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.

Have you ever wondered if there are apps out there to help college students?

A while back, I investigated a couple that would help my stay organized. These are some that I found:

• Pomodoro timer (work 25 and break for 5 timer)
• Stay focused (blocks time draining websites that distract you)
• Evernote (records notes, lectures, videos, etc.).

I also found apps that list available student discounts.

• Cartwheel (targets mobile app)
• Chegg (help save on textbooks)
• Deal hack (student discounts)
• Fake spot (hides fake reviews)

Feel free to do research on your own, the ones listed above are just what I have found useful!

Happy studying or shopping, which every you decide. 😊

When was the last time you took an Excel course? If you are like most of us you have probably googled a command or two or watched a YouTube video on a specific function when needed. You get the work done, but the experience was uninspiring.  Over the course of a few weeks, you’re lucky if two or three of the new commands or functions you learned make it into your daily routine.  Sound familiar?

Here are some simple Microsoft Excel tricks you can use to be more productive at work.

Select All. This quick keyboard commands can cut your computer task time by seconds, which quickly adds up to minutes and hours.  [Ctrl]+A can be used to select all of the data in your Excel spreadsheet at one time. It also works in Word and other Windows applications.

Display formulas. Not the original author of a spreadsheet than you will find this helpful. When you hit [Ctrl] + ~, all of the formulas in a spreadsheet will be visible, allowing you to edit or tweak them as needed.

Using Quick Analysis. Who doesn’t want to analysis data quickly? Right click inside the table you wish to work with. Select the Quick Analysis button to open the menu. Hover over one of the tabs: Formatting, Charts, Totals, Table or Sparklines to preview the effects. Click on the button to apply the feature.

Moraine Park offers a host of Microsoft Excel classes that can teach you basic and advanced skills, or can be used as refresher training.  Consider what skills would make you more productive. Here are some options: 

Excel Level 1

Excel Level 2

Excel Level 3

If you’re looking to update or improve your Excel skills, please feel free to contact us today for more information on everything we offer!

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 is continuously working to address the needs of local industries, and the recent change to one of their main manufacturing programs did just that.

Quality and Advanced Manufacturing Technology (QAMT) is a restructured version of the Process Engineering program. The new program kept many of the same outcomes of the Process Engineering program-adding in a significant focus on automation.  

“Process Engineering was a very successful program,” Tom Roehl, Moraine Park instructor, said. “The reason for the change was simply to include some curriculum around the newer technology we are seeing in the industry. Many of our manufacturing partners are relying heavily on advanced manufacturing, and we want our graduates’ skills to match the needs of our industries.”  

QAMT is a two-year associate degree program. The first class began in fall 2020.   

“We are seeing significant support for this program from our manufacturing partners,” Roehl said. “All of our students in this program are employed in the manufacturing field, and some have seen promotions since starting the program. This tells us that what they are learning in the classroom is directly benefiting their career and our local industries.”  

The College worked with the program’s advisory committee, comprised of industry leaders, to create a curriculum that meets their needs.   

“Many of our manufactures are moving to an Industry 4.0 or smart factory environment,” Roehl said. “This program update will ensure our students are learning skills that will prepare them for success in the field.”  

There are currently 10 students in the program, and they all hold full-time jobs outside of school.   

“We try to format our courses to offer solutions for the working adult,” Roehl said. “We understand that committing to a full-time school schedule isn’t always a feasible option, and I’m proud that this program offers options for both full and part-time students.”  

The statewide median salary for graduates is $45,132, in job roles such as Quality Assurance Technician, Manufacturing Engineering Technician, CNC Programmer, and Robotics and Material-Handling Technician- to name a few.  

For more information on QAMT, visit morainepark.edu. 

Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987.

1950

ALTHEA GIBSON

In 1956, author and tennis star Althea Gibson became the first Black person to win the French championships, and in 1957, she won Wimbledon and the U.S. National Tennis Championships tournament as the first African American. Without Gibson crossing color lines during segregation and making an impact both on and off the tennis court, female athletes of color wouldn’t be able to enjoy the hard-fought labor today.

ELIZABETH ANN ECKFORD

Elizabeth Ann Eckford is one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at the previously all-white Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The integration came as a result of Brown v. Board of Education.

1960s

ELLA BAKER

Ella Baker was involved in civil rights long before the 1960s and even as a student she was involved in various protest movements. She worked with prominent organizations such as the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and the SCLC (Souther Christian Leadership Conference).

BETTY FRIEDAN

Betty Freidan broke new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles. She also helped advance the women’s rights movement as one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She advocated for an increased role for women in the political process and is remembered as a pioneer of feminism and the women’s rights movements.

1970s

BILLIE JEAN KING

A pioneering American tennis champion and social change activist, Billie Jean King famously threatened to boycott the U.S. Open in 1973 unless women were given equal prize money. The demand was met, making the U.S. Open the first majority tournament of it’s kind to offer pay equality.

WANGARI MAATHAI

She became the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a Ph.D., Maathai recognized the need to address the link between environmental degradation, poverty, and women’s well-being. In 1977, she started the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization that combats poverty and ecological destruction by working with rural women to plant trees.

1980s

LEAH LOWENSTEIN

Lowenstein was appointed dean and vice president of Jefferson Medical College (JMC) in 1981, becoming the first woman dean of a co-educational, medical school in the United States.

SALLY RIDE

On June 18, 1983, Ride was on the Challenger mission, making her the first American woman to journey to outer space. After NASA, Ride went on to start her own educational nonprofit organization called Sally Ride Science, which works to get young students interested in science as well as math.

1990s

TARANA BURKE

Tarana Burke founded the “Me Too” movement in the ’90s long before the hashtag went viral. She has since founded Just Be Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides support for victims of sexual harassment and assault.

ANTONIA NOVELLO, M.D.

Antonia Novello became the first woman and Latina to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General from 1990 to 1993. Novello, also served as Commissioner of Health for the State of New York from 1999 to 2006.

2000s

SONIA SOTOMAYOR

Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history. She was appointed by former President Barack Obama in May 2009 and later confirmed in August 2009. She is also the third female justice in U.S. Supreme Court history. Sotomayor continues to support women’s issues, criminal justice reform, and legal immigration.

IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD

In 2016, fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first Muslim woman to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, and she also won an Olympic medal. She also commanded attention for being the first Olympian to wear a hijab.

2020s

SARAH GILBERT

Professor Sarah Gilbert a veteran Oxford scientist developed a coronavirus vaccine that could help save the world from Covid-19. Early data suggests that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine that her team worked on affords up to 90 per cent protection against the virus, and is cheaper and easier to store than promising vaccines announced by Pfizer and BioNTech, and Moderna. Gilbert’s version could therefore benefit more people across the world.

KAMALA HARRIS

Kamala Harris made history in August 2020 as the first woman and first Black and South Asian woman to accept the vice-presidential nomination alongside former Vice President Joe Biden. Harris, a United States senator for California, also previously served as the attorney general of California. She was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021.

Students, are you looking for a way to give back, network or gain experience before you graduate? If so, consider volunteering. Volunteering can do this and so much more.

Volunteering helps you make a difference by helping others or a business in need. Volunteering can help you gain confidence in your skills that you learned throughout your program and can help provide proof (prove-it statements) that you can use during your upcoming interviews.

Volunteering can also help you advance in your career. Shawn Anchor of Goodthink Inc. researched the impact of Positive Psychology. Shawn Anchor’s research noted that people that reach out and help others are more likely to be engaged at work or get a promotion. Giving back to others can promote happiness and goodwill, and help you throughout your career.

Volunteering also provides an ability to network with individuals with interests similar to you. This can be a great way to showcase your skills and meet others in your career field or interests.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering activities available in our community, please connect with Anne Lemke, Student Community Impact Coordinator at Moraine Park. Visit the Community Impact webpage at https://www.morainepark.edu/community-impact/.

Your Moraine Park Careers Instructors can help you enhance your resume with the outcomes from your volunteer experience. Connect with us and schedule an appointment for a resume review. We are here to help you! Visit the Career Center webpage at http://morainepark.edu/Careers.

Fond du Lac | 920-924-3244 | Lisa Ferguson | lferguson@morainepark.edu

West Bend | 262-335-5773 | Rhonda Roehrig | rroehrig2@morainepark.edu

Beaver Dam | 920-887-4437

We look forward to working with you!

Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) Culinary instructors and students had to think outside of the box to fill the curriculum for the student-run restaurant, Park Terrace. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, typical food operations had to be altered. 

“During a normal year, we open the restaurant from early October through the end of the fall semester,” James Simmers, Moraine Park instructor, said. “With our campuses closed to the public, we knew that a typical operation wouldn’t be a possibility.” 

The MPTC Culinary instructors presented the second-year students with an idea of running a ghost kitchen for staff on the Fond du Lac Campus. 

“A ghost kitchen is typically a temporary secret-location operation, set up for meal-delivery only,” Simmers said. “It offers the opportunity for very limited contact – if any at all- which was a perfect alternative for our heightened safety needs.” 

With unanimous approval, they developed Casper’s, the Moraine Park Ghost Kitchen. Casper’s accepted pre-orders for delivery at lunchtime on Thursdays during the fall 2020 semester. Simmers worked with his students to design the menu and like the Park Terrace restaurant, it was managed and ran completely by the students. 

 “They had to think outside of the box in many ways,” Simmers said. “On top of the normal restaurant duties, they had to implement an online ordering and payment system, scheduled deliveries, and think of logistics to maintain food quality during delivery.” 

To date, Casper’s is the most successful student food operation, serving over 300 meals. Participating students were Hannah Chipman of LaValle, Dawn Haakenstad of Oshkosh, Cortland Henning of Fond du Lac, Tammy Peak of Campbellsport, Carmen Roeming of Oshkosh, and Akiyoshi Yukioka of Fond du Lac.

“These students found great success with this solution and learned some valuable skills,” Simmers said. “This class has six students who ran the entire operation. They should be very proud of themselves.” 

Simmers is hoping to have the opportunity to reopen Park Terrace to the public next fall. 

“We are eager to welcome the public back to Park Terrace,” he said. “Until then, we hope you frequent your local restaurants- as many of them are either owned by or employ our MPTC culinary alumni.” 

For more information on Moraine Park’s culinary program, visit morainepark.edu.

Hello fellow students! 😊

I wanted to let everyone know that on March 8 you will get a survey link from the College in your student email.

This survey contains useful information that will be used to identify the satisfaction of MPTC students, including how helpful MPTC is, the atmosphere, financial aid, etc. This will only take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will greatly benefit everyone.

I encourage you all to take a few minutes and participate. As an FYI- we have 2 weeks to complete the survey, and every student who participates will be given 75 Max Points, and will be entered to win a $25 MPTC bookstore gift card and a 16 GB iPad!!

**Not familiar with Max Points? These are points you earn for being active with the College on MyMPTCstudent and in student life on campus. You can use your Max Points to get prizes such as Amazon gift cards, free food from our MPTC Café, MPTC bookstore gift cards, and much more!

Be sure to watch your email on March 8 and participate in this important survey.

-Haley