It was a busy day on Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac Campus today, Jan. 5, with the return of Career Connections 2023!

Throughout the day, 800 8th-grade students from local middle schools attended presentations on campus covering various topics. The event is hosted by Envision Fond du Lac with the goal of teaching students about the wide variety of jobs available within the greater Fond du Lac area; specifically in agriculture, healthcare, information technology, services, skilled trades, and manufacturing.

Schools in attendance included Lomira Middle School, Central Wisconsin Christian, Rosendale Intermediate, Bessie Allen Middle School, Faith Lutheran, Sabish Middle School, Theisen Middle School, Woodworth Middle School, Redeemer Lutheran & Luther Memorial School, and Fond du Lac STEM Academy.

Presentations were given by J.F. Ahern, Adashun Jones, Little Farmer, Envision FDL, Quest Interiors, FDL County, Mercury Marine, Krug Haircuts, Wisconsin Kenworth, Holiday Automotive, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, NEBAT, Society Insurance, Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, Michels, FDL Fire & Rescue, C.D. Smith, Moraine Park, UW Plattville, YMCA, Wisco Hotels, Local 400 Pipe Trades, Cong. of Sisters of St. Agnes, Verve, FDL Sheriffs Department, Country Visions, and Five Giddings and Lewis.

More than 100 Moraine Park employees volunteered to be greeters, guides, and presenters. Big thanks to all who participated in this event!

View more photos of the event at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAmZdm.

Written by Moraine Park Nursing student, Sara Henthorn

Think back to when you were just starting your senior year of high school; pondering what colleges those applications should be filled out for. I was ecstatic writing down my accomplishments and hitting the submit button. A few weeks went by, and I got that envelope in the mail that I had been waiting for–I was accepted into UW-Parkside. I graduated high school that following May in 2005 and thought in a little over two years from then that I would be graduating college, too. Well, life decided it had other plans for me. Plans that were total surprises and made me push back my academic career by 17 years.

First Go-Round

I arrived at Parkside that Fall day and thought, “This is it, time to buckle down, I got this!” Besides being a full-time student, I also had to work full-time to help pay for school. That alone was very overwhelming for me, as I have never had a full-time job before. I tried so hard to juggle all my classes and my job, but it was harder than I thought. I struggled in all of my classes and could not keep up with the assignments.  The first semester was HORRIBLE. During Winter break, I made the decision to try and tough it out until summer.  I moved out of the dorms (with hopes to save money, and maybe not have to work so much), and ended up living with my grandma. I also changed jobs but was still working 40+ hours a week. I honestly just could not catch a break. I finally hit my breaking point and just gave up. I stopped going to classes and turning in homework. I realized I just was not ready for the responsibility of college life.

Baby Dolls and Brains

After the realization that college just was not for me at that time, I decided I needed to find a good-paying full-time job. I ended up seeing an ad in the paper for a CNA class and thought “job security!” I took the class, passed the test, and there I was–19 years old and working 50+ hours a week at a nursing home in Fond du Lac. I commuted from Wild Rose for about two years and then relocated to Oshkosh. I worked at that same nursing home for seven years, but during that time something major happened. In 2011, my boyfriend and I found out that I was pregnant. I continued to work as a CNA up until the day before my water broke. The months after my baby girl was born, I had a huge awakening. I wanted to give my daughter the best life that I could, and the pay for a nurse’s aide was not going to make that happen. I enrolled at Fox Valley Technical College for their nursing program. Shortly after that, my boyfriend and I broke up, and there I was, raising a young child on my own and just starting college again. I thought I had all my ducks in a row, but once again life had other plans for me. I took quite a few online classes so that I could work and take care of her, but trying to manage all of that on my own turned into instant failure.

Hiatus 

Many years went by after I dropped out of college for the second time. I felt like such a failure and had no intentions of returning after that. I thought life had beaten me down, so I was just going to go with it. I worked my butt off as a CNA to provide for my daughter and me, but deep down I knew there was more that I wanted to accomplish in life. In 2015, I reconnected with my now husband.  We used to work together back in 2010 at a nursing home, and he knew how much I wanted to become a nurse. We talked about me returning to school, but financially there was just no way at the time. So, once again, I sucked it up and kept on working as an aide. Little did I know, 2021 would be a life-changing year for my family and me.

Motivation, determination, and a little bit of luck!

A friend of mine worked for the company that I am now employed with. She told me about all the perks of making my own schedule and being my own boss. But her last comment to me was a life changer. She said, “If you wanted to go back to school, you are able to write off your tuition as a business expense, as it will be bettering your business.”  I had an AH-HA moment. The financial burden of school was always a weighing factor for us, and now I could finally catch a break. Yes, we would have to pay for the classes up front, but we would get it back on our taxes.  I told my husband that now would be the perfect time for me to finish up my schooling. The flexibility of my job finally lets me do this. I applied to Moraine Park’s Nursing program, and when it was time to pick classes, I felt like a kid in a candy store.  My dream is finally coming true, and this time I have all the support that I need.

Conclusion

The road to getting where I am today was not an easy one. I went from feeling like a complete failure to now having so much confidence and hope that I can do it this time. I am now 18 years older than I was the first time I went to college and have learned so much along the way. I am doing very well in all of my classes, and the driving force that keeps me inspired is the constant encouragement I get from my daughter. I want her to know it is never too late to pursue your dream.

Written by Moraine Park Nursing student, Sara Henthorn

For Moraine Park, this past year has been one of monumental change, growth, and excitement. Before we jump into the new year, let’s take a look back at some of the College’s greatest hits of 2022!

In January, we kicked off our year celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, (MLK) Literacy Week where we donated more than 500 culturally responsive books to three local elementary schools.

In February, Moraine Park and Kreilkamp Trucking combined efforts to create the Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy (WRTDA), a unique career opportunity to help respond to workforce shortages. The first cohort graduated in April.

With Spring came the historic decision made by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents to allow technical colleges to offer Associate of arts and Associate of science degrees. Since then, Moraine Park has signed articulation agreements with Lakeland University, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Green Bay.

In May we had almost 800 graduate candidates eligible to receive their associate degrees and technical diplomas at the Spring Commencement Ceremony.

In August, we were visited by Governor Tony Evers, who hosted a roundtable discussion on our Fond du Lac campus. 

The very next week, the College excitedly hosted the return of Tech Knowledge College summer camp. 60 middle schoolers joined us on campus for three days of hands-on fun.

In September, we announced two new programs coming to Moraine Park: IT Applications Support Specialist & Finance & Insurance Services Specialist.

To end the year on a high note, we celebrated the monumental passing of our $55 million referendum and held our first annual winter commencement ceremony recognizing nearly 100 graduates.

We look forward to another fantastic year in 2023!

Earlier this month, students from Fond du Lac High School participated in ‘Reality Day’ at the Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Campus conference center as part of their personal finance class.

The event provided a virtual simulated experience where students were challenged to manage their finances as they navigated through real-life scenarios. The students chose their careers and had a set income to work with throughout the exercise. Some expenses they were tasked to work through included children, transportation, clothing, leisure and entertainment, charitable giving and more.

For some students, managing their finances made them think twice about their future careers and spending habits. Sam Giese, a Fond du Lac High School senior, reflected on her experience. “I ended up with -$286,” she said. “One thing I learned is I want to make more money than an author, which is the job I chose for the day.”

Moraine Park employee volunteers were stationed throughout the conference center to advise students as needed.

“I chose to volunteer for Reality Day because it’s a great experience for the students,” Cynthia Collins, Moraine Park Leadership Development Instructor, said. “As instructors, it’s important to interact with area high school students to build relationships and share insight. For many students, Reality Day is eye-opening and can be scary when they think about their futures, so it’s great to be able to guide them through it and answer any questions they have.”

Fond du Lac High School finance teacher, John Quella, encouraged students to make connections and ask thoughtful questions as they worked through the exercise.

“Never throw anyone off of your island of support, and always think about what’s in your best interest,” Quella told his students. “Constantly build up your references and resume, and create a network of people you can turn to later on.”

The event was in partnership with CESA 6, a non-profit, member-driven cooperative educational service agency headquartered in Oshkosh, WI.

Workforce shortages, rising costs and high product demands are propelling area businesses to boost efficiency through Lean efforts. To that end, 11 area business professionals explored ways to eliminate waste, improve production quality and work more efficiently through Moraine Park’s Six Sigma Green Belt certification training.

Class members presented their final projects Monday, November 14, 2022, and received their certifications upon successfully completing the program. Program participants included Joel Arend, Whisker LLC; Jacinda Buss, Richelieu Foods Inc.; Kenneth Beckrow III, Tenneco; Andrew Ford, Alliance Laundry Systems; Cody Genthe, Keiding Inc.; Laura Libera, Grande Cheese Company; Bethany Newsome, Tenneco; Jinal Patel, Centro Inc.; Brian Rosik, Plastic Components Inc., a division of Rosti; Jon Vogt, Alliance Laundry Systems; and Travis Wuesthoff, Amsted Automotive. Presentations took place on the Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac campus with business representatives, sponsors and project champions attending.

The participants completed independent class projects, which included how variability in quality measures affect the final product; efforts in reducing scrap, defective components and production change-over time; ways to optimize the packing process; and how to increase throughput on a profitable production line. Participants that calculated a cost savings as part of their project averaged a $168,800 return on investment for such things as reduced scrap, the cost of escape due to shipping defective components and missed production opportunities.

Six Sigma training provides participants with techniques and tools needed to improve processes that results in better business performance. MPTC will be offering its next Six Sigma Green Belt Certification training on Mondays February 20-May 22, 2023. The deadline to register is January 31, 2023. For those who have completed Green Belt Certification, MPTC will offer a Black Belt Program from January 30-March 6, 2023. The deadline to register is January 6, 2023.

To register for either training, email training@morainepark.edu or call 920-924-3449.

Last week, Dec. 16, Moraine Park Technical College held its first annual winter commencement ceremony celebrating almost 180 graduates. Commencement was held at Moraine Park’s conference center on the Fond du Lac Campus. 

President Bonnie Baerwald presided over the ceremony and extended her congratulations to the graduates and gratitude to the commencement speakers, Moraine Park District Board, Moraine Park faculty, and the President’s Cabinet. 

“This evening we are gathered to honor the students of the graduating class of 2022–the students whose desire for learning and aspirations for a better life led them to Moraine Park,” President Baerwald said.

Paul Reetz, Owner of Integrity Saw and Tool, served as the keynote speaker; Wesley Kane, Moraine Park’s 2021-22 District Student Ambassador was the student speaker; and Stephanie Dahlke, a 2014 Moraine Park alumna served as the alumni speaker. 

“Grit is not the prettiest way to get through life, but it gets the job done,” Kane said. “Whether it was staying up for 36 hours to finish an operation or burning the midnight oil submitting that essay, grit has gotten me to where I am today–a Sergeant in the Marine Core, a homeowner, a dog dad, a graduate of Moraine Park, and a better human.” 

More photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAjvou.

Moraine Park Technical College held its fall 2022 Manufacturing Skills Academy completion ceremony on Friday, December 9. A total of six students finished the Welding program.

This program was designed to combat the skilled worker shortage by offering a variety of boot camp sessions. The boot camp sessions are free to participants, teach skills that are unique to a particular pathway, and connect students with area employers. The program also combines a 144-hour paid internship with coursework, including Occupational Math, Print Reading, Team Building, Problem Solving, and program-specific courses.

The students who completed the Welding boot camp are Christian Muchka of Fond du Lac, Joe Nault of North Fond du Lac, Nathan Preciado of Fond du Lac, Kaleb Ransom of Fond du Lac, Emmanuel Saucedo of West Bend and Oliver Sterling of Columbus.

Participating internship sites for this session were Wabash, Bradley Corporation and Sam’s Well Drilling.

This year’s graduation speaker was Christian Muchka of Fond du Lac. Muchka completed his internship at Wabash.

Moraine Park has had over 400 participants in the Welding and CNC boot camp programs since its induction in 2012. The bootcamps are free to participating students, thanks to financial support from community resource partners and the Workforce and Training (WAT) grants.

Registrations for the spring 2023 boot camp program are now being accepted. For more information, visit morainepark.edu/bootcamps.

Patients in the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital will keep a little warmer this winter thanks to Moraine Park students and volunteers.

Last week, the Moraine Park West Bend Student Senate and CNC club sponsored a blanket-making event that produced 30 blankets. The blankets will be dropped off at Children’s Milwaukee after the holidays.

“Senate Secretary, Sara Dzierzewski, was familiar with the hospital’s annual blanket drive,” Andy Dionne, student senate president at the West Bend Campus, said. “Our senate unanimously agreed that an event to make tie-blankets for the children’s hospital would be a simple and fun way to give back to our community. Next semester, our senate plans to have more events involving charities and community service, including the possible renovation of a local park.”

Participating volunteers included members of Student Senate, several CNC students, MPTC employees, and many others.

“It was a lot of fun and so rewarding to see students and employees working alongside each other on something so generous,” Kim Schwamn, director of student development at Moraine Park, said.

Learn more about Moraine Park’s student government at morainepark.edu/experience-mptc/student-life/student-government/.

Moraine Park Technical College will again host Tech Knowledge College (TKC) this summer, a camp for students entering grades 6 to 8. This event gives participants an interactive look at the skills and careers needed today and in the future. Registration is now open for this annual three-day camp, held August 8-10, at Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus.

Get ready- Registration opens on January 2!

The 2023 sessions can be viewed here. The sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and early registration is encouraged.

The cost of TKC is $115 and includes a choice of two sessions, a t-shirt, and a morning snack and lunch each day.

About 2023

• More sessions to choose from!
• Bussing available from Beaver Dam and West Bend Campuses.
• Register early- sessions fill fast!
• After registration, visit the getting ready for camp link!

For full details, visit morainepark.edu/tkc.