Moraine Park Technical College held its annual General Education Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) graduation ceremony on May 26. There were 96 GED/HSED graduates for the 2021-22 school year.
Jebichi Yator of Fox Lake and Gretta Hanna of Columbus served as this year’s student speakers.
“I want to thank my teachers at Moraine Park for their support, patience and guidance,” Yator said. “Completing my GED and enrolling in Moraine Park’s Nursing program will change my life and my children’s lives, too. I can’t wait to start changing lives myself by becoming a nurse.”
The GED/HSED students had to pass all five subject portions of the nationally recognized GED tests: Reasoning through Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematical Reasoning and Civics. GED students must also complete Career Awareness training. Students obtaining an HSED are required to complete both Employability Skills and Health Literacy training.
“Congratulations to all of our 2022 GED/HSED graduates,” Pete Snyder, Moraine Park’s associate dean of adult education, said. “Our graduates worked full-time jobs, cared for children, and supported their parents–all while coming to school. These accomplishments are special, and they earned the right to be here tonight.”
For more information about Moraine Park’s GED/HSED classes, visit morainepark.edu/GED.
May 21 was a momentous day for the nearly 350 graduates who participated in Moraine Park Technical College’s commencement ceremony, held at the Fond du Lac High School Field House. In all, the College had nearly 800 graduate candidates eligible to receive their associate of applied science degrees and technical diplomas.
Jim Spannbauer, retired President and CEO of Mid-States Aluminum, served as the keynote speaker.
Ryan Riley, Moraine Park’s Student of the Year, was featured as the student speaker at the event. Riley graduated from Moraine Park’s Electrical Power Distribution program. He encouraged his peers to focus on running their own race and using healthy competition to fuel their motivation.
Mike Schwab, elected official member of the Moraine Park District Board, welcomed the Class of 2022 and their guests to the ceremony.
Dr. James Eden, vice president of Academic Affairs, presided over the presentation of candidates with the conferring of degrees and diplomas done by Moraine Park President Bonnie Baerwald. Brenda Raad, dean of General Studies, Barb Jascor, dean of Health and Human Services, and Bobbi Fields, dean of Applied Technology and Trades, announced the graduate candidates.
Corey Bennett, a 2014 and 2020 Moraine Park graduate, served as the 2022 alumni commencement speaker.
President Baerwald congratulated the graduates and extended her personal gratitude to the commencement speakers, Moraine Park District Board, Moraine Park faculty and the President’s Cabinet.
Jeffrey Kern is driving over 1,200 miles from State College, PA, to walk the stage at Moraine Park’s Commencement Ceremony this Saturday.
Kern, originally from Hurley, WI, is graduating from Moraine Park’s online Small Business Entrepreneurship Program. He is also enrolled in MPTC’s online Business Analyst program and is set to finish in May 2023.
“There was a significant amount of global insecurity at the start of 2020,” Kern said. “This uncertainty fueled personal anxiety and depression, but it also provided a reason to further my education.”
In 2017, Kern launched a fitness application called BOSS Running. Unfortunately, he did not find as much success as he had hoped. He was able to financially rebuild from 2018-2020 working in other jobs, but his mind always remained on his app.
“BOSS Running was always on my mind,” Kern said. “I wanted to know what I did wrong and how I could prevent making similar mistakes in the future. Knowing this, I began researching schools that offered degrees in Entrepreneurship.”
He found Moraine Park through researching various universities and programs.
“Moraine Park Technical College offered was the best option from the schools I researched,” he said. “MPTC had positive online reviews, the highest graduation rate, a simple application process, and offered an online program in Entrepreneurship with specific prescribed classes with minimal electives.”
Kern started a new job at Travelers Insurance as a Software Engineer earlier this year. In June, he will make the move to Hartford, CT, to start his next chapter and work with his colleagues in person.
“Despite the challenges thrown at me, I’ve never lost sight of who I am as a person or what makes me unique,” Kern said. “Not only that, I’m thriving. I lost 35 lbs of weight during the pandemic, but I have gained the ability to be assertive and to argue for what is right and kind. Walking the stage signifies the start of a new chapter in my life, one where past trauma can no longer hold me back.”
Last week, Moraine Park Technical College hosted their 5th annual Veterans Hail and Farewell Ceremony, celebrating 40 graduating veterans. The event was held in Park Terrace, Moraine Park’s student-led restaurant on the Fond du Lac campus.
The event was established to recognize graduating veterans and allow staff and faculty a chance to interact with graduates outside of the classroom. There were five graduating students in attendance accompanied by members of their families. Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park’s President, presented each student with the college’s challenge coin (see below) and a red, white, and blue cord to wear at Commencement.
“The Hail and Farewell Ceremony is an opportunity to recognize veterans and currently serving students who have graduated in December or will become eligible in May,” Stephen Pepper, Moraine Park’s Student Veterans Specialist, said. “It is especially significant if they cannot go to the commencement ceremony or feel uncomfortable attending the event.”
Jovan Sanders, of Sheboygan, was the guest speaker at the event. He spoke about his life growing up in Milwaukee, joining the forces, working as an Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist from 2006 to 2013; to currently working as a Load-Out Manager for Amazon.
“I thank you for your service and for selecting Moraine Park as you transition or advance into your career, and I look forward to shaking your hands as you walk across the stage next Saturday,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park President, said.
Immediately following the ceremony, the guests were served an all-American style meal consisting of fruit salad, fried chicken, steak, twice-baked potato, corn, asparagus, sweet tea, and dessert. The lunch was planned, cooked, and served by culinary student, Destiny Smith, who will be graduating this May.
Machines hum, metal sparks and concentration fills every corner of the room. It is midnight, but nothing is still inside the walls of Metalcraft of Mayville. Amongst the production, a Moraine Park student is hard at work fueling his passion and igniting his career.
Mason Higgins, of West Bend, was first introduced to welding while attending West Bend East High School. He took all the manufacturing courses available to him through the Start College Now program including Intro to Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing, Intro to Welding, Advanced Welding and a Manufacturing Capstone. He is 18, in his first year at MPTC and only a few credits shy of a college degree.
The Start College Now program enables high school students to enroll in occupational/technical courses and/or general education courses and earn high school and college credit at the same time.
“I was told by a couple of family members about welding and after looking at pictures and information online, I really wanted to try sticking some metal together,” Higgins said. “I took Intro to Welding as a high school freshman and after hours of welding time, I knew for certain this would be my career.”
Higgins began working at Metalcraft of Mayville as part of his high school’s Youth Apprenticeship program. Now, he works full-time, five nights a week from 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. while taking courses at Moraine Park.
“The opportunities I got from Moraine Park’s partnership with my high school have helped me get ahead financially,” Higgins said. “I was able to start laying the groundwork for my future before graduating. I’m confident and prepared as I move into my next chapter.”
Higgins is enrolled in Moraine Park’s Welding program and takes classes at the West Bend Campus. He plans to finish his degree by December. In the future, his goal is to start his own portable welding business. He is already rebuilding a trailer to support an additional welder, an oxyfuel cutting set-up, tools and other essentials.
“My favorite part of welding is passing the bend test because it gives you such a good feeling knowing the weld actually did its job,” Higgins said. “Later, I look forward to the feeling of satisfaction knowing that I’ve built and repaired things that people are happy with, whatever the product may be.”
This year, over 800 Moraine Park Technical College students completed their college education and earned their Associate of Applied Science degree or Technical diploma. This semester introduced new challenges and opportunities for both students and staff as they adapted many changes, including a virtual learning environment and the cancelation of the 2020 commencement ceremony.
Recently, the College made accommodations for small, socially distant classes to temporarily resume and complete face-to-face labs and coursework. The hard work and patience by staff and students resulted in the ability for all spring semester classes, including contract training, to be completed.
“Our students’ ability to persevere and continue to work toward their college degree during such uncertain times is something that they should all be very proud of,” Baerwald said. “We are grateful for their tenacity and patience, and we are proud that they have stayed committed to their educational goals and the College. I have no doubts that our communities will be greatly influenced by their skills.”
Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president, shared a personal message with the graduates in May that acknowledged their accomplishments, congratulated them on their graduation, and detailed how the College plans to help them celebrate from a distance. Additionally, she invited them to participate in the 2021 commencement ceremony.
Moraine Park Technical College is celebrating its first class of Promise Program graduates who have now completed their college degrees and will begin working in their respective fields. The program offers five consecutive semesters of debt-free college tuition, as well as additional services including mentoring, tutoring, career guidance, financial aid workshops, and counseling to eligible high school seniors. The purpose of the program is to offer the opportunity for a college education to individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford it. It will also help to address the employment gaps across the workforce by supplying businesses with skilled and educated individuals.
The first class of Promise program graduates are Logan Brue of Hubertus, CNC Tool & Die; Taylor Frank of Campbellsport, Graphic Communications; Gabrielle Green of Hartford, Early Childhood Education; Brett Hebert of Rosendale, Criminal Justice; Shayenne Jaffke of Hartford, Criminal Justice; Gavin Lund of Rosendale, Welding (2019 Graduate); Melannie Martinez of Waupun,Criminal Justice; Roberto Mondragon of Ripon, IT Software Developer; LaToya Singleton of Kewaskum, Early Childhood Education; Bethany Thome of Mt. Calvary, Graphic Communications; and Tania Torres of Horicon, Graphic Communications.
“This unique opportunity to earn a college degree without the burden of tuition expenses has helped to set these students up for success,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president said. “They have excelled both inside and outside of the classroom, and soon our generous community donors will begin to see the value in their investment as we continue to welcome more graduates, who in turn will help influence and grow our local economy.”
The Promise Program was introduced in 2018 and was funded through the generosity of individuals and community partners. The Moraine Park Promise program donor partners are: Agnesian HealthCare Foundation, Agnesian HealthCare, Allan C. Kieckhafer, Alliance Laundry Systems LLC, Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation, Baker Cheese, Beaver Dam Community Hospitals Foundation, Inc., Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, Inc., Bonnie Baerwald, C.D. Smith Construction, CampusWorks, Capelle Bros. & Diedrich, Inc., Countryside Auto Group, Dana Bourland, Dick and Joan Kleinfeldt, Duane & Kathleen Foulkes Foundation, Excel Engineering, Fox Valley Savings Bank, Horicon Bank, J. F. Ahern Co., James and Catherine Barrett, Jet Stream Car Wash, Jim and Judy Flood, John and Eileen Pfeifer, John and Joan Shanahan, John and Sally St. Peter, Johnson School Bus, Kondex Corporation, Manowske Welding Corporation, Mayville Engineering Company, Inc.(MEC), Mercury Marine, Mike and Nancy Berg (Summit Automotive), Mike Shannon Automotive Foundation, Muthig Industries, Inc., National Exchange Bank Foundation, RAM Tool, Inc., Richard Zieman, Rick and Joni Parks, Rodney and Kim Miller, Russ Darrow Group, Sadoff Family Foundation, Serigraph Inc., Silica For Your Home, Society Insurance Charitable Fund, Steve and Karla Peterson, Sure-Fire, Inc., Ted and Grace Bachhuber Foundation, Inc.,The Grande Foundation, Tobin Machining, Tom and Carrie Kasubaski, Tom and Nan Baumgartner, Tom and Sally Herre, Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, Inc., Van Horn Automotive, West Bend Community Foundation’s Ziegler Family Foundation Fund, and Westbury Bank Charitable Foundation.
In fall 2019, Moraine Park introduced a second debt-free tuition program called Promising Futures. This program was created to benefit adults in Moraine Park’s district who need access to affordable education.
Everyone wants to get ahead, race car drivers, jockeys, and yes, even college students. Finding ways to stay ahead of rising educational costs can be a huge benefit during the college years.
Students at Moraine Park already enjoy some of the lowest tuition rates among Wisconsin’s colleges and universities. Even so, another part of keeping college affordable is finding ways to decrease the amount of time (and money) spent completing a degree. At Moraine Park. students have a unique option to minimize their costs and maximize their credit earning potential through the school’s Credit by Exam opportunities.
The Credit by Exam process allows students to earn college credit and fulfill program requirements through the successful completion of an exam. Taking advantage of the Credit by Exam program can certainly put MPTC students ahead as they can obtain college credits in less time and for less money than they would by attending (and paying for) a traditional course. Interested in learning more about Credit by Exam?
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