It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, and Moraine Park Technical College and Marian University teamed up once again to sponsor a veteran’s suicide awareness event, dubbed 22 No More. A 2.2-mile trek to help raise awareness of the many veterans’ lives lost too soon due to suicide.

Over 125 people participated in this year’s annual event, intended to raise awareness of the alarming suicide rate among veterans and, form a strong community around those who have served or currently serving. Although 2.2 miles may not seem like a significant distance, the number was chosen to identify the 20-22 veteran suicides or, one every 80 minutes which occur every day, and, ensure everyone who attended would be able to take part in the event.

Participants received a free 22 No More water bottle or small nylon sport-pack courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs and everyone was encouraged to honor a service member by carrying a photo of them during the walk. There was also an opportunity for the community to meet with area veteran resource providers, the National Guard, and ROTC service members.

The event began promptly at 10:00 a.m. with a flag presentation by Marian University’s ROTC followed by the 2.2-mile walk around the Fond du Lac Soccer Complex. Participants also got the marathon treatment courtesy of MPTC’s Health and Wellbeing Committee who provided water and bananas along the way and, the walk ended with a free from Yummy Bones Barbeque sponsored by Moraine Park’s Student Veterans and Civil Engineering Technology Clubs.  Plans are in the works to conduct the 22 No More walk again next year, and we are always looking for new ways to raise awareness and increase participation. If you would like more information or may be interested in assisting next year, please contact Steve Pepper, Moraine Park’s Student Veteran Specialist at 920-924-3489 or spepper1@morainepark.edu .

President Bonnie Baerwald attended an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Bosslift last week.

The KC‐135 Stratotanker Air Refueling Mission departed from Madison’s Truax Field. Employers learned about the 115th Fighter Wing and received a Base tour. Bonnie joined other employers of the 115th Fighter Wing members – Wisconsin Air National Guard on a 2 ½ hour mission to conduct an In‐Flight Refueling of US Military Aircraft. Employers received information about the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its crucial role in our nation’s defense mission and why employer support is critical to the success of our reserve forces.

Employers also received a short briefing on the services provided by ESGR and roles performed to support them and their military employees to better understand their employee’s vital role in todays’ military.

“The purpose of the ESGR Boss Lift Program is to provide employers and supervisors the opportunity to better understand what their employees do when they are away from their civilian occupations for military duty,” said Scott Lieburn, MPTC’s Dean of Students and current member of the 115th Fighter Wing.

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

Moraine Park Technical College and Marian University student veteran organizations will hold their third annual 22 No More ruck march/walk for veterans on Saturday, April 20. This event is intended to raise awareness of the 20-22 suicides committed by veterans every day and form a strong community around those who have served or currently serving. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. with registration in the B parking lot of MPTC’s Fond du Lac campus, located off Campus Drive across from the VUE housing, followed by a 2.2 mile walk around the Fond du Lac Soccer Complex at 10 a.m. The walk ends with an opportunity to meet with area veteran resource providers, National Guard, and ROTC service members and enjoy a free lunch provided by the student veteran groups of both college.

A backpack is not required to participate, but everyone who attends is encouraged to honor a service member by carrying a photo of them during the walk. The first 100 individuals who register and take part in the event will receive a free water bottle or small nylon backpack while supplies last and “22 No More” t-shirts from last year’s event will be available for a small donation.

The event is free, but donations are encouraged, with proceeds going to support the Student Veteran Organizations of both colleges and Salute the Troops. To pre-register, please click here and for more information on the 22 No More ruck march/walk please contact Steve Pepper, Student Veteran Specialist for Moraine Park Technical College at 920-924-3489 or Maranda Abitz, Coordinator of Veteran Services at Marian University, at 920-923-8641.

Join us on Friday, March 29, 2019 at 11:30 am in the Moraine Park Technical College cafeteria as we hear firsthand from several Fond du Lac Hmong community members as they talk about their service during the Vietnam War and, the struggles they face to be accepted as veterans, as well as the effects it has had on their families.

America hasn’t always been thankful for Hmong veterans who risked their lives in secrecy in Laos during the Vietnam War. These veterans, trained by the CIA, played a critical role during the Vietnam War, and Wisconsin is home to the third largest concentration of Hmong in the U.S. after California and Minnesota and almost 50,000 Hmong were living in Wisconsin during the 2010 Census.

March 29th is also significant because it is Vietnam Veterans Day. A national day of recognition when we honor the nine million American men and women who served on active duty from November 1st, 1955, to May 7th, 1975 during the Vietnam war and solemnly remember the more than 58,000 whose names are etched into the Vietnam Memorial’s polished black granite—constant reminders of the price of freedom.

For additional information contact Steve Pepper, Moraine Park Technical College’s Student Veteran Specialist at spepper1@morainepark.edu or 920-924-3489.

For the ninth consecutive year, Moraine Park Technical College has made the Victory Media list of Military Friendly Schools for its commitment to serving student veterans.

The Military Friendly Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly Schools survey from participating institutions.

“I continue to be immensely proud of our staff and students for their passion in making our College an exceptional place for military students and student veterans,” Scott Lieburn dean of students at Moraine Park said. “Our consistent designation as a Military Friendly School affirms this commitment. We look forward to further serving our student veterans and those still serving in the future.”

The award recognizes the top colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide who embrace America’s veterans as students. This year 766 schools earned this prestigious designation.

Moraine Park has numerous resources available to military and veteran students, including the Student Veterans Association (SVA) club. The SVA club meets regularly to answer questions and provide information about educational opportunities and veterans benefits. The club also allows students to meet other military students and veterans, as well as their supporters. Resources like the SVA club provide a support system to assist with the transition from military life to college and careers.

For more information about Moraine Park’s Veterans Services, visit morainepark.edu/veterans.

for serving our country and protecting our freedoms. 

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Moraine Park Technical College has earned the ninth spot, out of 21 technical colleges nationwide, on the “Military Times Best: Colleges 2019” rankings. This honor recognizes career and technical colleges for their commitment to educating and providing opportunities to America’s veterans.

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Today’s Blog is all about Water Quality Technology, and although the profession is not on everyone’s radar for career choice, maybe it should get a serious look.

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                                                 POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 21, 2018

National POW/MIA (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) Recognition Day is September 21 (annually the third Friday in September) and I thought this would be a great opportunity to provide some of the history on the flag you may have seen featuring a silhouette of an individual before a guard tower and barbed wire in white on a black field with the words “You Are Not Forgotten”.

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