We can’t stop celebrating commencement and the many accomplishments that happened at Moraine Park this last year. To keep the party going, we have included links to all of the celebration photos.
Happy reminiscing!
Are you dreaming of accomplishing your educational goals? Moraine Park has many options to get you into your dream career. Find out more at morainepark.edu.
Moraine Park Technical College held its spring Manufacturing Skills Academy graduation on Wednesday, June 12. The College had 21 students graduate from the program; eight from the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist boot camp and 13 from the welding boot camp.
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. Participating internship sites for this session were Amerequip Corporation, Apache Stainless, Generac Power Systems, Mayville Engineering Company, Miba, Mid States Aluminum, Signicast, Tobin Machining, Wabash National, Weasler Engineering, and X-Cel Tooling.
Moraine Park has had 377 participants in the welding and CNC boot camp programs since their induction in 2012.
The spring 2019 CNC graduates are Michael Adam Abitz of North Fond du Lac, Cory Fleischfresser of Fond du Lac, Dustin Marx of Fond du Lac, Troy Riehl of Fond du Lac, Deavin Schaub of Waupun, Nancy Sery of Hartford, Demetrius Smith of West Bend, and Kou Vang of Fond du Lac.
The spring 2019 welding graduates are Christian Bailey-Steenport of West bend, Peter Demmerle of Fond du Lac, Austin Fingar of Redgranite, Nathan Hankins of Chilton, Xavier Kitchens of Fond du Lac, Dimitri Lloyd of Fond du Lac, Ontarius McFerren of West Bend, Joshua Mikula of Plymouth, Armando Murillo of Fond du Lac, Taylor Nett of Fond du Lac, Shane Rau of Fond du Lac, Dani Schommer of Fond du Lac, and Bobby Wiercioch of Fond du Lac.
This year’s graduation speakers were Smith and Hankins.
Smith, a CNC graduate, is grateful for the experience Moraine Park gave him through the boot camp program.
“This program has opened many doors,” he said. “MPTC has given us opportunities that we otherwise would not have. This program was free, and it came with 16 college credits, so some would even say it’s better than free. Some of us will add on to what we’ve learned so far. I know I will.”
Smith served his internship at Weasler in West Bend and is now a full-time employee.
Hankins, a welding graduate, shared the story of how he thought the opportunity was too good to be true.
“I thought it was a scam,” Hankins said. “It’s so unique and unheard of that it’s nearly unbelievable.”
Hankins’s hesitations quickly faded, and he embraced the entire experience, noting that he made some lasting connections in the process. He completed his internship at Amerequip in Kiel and is a current employee.
“Be confident in your abilities, but don’t ever think you can just coast,” he said. “You don’t get to stop learning and trying just because you got a certificate or a job.”
Moraine Park’s Skills Academy boot camps are free to participating students, thanks to financial support from area businesses including Amerequip Corporation, Apache Stainless, Generac Power Systems, Mayville Engineering Company, Miba, Mid States Aluminum, Signicast, Tobin Machining, Wabash National, Weasler Engineering, and X-Cel Tooling.
Additionally, the welding training was partially funded through a GPR grant that incorporates both Adult Basic Education and welding. The purpose of this training is to allow students to complete both their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) and the welding boot camp.
Individuals interested in learning more about the CNC and welding boot camp opportunities are encouraged to attend a Boot Camp Test Drive event scheduled at Moraine Park’s Fond du Lac campus on July 16 and 18, and the Beaver Dam campus on July 23. For more information, visit morainepark.edu/bootcamps.
The full photo gallery of photos can be found here.
Moraine Park Technical College held its 27th annual GED/HSED graduation ceremony on May 30. For the 2018-19 school year, 126 students received their General Education Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificates.
Rebecca Carreon of Fond du Lac, Natasha Peters of Ripon, Sandra Pfund of Slinger, and Betty Zimdars of West Bend served as student speakers.
Carreon and Peters, sisters and twins, spoke together on the struggles of life and how important it was to both of them to complete the journey together.
“I tried multiple times to finish my HSED on my own but never followed through with it because I never thought I could do it,” Peters said. “The support of family, friends, the teachers at the Student Success Center, and my sister gave me the courage and push I needed to finish.”
Both Carreon and Peters plan to continue their education at Moraine Park this fall, with an overall goal to earn their college degree.
“I have always wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse, and I finally feel like that isn’t just a dream anymore,” Carreon said. “Now I can make it a reality! We plan on starting school here at Moraine Park Technical College in the upcoming year. After all the support we had to finish our HSED here, we can only imagine the support we will get once in our programs!”
Pfund shared her story of deciding to complete her high school diploma with the support of her friend and fellow GED student, Zimdars.
“We have maintained our friendship and motivated each other along the way,” Pfund said. “My success has been helped with a special friendship and someone to hold me accountable. Nothing is impossible, no matter what age you are. Our journey was not an easy one, but our friendship helped immensely.”
Pfund and Zimdars have decided to continue their educational journey together as Moraine Park college students.
Abby McGeehen of Berlin and Zimdars were each the recipients of $500 student scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to GED/HSED graduates who are continuing their education at Moraine Park.
The GED/HSED students had to pass all four subject portions of the nationally recognized GED tests to receive their diploma. They also had to meet requirements in employability, digital literacy, health, and civics. Moraine Park’s GED/HSED instruction is available year-round and is one of the many services at the College that is offered for free to the community.
For more information about Moraine Park’s GED/HSED classes, visit morainepark.edu/GED.
View all of the photos from the GED/HSED graduation at https://www.flickr.com/gp/148240170@N03/Y00FC2.
Graduate candidates can purchase their graduation regalia (cap, gown and tassel) at any Moraine Park Campus bookstore beginning on April 10. Honor cords, Military and Veteran cords, and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) cords/stoles will be available for purchase.
Wearing of Honor and High Honor cords are based on cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) as of the end of the 2018 fall semester. No exceptions to this will be made.
| Graduation Regalia | Phi Theta Kappa |
| Cap/Gown/Tassel Package – $27.80 | PTK Cord (Blue, Gold) – $15.00 |
| Honors Cord (Silver) – $10.00 | PTK Tassel (Gold) – $10.00 |
| High Honors Cord (Gold) – $10.00 | PTK Stole (Gold) – $26.00 |
| Individual Tassel (Blue, Gold) – $4.20 | |
NOTE: Commencement is a formal academic ceremony. The decorating of cap and gown is discouraged.
Moraine Park Technical College held its 26th annual GED/HSED graduation ceremony on June 7. For the 2017-18 school year, 141 students received their General Education Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificates.
Moraine Park Technical College held its 13th annual Manufacturing Skills Academy graduation on Friday, May 25. The College had 20 students graduate from the program; eight from the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist boot camp and 12 from the welding boot camp.
Moraine Park Technical College held its 25th Annual GED/HSED Graduation Ceremony on June 1. For the 2016-17 school year, 109 students received their General Education Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificates.
Two of these individuals served as student speakers at the graduation event -– Danielle Patzan of North Fond du Lac and Lisa Stoffel of West Bend -– and each reflected on vastly different journeys that led them to this point.
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Congratulations to Moraine Park Technical College’s Class of 2017 – and best wishes in your journey ahead! In honor of your accomplishments, here’s 217 pics of our 2017 Commencement! Do you recognize any familiar faces?
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Within a profound scene of smiles, laughter, joyful tears and dreams come true, Moraine Park Technical College hosted its 2017 Commencement Ceremony in the Fond du Lac High School Field House on Saturday, May 20.
Nearly 350 graduates took part in the event. In all, the Class of 2017 had nearly 800 graduate candidates complete their studies to receive associate of applied science degrees and technical diplomas.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Morna Foy, impressed upon graduates the need to enjoy the moment, but also look to the future.
“You have definitely arrived at an important milestone, and you’re to be recognized and celebrated for that. That’s why we’re together. But I’d offer that there’s now much more to be done,” Moy said. “Think of it this way: You’re like a coiled spring, or a sling-shot pulled back. You’re ready for launch. That’s what scientists call “potential energy.” It’s the energy an object has because of its position, rather than its motion.
“You’re now in position.”
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