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Moraine Park Technical College Blog - Imagine What's Next
IT & Web

Finding Purpose Through Community

Mina Vang-Xiong was married at 17 and graduated from Fond du Lac High School in 2005. She went on to pursue nursing at UW-Oshkosh, later becoming a certified ophthalmic assistant. After seven years and having three children, she felt a pull to spend more time with her family and in her community.

“I wanted to be able to spend more time with my children,” Vang-Xiong said. “In the medical field, I
knew I wouldn’t be able to live the life I wanted. Information Technology (IT) is something learnable and will allow me to be more flexible. I know that after I graduate, I’ll be able to work in any industry I want, and I am really excited about my future.”

Vang-Xiong enrolled in Moraine Park’s dual-degree IT program in spring 2020 and will graduate in 2022 with both IT Network Specialist and IT Technical Support Specialist associate degrees. After graduating, her future goals include getting a job at an IT company and working toward a bachelor’s degree.

By enrolling at Moraine Park, Vang-Xiong found not only more time to spend with her family, but also more time to engage with her communities. She is vice president of Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac Student Senate, president of the IT Club, a member of Phi Theta Kappa Academic Honor Society and had the opportunity to work with Moraine Park’s IT department as a technical support assistant.

“Being involved and volunteering is an emotional experience that allows me to be more aware of
the needs in my community,” Vang-Xiong said. “I believe when schools, parents and communities partner together, great things can happen in the lives of children and young adults.”

Outside of Moraine Park she volunteers at her children’s school events, engages with her local Hmong community and enjoys practicing her hobbies of fruit carving and baking. Recently, she was awarded a Bronze MPTC Student Impact Award for completing more than 25 hours of volunteer work.

“Stepping outside of my job and into volunteering has given me the chance to learn new professional skills while sharpening others including public speaking, managing teams, fundraising and coordinating events,” she said.

Vang-Xiong’s proudest moment was volunteering as a traditional Hmong dance instructor with the Fond du Lac Nkauj Hmoob Kaj Siab dance team to help younger generations learn more about
their culture, become more engaged in their community and build self-esteem.

“Career transitions are like onions,” Vang-Xiong said. “They are complex and there is usually more to them than what we see on the surface. This career switch has kept me on my toes, and this new chapter in life has created a network of new relationships, broader access to new information, career advice and community support.”

Read more stories like Mina’s in our Spring 2022 NEXT Magazine.

May 31, 2022by Emilie Wilson
Business, Diversity

Finding a Home at Moraine Park

Edi Gbordzi came to Fond du Lac looking to find a place to call home and an extended family of friends and supporters. In 2001, he immigrated from Ghana, West Africa, to Madison, Wisconsin. There he taught and performed African dance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and throughout the community.

“A goal in coming to the U.S. was to go back to school and become connected in my community,” Gbordzi said. “Teaching the art of African dance allowed me to be surrounded with others who had those same goals. This support group continued to motivate me.”

Gbordzi later relocated to California and welcomed his two children. In 2011, they moved to Fond du Lac to be closer to family. Once Gbordzi got settled in the area, he decided it was time to act upon his goal to pursue higher education. He connected with the Student Success Center at Moraine Park to begin his journey.

I learned that my transcripts from Africa didn’t cover all the areas needed for a GED diploma here in the United States,” he said. “At first, that was frustrating, but the staff were so helpful and great to work with. I ended up learning too much and that prepared me to further my education.”

In spring 2019, Gbordzi earned his GED diploma and decided to enroll in the Business Management associate degree program at the College.

“My parents owned their own business in Africa for many years,” Gbordzi said. “Their years of hard work inspired me to follow in their footsteps and pursue a business degree.”

Gbordzi is embracing the full college experience and has become a familiar face on the Fond du Lac campus.

“I enjoy being involved,” he said. “I am a member of student senate, diversity club and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Club. I also enjoy volunteering and participating in student life events.”

Gbordzi is a dedicated student and was awarded the Basic Education Scholarship for the 2020-21 school year.

“I’m grateful Moraine Park offered me a place to learn and grow,” Gbordzi said. “My overall goal is to find a good job so I can support my family. It is also important to me to continue learning. Moraine Park is helping to prepare me for both my future career and higher educational opportunities.”

Gbordzi is scheduled to graduate in May 2022 and looks forward to influencing the local communities.

Read more stories like Edi’s in our Fall 2021 Next Magazine.

January 5, 2022by Kristina Haensgen
Community Engagement, Student Services & Support

MPTC’s Free Services to the Community!

student services

Did you know that Moraine Park offers free services to the entire community?

  • Career assessment
  • Basic education instruction
  • College entrance exam prep
  • Resume help
  • Help with college coursework
  • GED/HSED courses
  • Career center resources/job search
  • English Language Learners (ELL) classes

Learn more today at morainepark.edu/student-resources

August 9, 2019by Kristina Haensgen
Community Engagement, Trades

WHEELS OF FORTUNE: Special project helps boy with health troubles

Mason and women on trike and two children behind

Moraine Park Technical College mechanical design and engineering students had many great things to say after completing a special bike project to end the school year:

“It was fun to do [something so] meaningful,” said Tyler Hess from Random Lake.

“I’m just glad we got the opportunity to help,” said Jonathan Schalow of Farmington.

“I love being outside; and am glad I could help someone enjoy the outdoors a little more,” said Jacob Fendt of Hartford.

But in the end, nothing said more on a cloudy May afternoon than the roaring laughter of 11-year-old Mason Schommer of West Bend; his wide smile utterly contagious as he sat alongside his mother, Megan, on a specially-modified, two-person trike. Continue reading

June 8, 2017by Andrew Pantzlaff
Community Engagement, Faculty and Staff

Come on in! We’re hosting an (awesome) Open House April 8

Grab a pen. Write this down:

Eat cake and ice cream. Get face painted. Watch things spark and sizzle. Win prizes (like an iPad!). Moraine Park. April 8. 

If nothing else, remember that quick summary! But, of course, that’s not telling the whole story. We have some HUGE things planned for our upcoming Open House. Here’s the details, and we hope to see you there!! Continue reading

March 27, 2017by Andrew Pantzlaff
Community Engagement, Health Careers & Wellness

Advocating for their community!

Moraine park student community posters

An important part of becoming a nurse is learning how a nurse cares for individual patients. Nursing students will also need to learn how to care for their communities they live and work in.

Third semester nursing students get that opportunity during their Mental Health and Community Concepts course. One of the assignments the nursing students complete is titled “Advocating for Your Community.” The students choose a community topic in their city or county and then develop a plan to help the community they choose. Continue reading

December 16, 2016by Kerry DeGroot
Achievement, Community Engagement

Great Pink Pumpkin 5K raises 10k (for a great cause!)

women carry pink pumpkins at moraine park

Moraine Park’s 2016 Great Pink Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk featured over 500 participants and raised more than $10,000 for Breast Cancer Recovery and student scholarships.

Breast Cancer Recovery is an organization whose mission is to provide environments for women with breast cancer survivors to heal emotionally.

The third annual Great Pink Pumpkin Run was held Oct. 15 at the College’s Fond du Lac campus. Co-chairs Brenda Schaefer, Moraine Park social science instructor, and Jeff Stueber, business management instructor, said they’re thankful for the support the event received in raising both awareness and funds for a good cause. Continue reading

November 1, 2016by Andrew Pantzlaff
Community Engagement

Power of Pink! Registration open for Great Pink Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk

Moms, strollers, and kids at Pink Pumpkin walk/run

Moraine Park Technical College is hosting its third annual Great Pink Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Money raised from this event will make it possible for women battling breast cancer to attend the “Infinite Boundaries Wellness Retreat,” organized by the Breast Cancer Recovery, an organization whose mission is to provide environments for women breast cancer survivors to heal emotionally. Continue reading

September 19, 2016by Andrew Pantzlaff

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