, 2020 award winners!

Bronze Award Winners

Completing 25-49 hours of service learning or volunteering.

• Megan Andrew, Medical Assistant
• Corrine Chalker, Medical Assistant
• Courtney Dickow, Medical Assistant
• Alexis Erickson, Medical Assistant
• Tanya Johnson, Medical Assistant
• Cindy Krueger, Medical Assistant
• Maggie Landowski, Leadership Development
• Amanda Leslie, Leadership Development
• Emily Lewis, Medical Assistant
• Whitney Liegl, Medical Assistant
• Kelly Pike, Medical Assistant
• Megan Ryals, Medical Assistant
• Barbara Turner, Leadership Development
• Rachael Wagner, Medical Assistant
• Allexis Wegner, Medical Assistant

Silver Award Winners

Completing 50-99 hours of service learning or volunteering.

• Megan Andrew, Medical Assistant
• Corrine Chalker, Medical Assistant
• Courtney Dickow, Medical Assistant
• Cathryn Kuslits, Medical Assistant
• Barbara Turner, Leadership Development
• Allexis Wegner, Medical Assistant

Gold Award Winner

Completing 100-199 hours of service learning or volunteering.

• Barbara Turner, Leadership Development

President’s Award Winner

Completing 200+ hours of service learning or volunteering.

• Barbara Turner, Leadership Development

When Leadership Development student Maggie Landowski, saw that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac posted a need for warm winterwear for kids, she knew just what her Capstone project should be!

Maggie created a wonderfully successful Drive Up event on Saturday, October 24 to collect socks, underwear, mittens, gloves, hats and scarves for BBBS families.

Maggie said, “This event has brought me so much joy to know that I have collected over 370 items total for kids in the Fond du Lac area to help keep them warm this winter.” Maggie’s instructor Mary Vogl-Rauscher said, “OUTSTANDING job Maggie!” Associate Dean of Business, Bobbi Fields said: “You did such a nice job on your project and presentation Maggie! I can certainly see that you put a great deal of planning and effort into your work. As I meet with employers and our MPTC advisory committee members, I continually hear the value of project planning, organization, communication as sought out skills. I thank you for your commitment to serving the community and again, wonderful work!”

“Maggie was our angel this holiday season,” Tammy Young, Executive Director of BBBS of Fond du Lac County, said. “She feels strongly that no child should want for basic things to keep them warm- hence the drive she put on for BBBS of Fond du Lac County- and boy did she deliver! Her “can do” attitude helped many children. On behalf of BBBS, I can’t thank her enough!”

Congratulations Maggie on your Bronze Student Community Impact Award!