Congratulations 2018 Service Learning Award Winners!

2018 FDL Senior Center awards

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 service learning and apply their classroom knowledge to an applicable, real world environment.  Service learning is defined as a method of teaching characterized by student participation in an organized service project that meets an identified community need and is connected to course content/learning outcomes with structured reflection related to the service activity.

In 2017-18 MPTC started a new awards program where students can track their service learning hours, submit their reflections, and earn a Silver Award for 50 hours of service learning or a Gold Award for 100 hours of service learning.

We are so pleased to announce the 2017-18 award winners!

We also started a new Community Partnership Award, to recognize a community non-profit partner who has gone above and beyond in the role of working with MPTC students for service learning opportunities.

Congratulations! 2018 Community Partnership Award – Fond du Lac Senior Center

2018 FDL Senior Center awards

From left to right, Dr. Fred Rice – MPTC Dean of Technology and Trades, Cathy Loomans – FDL Senior Center Director, Sarah Docter – FDL Senior Center Programs, Alex McCleary – MPTC IT Student Gold Award Winner, Phil Conley – MPTC IT Student Gold Award Winner, Jeff Sonnleitner – MPTC IT Instructor, Anne Lemke – MPTC Experiential Learning Coordinator, Joe Desiderio – MPTC IT Instructor.

2018 community partnership award

Since the fall of 2015, for 2 hours every Thursday in fall and spring semesters, MPTC IT Club members host Tech Tyme at the FDL Senior Center for seniors to get help with their cell phones, iPads, laptops and other devices.  This project is an excellent example of service learning! “I was able to be very productive helping eight people today.  I fixed a problem I hadn’t dealt with before and honed my interpersonal skills.”

2018 MA awards

Medical Assistant Service Learning Awards – from left to right: MPTC MA Student Heather Elmer, MPTC MA Student Tammy Overbo, MPTC Experiential Learning Coordinator Anne Lemke, MPTC MA Student Taylor Boelhower, MPTC MA Student Hannah Harder, MPTC MA Student Trish LaBlanc.

“This has been a great learning experience.  I gained more confidence.  It has also reaffirmed how much I enjoy working with kids.”

2018 awards

From left to right, Brian Jacobson – Executive Director Green Valley Enterprises, Inc., Samantha Stam – MPTC Administrative Professional Student Gold Award Winner, MPTC Business Technology Instructor Cynthia Bernhard, MPTC Leadership Development Instructor Mary Vogl-Rauscher

“Working with Green Valley the past two years has not only taught me the needed skills for the workplace but has given me a true sense of accomplishment.  Green Valley is an amazing facility and I am so glad to have had this opportunity to volunteer while gaining experience.”

2018 awards

From left to right, MPTC Business Technology Instructor Cynthia Bernhard, MPTC Administrative Professional Student Latrice Miszewski Gold Award Winner, MPTC Business Management Student Becky Weyer Gold Award Winner.

“By volunteering I practiced patience, communication, and team work to name just a few.  To me, these will truly benefit me in my career.”

To learn more about Moraine park, visit morainepark.edu.

2018 service learning report

2018 service learning report

Written by Anne Lemke
Student Community Impact Coordinator