Dear Moraine Park Graduate Candidates,

Your momentous day is fast approaching. Make sure you’re ready for our in-person commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m.  
Things To Do Now:

• If you haven’t already- order your regalia (cap and gown) at https://morainepark.shopoakhalli.com/ by April 30. No late orders will be accepted.
• As a reminder, we have new regalia colors; our cap and gowns are now black.
• Honors cords will be distributed at commencement to students who qualify for the distinction. 
• Invite your family and friends.
• There are no COVID-19 capacity restrictions!
• The event will still be live-streamed at morainepark.edu/commencement.

On Commencement Day:

• Report to the Fond du Lac High School by 9 a.m on May 21.
• Don’t forget your cap and gown!
• Make arrangements for your personal belongings. We will not have access to the staging rooms after the ceremony.
• Share your day on social by using #HomeGrownGrad.

More details can be found online at myMPTC Student.
For questions regarding the 2022 commencement ceremony, contact the Planning Team at mptcgraduation@morainepark.edu. 
We look forward to celebrating together soon.  

Moraine Park Technical College has selected Wesley Kane, of Fond du Lac, as their 2022-23 District Student Ambassador. 

Kane transferred to Moraine Park from the University of Wisconsin System after realizing he desired a more hands-on learning experience. He started Moraine Park’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program this year and will graduate in 2023. 

“My goal after I graduate is to work for a company that cares about me as a person,” Kane said. “The thing with learning a trade is once you gain the skill, you can do side work. So, I hope to work full-time during the week, do my own work on the side, and eventually open my own business.” 

Kane is active on the West Bend Campus where he is Vice President of Student Senate, a member of District Student Government, and a member of Veterans Club. 

Outside of Moraine Park, he is passionate about giving back to his community. Kane was part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fond du Lac County for three years. He joined the Marine Corps Reserves where he helped with military funerals, color guard, events and other community service efforts. 

“I’ve been way more involved here than I would have if I stayed at a bigger university,” he said. “The instructors here are super outgoing and are always reaching out. It feels very student-centric, and the size of the school allows for more face-to-face time and mentoring.” 

To be eligible for the District Student Ambassador distinction, students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member at the College, and then give a presentation to a selection committee. In total, there were three students in the final consideration for this role. 

As the selected 2022-23 District Student Ambassador, Kane will actively serve as a member at the College, advocate for Moraine Park and the Wisconsin Technical College System as a whole, assist with college activities and events, and represent the student body within the community. 

“Being chosen as Moraine Park’s District Student Ambassador is a great responsibility, and the chance to be a role model is really cool,” Kane said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to network on behalf of Moraine Park and make connections with people and students from other areas.” 

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

Grant Maniér, an artist enrolled in Moraine Park’s Graphic Communications program, is doing a special appearance at Gallery Frame Shop in Fond du Lac, where his art is being displayed this month.

Maniér is originally from Houston, Texas, and moved to Fond du Lac in 2021 after accepting a job at the Treffert Center. He is an artist specializing in the creation of eco-art impressionism.

“An eco-artist is not a normal artist,” Maniér said. “Being an eco-artist is taking recycled materials like paper from magazines, discarded puzzles, old calendars and wallpaper, and turning them into something beautiful. If it is recyclable, I can create eco-art out of it.”

Maniér’s art is being displayed at the Gallery Frame Shop (94 S. Main St., Fond du Lac, WI) for the whole month of April. He will be making a special appearance on April 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To learn more about Grant Maniér and his art, check out his feature in our Spring 2022 Next Magazine.

Moraine Park is a recipient of a $2,500 grant from the United Way of Dodge County to help support Dodge County students experiencing financial emergencies.

“I am grateful for the United Way of Dodge County’s generosity to award MPTC funding to help our Dodge County and Beaver Dam campus students who experience financial hardships. These dollars make an impact and help keep these students enrolled in school during times of need,” Jackie Morgan, Moraine Park’s Student Community, Equity and Engagement Specialist, said.

The grant dollars will support students in the form of gas cards, grocery store cards, and meals from the on-campus food service.

“Working with our campus food service partner is yet another way we can ensure students’ basic needs are met,” Morgan said.

Find more about the United Way of Dodge County and the work they do to improve lives and empower caring.

Moraine Park and Kreilkamp celebrated their first graduating class of truck drivers through the Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy yesterday, April 13 on the West Bend Campus.

The Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy is an eight-week program taught by two Moraine Park instructors. Cohorts run every eight weeks with 12-15 students in each session. After completion, the students are guaranteed full-time employment with Kreilkamp Trucking.

“It took a community to bring this together in less than a year’s time,” JoAnn Hall, Dean of Economic and Workforce Development at Moraine Park, said. “We are very excited to celebrate our inaugural class and the progress these students have made.”

The 12 graduating students (see below) were each presented with their certificates and keys to their trucks. After the completion ceremony, the students drove their convoy of trucks from Moraine Park’s West Bend Campus to Kreilkamp Trucking in Allenton, WI.

“This certificate isn’t just a piece of paper,” Vinice Savage, a Moraine Park Truck Driving Academy student, said. “This is an opportunity–a career. A new door is opening for me. The road may be long and windy, and I’m not sure where I’ll end up, but right now I am proud to say I am a Kreilkamp employee.”

The graduating students were Sarah Boese, John Brown, Jacqueline Fischer, Blake Hahn, Paul Lindl, KaNesha McGee, Bradley Miedke, Chris O’Brien, Bryan Ozuna, Luis Sandoval, Vinice Savage and Shane Werbelow.

Learn more about the Wisconsin Regional Truck Driving Academy.

View more photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzKDos.

Moraine Park Technical College has named Ryan Riley, of Oshkosh, their 2022 Student of the Year. 

Riley, a student in the Electrical Power Distribution program, came back to Moraine Park after completing the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC)/Tool and Die Technology program in 2009. 

“I really like working in the trades, and after working as a CNC machinist for over 10 years, I wanted a change and more opportunity for my family,” Riley said. “I was always interested in electricity, so I decided to come back to Moraine Park, and I started my program in 2021.” 

Riley will graduate from the EPD program on May 21 and will speak at both the Student Awards Banquet and Moraine Park’s Commencement Ceremony. 

It is because of his dedication, humility and authenticity that Riley earned a 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 are so many other great students, so it’s really an honor to be chosen.”

Criteria for Student of the Year nominations include demonstrating excellence in and out of the classroom while modeling Moraine Park’s core abilities to communicate clearly, act responsibly, work productively, think critically and creatively, adapt to change, demonstrate integrity, and work cooperatively. There were five candidates this year, all of whom excel both academically and in their service-learning. There are very few student honors that exceed this award at Moraine Park, and to even be nominated is a tremendous accomplishment. Other nominees include Diego Barragan of Sun Prairie, Collin Sauer of Oconomowoc, Mina Vang-Xiong of Fond du Lac, and Haley Van Raden of West Bend.  

Riley will receive his award at the Student Awards Banquet on May 13. 

“I’m hoping to leave a positive message with the other students,” he said. “I’m probably a decade older than anyone in the program, and I want to show them that it’s okay to run your own race. Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to what everyone else is doing. I’m 32 and just went back to college. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. Just do you.” 

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

This year, MPTC Academic Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa students have decided on a Spring Project to benefit area homeless shelters in their quest to help those in need of services. These shelters are often only thought of by the general population during cold weather, but homelessness sadly knows no season. Help us to provide some critically needed supplies and other items to these facilities so that they can continue to provide shelter and hope for some of our most vulnerable residents in their time of need.

Beginning April 4, we’ll be collecting donations on all three campuses and need YOUR help to make this a success by April 29! The requested needs are small, but the impact of giving will be huge. The donated items we collect will be delivered to the Solutions Center of Fond du Lac,  the Promise Housing Program of West Bend, and to the New Beginnings Homeless Shelter of Beaver Dam. Each MPTC location will have a laundry basket for donations placed at the near school entrances, in front of the libraries, and at the cafeterias for a total of nine collection baskets. Whether you donate a few or many items, each will touch a heart in a lasting way!  Let’s do this!!

Critical Needs are as follows:

In addition to Phi Theta Kappa, Moraine Park has a NEW Academic Honor Society. Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or above after obtaining at least 12 college credits towards an associate degree are invited to join the honor society. Check out our web page for more information on PTK and AHS.

— Written by Linda Huckaby

Moraine Park Technical College can now offer Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Sciences (AS) liberal arts degrees, as part of a historic decision made by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents today.

The new Liberal Arts program approval today has been long desired by Moraine Park and other technical colleges in the Wisconsin Tech College System (WTCS), as it offers a clearer pathway for those with associate degrees to seamlessly continue their education at a four-year partner institution with a confirmed junior status.

“By starting an education at Moraine Park, students can get their general studies completed for a fraction of the cost, with smaller class sizes, extensive student support, and guaranteed transfer credits to one of our partner schools,” Dr. Fred Rice, associate vice president of academics at Moraine Park, said. “The College currently offers a wide variety of other Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degrees, Technical Diplomas and certificate opportunities. Adding the liberal arts degree programs will offer a more robust slate of offerings to Moraine Park students and will help guide students who are still undecided on their program of study to simply achieve an associate degree without a specified area of focus.”

Moraine Park is finalizing their agreement with Lakeland University and is working with regional University of Wisconsin institutions within the Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance (NEWERA) on pre-major pathway agreements. College leaders will continue to add partnerships with other local universities, giving district students more options and control when it comes to their education and making the future transfer process easier and more streamlined.

“Congratulations to Moraine Park Technical College and their stakeholders who supported this effort,” Dr. Morna K. Foy, WTCS president, said. “In response to the needs of local employers, K-12 partners, and economic and workforce development organizations, Moraine Park will provide expanded educational opportunities for students in their communities.”

The College will offer AA and AS liberal arts degrees beginning this fall. Students who elect to pursue an associate degree at Moraine Park as the first step of their education will save thousands annually compared to a private or public 4-year college.

Individuals interested in exploring this opportunity at Moraine Park are encouraged to start conversations early by connecting with admissions@morainepark.edu.

Whether you decide that you want to hang out, go for walks, snuggle, or get involved in doing canine sports, Black Dog Training is a pet training service for you.  Black Dog Training provides home based obedience activities and more.  Cindy concentrates on teaching your dog and the owner basic behaviors or can involve group training with others for competition.  Owner, Cindy Hanish began this training as her own dog, Chester motivated her to want to help others.

Cindy Hanish attended the five week Start Your Own Business series through Moraine Park Technical College in the Fall of 2021.  Her goal was to open her business by January of 2022.  Instructor Jeff Stueber worked with Cindy to provide simple ideas to generate business and sales. Since then, Cindy has developed many programs to suit the needs of the canines and their owners.

It doesn’t matter what age or breed your dog is, Cindy will help you teach your dog how to behave appropriately at home or on-the-go, while at the same time, building a positive and happy relationship together.

For more information, visit Cindy’s website at www.blackdogtrainingllc.com

For more information on the Five Week Business Series, visit https://catalog.morainepark.edu/programs/small-business-entrepreneurship/