Donald Shono, of Rubicon, found Moraine Park after serving in the United States Air Force Security Forces for six years. In 2011, he decided to end his active-duty service after experiencing a decline in his mental health.

Shono served in the 2nd Air Force Security Forces Squadron and had one deployment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served his last year with the Barksdale Air Force Base Honor Guard.

“The Security Forces Squadron was not my first choice, but it gave me the opportunity to join within a month of enlisting, and I didn’t want to wait,” Shono said. “I had an interest in law enforcement at the time, so it was not a difficult choice.”

Security Forces is an Air Force Special Forces unit that provides base security, law enforcement and an infantry force; the Base Honor Guard conducts ceremonial events such as local veteran funeral services and base award ceremonies.

“I joined the service because I felt I needed to do something more with my life that was bigger than myself and something I felt truly mattered, but eventually, my mental health needed to become a priority,” he said.

When he returned home, Shono began researching ways to heal his mind and body. In 2013, he started working as a massage therapist at a spa in Slinger, WI. He worked there for three years before moving to Spotsylvania, VA, where he continued his career for five years.

During the pandemic, Shono moved home to be closer to family. Since he was already working in a health and wellness career, he decided to use his time at home to further his education.

Shono enrolled in Moraine Park’s Health and Wellness program and attended his first semester classes on the West Bend Campus in fall 2021.

“I chose Moraine Park because it was one of the only schools that offered the path to health and wellness I was looking for,” Shono said. “I am really happy with my experience so far and cannot wait to see what the future has in store.”

After receiving his associate degree, he plans to become certified as a health coach and personal trainer to expand his career opportunities.

My time in the military was really stressful and took a big toll on me mentally,” Shono said “I am pursuing health and wellness because I want to heal myself and help others do the same.”

Shono is involved in the West Bend Health and Wellness Club. Outside of school, he enjoys staying active, hiking and spending time with his family.

“Looking back on my time in the service–it is not all good memories,” Shono said. “I am really grateful to Moraine Park for opening me up to a new way of thinking and caring for myself.”

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

U.S. Olympic Snowboarder, Courtney Rummel, visited Moraine Park’s West Bend campus earlier this month to share her journey from snowboarding in small-town Wisconsin, to competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Rummel’s visit was organized by MPTC Health and Wellness Instructor, Carrie Felix, who has trained Rummel for three years.

“Courtney is such a pleasure to train,” Felix said. “I started training her when she was 15, so I have gotten to watch her grow up. She is very hardworking and has developed a passion for working out over the last three years.”

Felix has known the Rummel family for 10 years and was approached by Courtney’s mom, Kim Rummel, in 2019 to become Courtney’s trainer.

Rummel competed in the women’s slopestyle and big air snowboarding events at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“Watching Courtney on the big screen was so surreal,” Felix said. “The obstacles she faced to get to Beijing are not normal teenage obstacles. She gave up so much for her dreams, so to be able to watch her on the biggest stage of her life was amazing. The coolest part is that she is still the same goofy, funny, hardworking teenage she has always been.”

Rummel splits her time living and training in Park City, UT, and at home in West Bend, WI. Felix trains Rummel when she is in Wisconsin and coordinates with her trainer in Utah.

“In some ways, training an Olympic athlete is just like training all my other clients,” Felix said. “Everyone has specific goals when deciding to invest in a trainer. It is then taking those goals and where the individual is at in their fitness journey and looking to strengthen what they already have. What’s different with Courtney is she has other trainers that I need to converse with often. I need to know what she is doing at the U.S. training facility and what she needs to work on when she is with me. It’s also important to make sure we don’t do anything too crazy if she has a big event coming up.”

During her visit, Rummel spoke with students in Felix’s Health and Wellness class about how she got started in the sport, her training regimen, overcoming mental barriers, her experience at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and more.

“I love that I was able to share Courtney with my Health and Wellness class at Moraine Park,” Felix said. “Most students are not sure what they want to do after they graduate, so to show them options in their career field is so valuable.”

Written by: Pamela James, MBA, MPH, MPM, MT(ASCP), NBC-HWC, PMP

What do you use to clean your house, your dishes, your body?  Unfortunately, your common everyday products are putting the health of you and your loved ones in danger.  Every time you spray something, you inhale some of it.  Every time something gets on your skin (accidentally or on purpose), it can get into your bloodstream. 

Maybe some of you are thinking, “Yep, that’s why I buy ___ which is natural.  It says so right on the label.”  But did you know that even many “natural” products are full of chemicals, phthalates, parabens, and hormone disruptors?  And that doesn’t apply only to cleaning products but also to all those lotions and potions that we knowingly put on our skin every single day.

Here’s the great news. Making your home healthier does not have to be expensive or complicated.  There are many natural and safe options to choose from including essential oils, vinegar, castile soap, and baking soda. 

Essential oils?  Wait, aren’t those just a nice smelling alternative to candles?  Actually no, essential oils can be used in a number of ways and have been for thousands of years around the world.  I won’t bore you with all the science, but here’s the basics. 

Essential oils are naturally occurring compounds found in the various parts of trees, flowers, and other plants.  Plants make essential oils for their own health – to repel insects, protect them from the environment, resist microbes, and more.  When we use a 100% pure essential oil, those same properties work for us too! 

Have you ever used a scented candle, cleaning product, or lotion?  Ever had a cup of tea, put a lemon in your water, or added herbs and spices (fresh or dried) to your food?  Then you’ve used essential oils! 

As we’ve already discussed, we want to decrease (or eliminate completely) the use of dangerous household chemicals.  And the best way to do that is to start with simple swaps.  Make your own products and know exactly what’s in them!  Don’t let the idea of essential oils or DIY (do it yourself) overwhelm you.  Here are a couple easy DIY recipes to try.

Look at how easy it is to swap out expensive and dangerous cleaning chemicals!  Simple recipes with simple ingredients for a healthier home in just minutes.

A couple final notes.  Firstly, always use caution with essential oils as they are extremely concentrated and powerful.  A couple drops goes a long way.  Secondly, watch out for impure and synthetic essential oils as you lose all the great benefits when they are made in a lab instead of by nature.  Even those essential oils labeled as 100% pure are usually diluted or adulterated.  Do your research.

Interested in learning more about using essential oils in your life? There are a number of classes coming up that will help you get started. Visit https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/continuing-education/ find an essential oils class for you.

It’s never too late to pursue your passion. Gretchen Rauls, of Fond du Lac, decided in 2018, nearly 22 years after graduating from high school, that it was time she fulfills her career aspirations.

“After high school, I earned a technical diploma at Moraine Park,” she said. “I then started working, got married, and began a family.”

Gretchen found employment that helped to sustain her family, but knew she wanted to have a career she could be passionate about.

“In 2016, I participated in a wellness initiative at my work called Remodel Your Lifestyle,” she said. “It was through that experience I discovered the value of health and that I want to share it with others.”

She enrolled in the Health and Wellness program at Moraine Park in fall 2018. Her decision to enroll in school wasn’t an easy one. It required commitment from her entire family to ensure her success.

“I still had to maintain full-time employment, do my homework and be present for my family,” Gretchen said. “Finding the time and prioritizing can be hard, but I am lucky to have support around me.”

Gretchen’s hard work, dedication, and support from her husband and two teenage daughters were all key factors in her continued success at the College. To date, she is a 4.0 student on the Dean’s List, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and has never had a late assignment.

Gretchen will graduate in May 2020 with her entire family cheering her on.
“Since day one, I’ve never had any doubts about coming to Moraine Park,” she said. “Going back to school can be hard, but the support from instructors and staff at the College helps to make it manageable.”

Her goal is to own a health and wellness business on her grandmother’s farm in Berlin.

“I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned and finding a passion for the work that I do every day.”

morainepark.edu/ican

“As I approached my last semester of the Health and Wellness program, I decided to enroll in the Think Critically and Creatively course. I didn’t think it would be that difficult of a class, but it challenges me in an unexpected way. It’s not your typical classroom set up – group discussions are the norm by talking about what you learned from a video or by using the Elements of Thought model to examine case studies and issues. This class challenges you to really think and use your brain – in a way that, for me, hasn’t been used that way in awhile.

This class will help me become successful in my career because I now have valuable knowledge about how to think critically and solve problems outside the box. When thinking this way, I will be able to come up with new solutions. Thinking critically will be useful in the Health and Wellness field because not everyone is the same so they will need different solutions and ways that they can implement healthy living tips into their daily lives. I have loved this class so far and I think everyone should take it! I’ve learned valuable knowledge from Dr. Rebecca Leichtfuss and also learned more about myself and how to push myself to think differently. “

Written by:  Kelly Prom,
Health & Wellness Program Student

On Tuesday, December 18, Danielle Barron and Debbie Applebee, students from the MPTC Health and Wellness Program,  visited teens in grades 5-12 at the Tri-County Boys and Girls Club in Berlin, for a fun two hour interactive Dream Big event.

Tri-County Boys and Girls Club Teen Futures Coordinator, Carrie Govek said, “This was a wonderful experience for our teens!  Besides finding out more on health and wellness careers, they learned about healthy drinks and how much sugar is in many of the drinks they love, like sports drinks and soda. They even got to have a fun Tic Tac Toe relay race! Our Club is really stressing healthy lifestyles with exercise and healthy eating, so this was a perfect learning opportunity! After the teen event was finished, the elementary kids even got to sample the delicious fruit infused water the students brought to share. Thank you MPTC!”   Danielle and Debbie both told the teens about personal, family and friends health related journeys that inspired them to pursue a career in health and wellness and how the associate degree at MPTC is the perfect fit, where they are learning how to coach and teach healthy lifestyles and earning certifications all along the way to graduate with a career that has many job opportunities!

The Dream Big project started last year with Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac teens learning more about the over 100 careers available through MPTC.  This year, Dream Big is expanding throughout the MPTC district to include Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-County Area (Berlin, Green Lake County) and Boys and Girls Club of Washington County (West Bend).  This is a great community partnership opportunity for Moraine Park students to showcase their careers and practice service learning  and for Boys and Girls Club members to get excited about career choices!

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

Are you curious about Reiki, balancing your chakras and other alternative approaches to well-being?  Reiki is a Japanese form of stress reduction and deep relaxation that helps to strengthen the immune system and promote healing for just about anyone. This hands-on healing is effective for emotional, mental and physical health issues and is currently being practiced at 800 hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. What about chakras, do know what they are?  Chakras are the centers of your spiritual powers inside the human body.  These energy centers help regulate all processes of the body, from organ function, the immune system, and emotions. Intrigued in learning more yet?  MPTC is offering a varierty of Health and Wellness courses this spring to help you try a new approach to your health in 2018, all taught by John Oestreicher.

John is a business owner of Hands on Healing Energy and practices Reiki full-time.  He was a past teacher of health and wellness courses in the UW-System offering health and wellness courses and workshops to individuals, organizations and businesses.  John has been practicing meditation and mind/body connections for over 30 years and has received certifications as a Reiki Master/Teacher, Lo Ho Chi, and Star Medicine.  He has also earned his certificate in Reconnective Healing.

John will be offering a new class this April called Reiki Level 1 – Health Care.  This unique class for health care providers allows students to learn stress reduction techniques for emotional, mental and the physical health of their patients.

If you are interested in learning more about alternative approaches to your well-being, see a full listing of health and wellness classes here.

MPTC Health and Wellness students in action!

1. Could you share your “story” how did you end up at Moraine Park?

I was a stay at home mom and when my kids went back to school I didn’t want to just work at a job I hated. So, I went back to school. I had a few different program changes and then I found the Health and Wellness program.

2. How did you decide you wanted to continue in the Health and Wellness degree? Continue reading

The Moraine Park Technical College Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership (WWHEL) recently hosted a spring 2017 workshop for staff and faculty.

The theme was “BE POSITIVE, BE STRONG, BE HEALTHY, BE AMAZING,” and the event was held at Whispering Springs in Fond du Lac. Continue reading