For many high school students, graduation means deciding on a college or figuring out what to do in a career. Cameron Groves, a senior at Slinger High School, is already one step ahead in achieving his career goals.

Come spring 2023, Groves will earn both his diploma from Slinger High School and his Electricity Technical Diploma and Industrial Wiring Certificate from Moraine Park Technical College. He took advantage of his schools’ dual credit programs, allowing him to earn college credits while still in high school.

“The field is continually changing, so as an electrician, I will be at the forefront of technology,” Groves said. “I can also assume that as I progress in my career, that I will accrue the knowledge and skill set that, if applied properly, will remain profitable. A switch install, hanging a light, wiring a system, and all the knowledge I attain will be mine forever.”

In addition to taking both high school and college level courses, it was important to Groves that he remained eligible to play high school football. This meant arranging his schedule to allow for flexibility during football season, and meeting WIAA credit standards. He took courses online and in the summer to ensure he could play and take a lighter course load during the fall season.

In Feb. 2023, Groves took the Milwaukee Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee aptitude test. Once he receives his diploma and test results, he plans to petition to join the Milwaukee Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Union in spring 2023. Eventually, he hopes to achieve the title Master Electrician and own his own business.

“I would definitely recommend that everyone take advantage of the dual credit opportunity, as it will allow you to get a head start on your chosen career path while also strengthening your transcript and resume,” Groves said. “Being immersed in the electricity program has helped strengthen my knowledge, allowed me to demonstrate learned topics in a field setting, and afforded me opportunities to network with individuals in my chosen field.”

To learn more about how to earn college credit while still in high school, talk to your counselor or visit morainepark.edu to learn about other MPTC offerings.

Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 1.7 percent of electricians in the United States are women? In honor of International Women’s Day, read about how Jenny Conrardy, an MPTC electrical apprentice, is sparking change in the trades.

In 2021, Conrrardy began working at Current Electric in Wauwatosa. Soon after she started, Conrardy proved herself a hardworking, dedicated employee and was selected for an apprenticeship to gain electrical training at Moraine Park. She specializes in photovoltaic energy.

“It’s not a secret that trade careers offer high-paying, reliable jobs, and women deserve to have high-paying jobs,” Gus Boyle Gustavus, Moraine Park electricity instructor, said. “My observations have been that many women tend to still believe that trade workplaces are rough and unaccepting. I have been working in male-dominated occupations my entire life and have always had colleagues who want to see me be successful and pave the way for other women.”

Through her apprenticeship, Conrardy earns a wage while she attends her classes, and her employer pays tuition and book expenses. She attends class one full day every other week, making it easier to maintain income and learn at the same time.

“The trades are a great fit for any person who loves to work with their hands and problem solve,” Conrardy said. “The trades have historically been a white, male-dominated industry, but I think there is a lot of room and willingness in the industry to open that demographic right now. Not just for women, but also for people of color and the LGBTQ community. I encourage people to take that first step, don’t let anyone say no and keep moving forward.” 

Conrardy will complete her apprenticeship and earn her journeyworker’s license in 2025. She is the only woman in her class. 

“It’s important for our youth to understand different types of professions available and for our young female students to actually see that women play an active role in trades-related occupations,” Bobbi Fields, Moraine Park dean of applied technology and trades, said. “When kids see someone who they can relate to being successful in a career, it increases the likelihood that they could dream of working in that profession someday.”

Alec Harrison, a Moraine Park Mechanical Design Technology student, is taking big strides in his career after graduating from Campbellsport High School in 2022.

With a strong interest in mechanical design since middle school, Harrison decided to take advantage of his high school’s dual credit program to get a head start on his college education. Through the program, he earned 8 credits and a SolidWorks professional certification before graduating. 

SolidWorks is an industry-leading Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Engineering software. 

“I started working with the SolidWorks program back in middle school and was really interested in it,” Harrison said. “I kept working at it and was certified with a professional exam by the time I was 16.” 

Harrison especially enjoyed taking the Computer-Aided Manufacturing course at Moraine Park’s West Bend campus. Part of this course was contracted; meaning it was taught by a Moraine Park instructor. 

“I really enjoyed getting out of the classroom to do more hands-on work,” said Harrison. “My MPTC instructor, Mr. Jim Hokenson, is really skilled on the machines, and it was inspiring to watch. It made me realize how good I could get if I put that much time and effort into it.” 

Harrison enrolled in Moraine Park’s Mechanical Design Technology program and became an official student in August 2022. 

“My dual credit experience took time out of the classes that I have to take now that I’m a Moraine Park student,” Harrison said. “The overall experience also made the transition from high school to college a lot easier for me since I was already familiar with the school and instructors.” 

Harrison will graduate with his associate degree in 2024. In the future, He hopes to start his own business doing custom contract orders for bigger companies that outsource. He is already on order for his first machine. 

Outside of classes, Harrison stays busy working 40 hours a week as a farmer. He is also part of Moraine Park’s Promise Program–an opportunity for debt-free tuition. As part of the program requirements, Harrison spends time volunteering at his church. 

Moraine Park carpentry apprentices swept the podium at the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Apprenticeship Skill Competition on Jan. 27 in West Bend.

In total, 33 apprentices representing five technical colleges competed in four trades: carpentry, HVAC, electrical and plumbing. The Skills Competition was a day-long event with a four-hour practical competition and written exam.

Moraine Park apprentices placed top three in the carpentry category. Alison Gordee from Northcentral placed first, Ryan Sankey from Bob Anderson Builders placed second and Noah Kusserow from Bob Anderson Builders placed third.

Gordee, placing first in her trade, qualifies for the National Craft Championships (NCC) in Orlando, FL. She will represent the state and compete against other trainees from across the country in March.

“I am thankful for the people that have gone out of their way to congratulate me,” Gordee said. “Being there again as a 4th year, I was more determined to win. You know what mistakes to avoid, to stay focused on yourself, and to put your best work into it because you never know who might be watching.”

Learn more about apprenticeship opportunities at Moraine Park at morainepark.edu/academics/clusters/apprenticeship-programs/.

Thirteen years after earning his first degree from Moraine Park, Ryan Riley walked the stage once again, this time as a husband, father and the 2022 Student of the Year.

Riley came to Moraine Park right out of high school and graduated from the Electricity program in 2009. He was not initially passionate about working as an inside electrician but felt pressured to pick a career path after high school.

After graduation, he was eager to start his next chapter, but the excitement was short-lived. At the time, the housing market was crashing and the economy was in a recession, which made finding employment difficult.

“I spent the next decade trying out different jobs,” Riley said. “I worked inside, outside, in a factory, in construction for small family businesses and for large corporations. Eventually, after several failed attempts at finding my place and some careful planning, I decided to get on the waitlist for the Electrical Power Distribution (EPD) program at Moraine Park.”

After being accepted into the program, Riley’s world began to shift very quickly. He quit his full-time job, and with a girlfriend and three children to support, he had to make major adjustments.

“It was a scary decision to quit my job and go back to school, but what was even scarier was the thought of spending the rest of my life working a job I did not like and not providing for my family,” Riley said.

Once Riley started in Moraine Park’s EPD program, he excelled. Earlier this spring he was named Moraine Park’s Student of the Year and spoke at the Student Awards Banquet and Moraine Park’s Commencement Ceremony. It was because of his humility and authenticity that Riley earned the nomination for the Student of the Year Award.

“Being nominated for Student of the Year was very unexpected,” he said. “It was not on my radar or anything I was expecting to get. I know there were so many other great students, so it was really an honor to be chosen.”

After graduating from the EPD program, Riley started a job at Asplundh doing line clearance tree trimming. He enjoys being in the field, networking and learning other valuable skills to generate income on the side. He hopes to be hired as an apprentice at an electrical company next spring.

“It has been an adjustment for my family to get used to me working again,” Riley said. “Going back to school has given my family hope for a better future with more opportunity, and the best is yet to come.”

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, during National Apprenticeship Week, over forty students from Waupun High School and Fond du Lac High School ACE Academy attended an event in the MPTC Conference Center to learn about apprenticeship and career opportunities in the trades.

To help share this information, Jessica Williams from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development was eager to explain all things apprenticeship, and Jon Hirsch from Auer Steel spoke about careers in the trades and HVAC. During the experience, students also toured Culinary Arts, the Automotive Lab, and the Electricity Lab, learning about careers in each area from instructors James Simmers, Frank Corrente, Gus Gustavus, and Josh Cohn. In addition, the high school students got to hear first-hand from four current apprentices in the electrician and maintenance technician fields to learn what motivated each of them to pursue an apprenticeship.  

Another great chance to share information about apprenticeships and careers in the trades took place on Thursday, Dec. 8, on Moraine Park’s West Bend campus. During this event, 13 students from West Bend High School took a break from their project constructing a mini-home in the Building-in-a-Building to get hands-on experience as novice plumbers. This activity, led by Jon Hirsch (Auer Steel), had teams of students construct a sealed copper tube assembly complete with an air valve to test pressure. Bending the copper, proper fitting of joints, and making soldered connections were all part of the activity.

MPTC HVAC instructor, Kevin Niedfeld, and his program students then held a Q&A to share a bit about what drew them to careers in HVAC. Steve Horvath, Associate Dean of Trades shared information on how to become an apprentice as an entry to a career.

“Giving young people a hands-on feel for experiencing a trade is one of the best recruitment tools there is,” Hirsch said.

Taken together, these two events were very successful and proved a great opportunity to share information with high school students who will soon be making decisions about their futures.

Submitted by Stephen Horvath, Associate Dean of Trades

Machines hum, metal sparks and concentration fills every corner of the room. It is midnight, but nothing is still inside the walls of Metalcraft of Mayville. Amongst the production, a Moraine Park student is hard at work fueling his passion and igniting his career.

Mason Higgins, of West Bend, was first introduced to welding while attending West Bend East High School. He took all the manufacturing courses available to him through the Start College Now program including Intro to Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing, Intro to Welding, Advanced Welding and a Manufacturing Capstone. He is 18, in his first year at MPTC and only a few credits shy of a college degree.

The Start College Now program enables high school students to enroll in occupational/technical courses and/or general education courses and earn high school and college credit at the same time.

“I was told by a couple of family members about welding and after looking at pictures and information online, I really wanted to try sticking some metal together,” Higgins said. “I took Intro to Welding as a high school freshman and after hours of welding time, I knew for certain this would be my career.”

Higgins began working at Metalcraft of Mayville as part of his high school’s Youth Apprenticeship program. Now, he works full-time, five nights a week from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. while taking courses at Moraine Park.

“The opportunities I got from Moraine Park’s partnership with my high school have helped me get ahead financially,” Higgins said. “I was able to start laying the groundwork for my future before graduating. I’m confident and prepared as I move into my next chapter.”

Higgins is enrolled in Moraine Park’s Welding program and takes classes at the West Bend Campus. He plans to finish his degree by December. In the future, his goal is to start his own portable welding business. He is already rebuilding a trailer to support an additional welder, an oxyfuel cutting set-up, tools and other essentials.

“My favorite part of welding is passing the bend test because it gives you such a good feeling knowing the weld actually did its job,” Higgins said. “Later, I look forward to the feeling of satisfaction knowing that I’ve built and repaired things that people are happy with, whatever the product may be.”

Read more stories like Mason’s in our Spring 2022 NEXT Magazine.

Moraine Park’s student-run restaurant, Park Terrace, unveiled updates to the restaurant including a new sign crafted by the Welding Club.

Park Terrace is a student learning lab for the Culinary Arts program. The students take turns overseeing and running various aspects of the restaurant to get a complete on-the-job culinary experience.

The update included new furniture, place settings, art, and more.

The new Park Terrace sign, hung right inside the restaurant’s entrance, was made by students in the Welding Club. The students worked on the sign for about a month, going through four versions using different metals before creating the final product.

To thank the Welding Club for their work on the sign, Culinary Instructor, James Simmers, and his students cooked and served them a private steak lunch in the restaurant.

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.