Moraine Park, as well as other Wisconsin Technical College’s, are working to find a solution to the shortage of face masks at our local healthcare systems.

Kim Olson, a mechanical design technology instructor at Moraine Park, has been working virtually with colleagues to design and print masks on a 3D printer.

He has successfully designed and printed some samples, but is working on efficiency and waiting to see if they can get approval for these to be used in a medical facility.

“The masks need to be approved for efficacy by the medical profession, and we need to become a certified manufacturer before a healthcare facility could accept them,” Kim said. ” We aren’t sure if the state will have the ability to certify each technical college, but if they can, we will be ready!”

Kim’s hard work is just one of the ways that Moraine Park is working to provide solutions during the COVID-19 outbreak. The College also made a significant donation of PPE to local healthcare facilities in our district and the College’s culinary program donated their perishable foods to local food banks.

For more information on moraine park, visit morainepark.edu.

There is no greater sacrifice than that of our Veterans: past, present, and future. Guillermo Avilesperez of San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, a fourth-generation veteran, made that sacrifice when he enrolled in the Marine Corps after high school.

“I graduated high school in 2012 and enrolled in the Marine Corps a year later,” he said. “I served in the infantry unit for four years and traveled around the world.”

Guillermo was deployed twice. He spent his first tour in Spain, where he did infantry training with the local embassy. During his second tour, he was stationed in Japan and Korea.

As his contract came to an end, he decided to seek out his next steps, and his girlfriend suggested he come to Moraine Park. He connected with the College while he was on base and planned his college journey before even seeing the campus.

“Moraine Park is a perfect fit for me,” Guillermo said. “The class sizes are small, the instructors are knowledgeable and teach you the skills you need for the career, and the learning is hands-on.”

His military contract ended in May 2018, and he began the Criminal Justice program that fall.

“I’m looking for a career similar to my military life,” he said. “I enjoyed my work in the Marine Corps, but I look forward to having the option to clock-out and go home at the end of the day.”

He is scheduled to graduate in May 2020 and has goals to someday serve full time on the Milwaukee Police Department SWAT team.

“My transition to civilian life is still ongoing,” Guillermo said. “Every veteran’s needs are different, but for me, it worked well to come here directly from my active duty. It has been stressful at times, but the support and resources at Moraine Park have helped me through.”

morainepark.edu/ican

With the statewide school closings, Moraine Park Technical College Culinary Arts Department found itself with pounds of fruits, vegetables and cheeses that would not be used as planned. However, this also presented an opportunity to reach out to the community.

Associate Dean of Trades, Steve Horvath, organized Culinary Arts staff to clear out the coolers. Together they were able to package the abundant and healthful product for distribution through the Fondy Food Pantry and the Broken Bread program at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Fond du Lac.

Both organizations were very grateful for the donations and Culinary Arts is grateful that the food programs saved the food from being a total loss.

This donation, is just one way that Moraine Park is working to help during the COVID-19 outbreak. The College also donated over 37,000 items to local healthcare facilities.

Stay up to date on Moraine Park’s COVID-19 updates, at morainepark.edu/coronavirus.

As we see so often during difficult times, people always find ways to keep a light shining by helping others.

Such is the case at Moraine Park Technical College. With the coronavirus continuing its grip on local communities, our nation and the world, the College is doing what they can to help.

Nearly 37,000 healthcare and safety-related supplies, including N-95 masks; disposable gloves and gowns; surgical gowns, hats and shoe covers; face shields and more, were collected from each of the College’s campuses – Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac and West Bend – and have been donated to local healthcare facilities in those communities including Marshfield Medical Center (formerly Beaver Dam Community Hospital), Froedtert and SSM/St. Agnes.

The healthcare supplies came from several of the College’s more than 60-plus programs, including:  Associate Degree Nursing, Nursing Assistant, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technologist, EMS and Cosmetology.

The College is also loaning respirators SSM/St. Agnes according to Barb Jascor, Moraine Park’s dean of health and human services.

“In addition to the need for healthcare and safety supplies, we were also seeing an ever-increasing need for ventilators,” said Jascor. “We wanted to do what we could to help and it made sense to loan our ventilators in advance, as a precautionary measure, should the local need for ventilators surpass current capacity of our community health care partners.”

For COVID-19 updates at Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu/coronavirus.

The Fond du Lac County Department of Community Programs office will be utilizing Moraine Park Technical College’s district office, at 235 N. National Ave. in Fond du Lac, to continue to provide mental health services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Previously, their offices were located in a nursing home facility, however, with the COVID-19 outbreak requiring enhanced restrictions on guests entering the facility, the Department of Community Programs needed to find a new location.

The Department of Community Programs provides a wide range of mental health services to Fond du Lac County, including Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA), crisis intervention, and prevention/education.

The move is scheduled to happen on Wednesday, April 1.

“This extraordinary opportunity will allow us to continue to provide mental health services to the residents of Fond du Lac County.”- Erin Gerred, Fond du Lac County director of administration.

morainepark.edu

fdlco.wi.gov/departments/departments-a-e/community-programs

Park Terrace is the campus restaurant serving meals created, cooked and served by Moraine Park Culinary Arts students. Dishes are prepared in the Culinary Arts kitchens with the freshest ingredients available and offered by a designated student manager for the day. The students take turns overseeing and running different aspects of the restaurant to get a complete on-the-job culinary experience.

For this semester only, all luncheons will be buffet style and priced between $8-$13, depending on the week (dessert and beverage for an additional charge). See below for a list of dates and cuisines. Fair Trade teas and coffees, as well as an extensive soft drink selection, will be available. Regular menu service will continue next semester.

Disney Themed                 March 26^th

Sicilian                                April 2^nd

Thai                                     April 9^th

Nordic                                 April 16^th

Music Themed                  April 30^th

Bavarian                             May 7^th

The restaurant, located on the Moraine Park Fond du Lac campus, will be open on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and reservations are strongly encouraged to help manage this student-guided learning environment.

Use the Online Reservation System
Email jsimmers@morainepark.edu
Leave a message on the restaurant’s voicemail system at (920) 924-6500.

Master Card and Visa accepted.

For more information on Moraine Park Technical College’s Park Terrace restaurant, please visit morainepark.edu/parkterrace.

Juggling the responsibilities of life is tough, but Faith Rockwell of St. Cloud is tougher. She came to Moraine Park in 2019 with a mountain of daily responsibilities, a goal to provide a stable life, and a sweet young daughter who relied on her to accomplish both.

“I graduated high school in 2014 and got married shortly after,” Faith said. “My original plan was to go to college, but when I became pregnant in 2016, that shifted my plans.”

Faith became a single mother when her daughter was just six months old and was left to take care of all the parenting and financial responsibilities.

“Suddenly my life changed from being a stay at home mom to having to struggle to pay bills and provide for my daughter,” she said. “There were times we went hungry. I knew I had to find a stable career to get us into a better situation. That’s when I found Moraine Park.”

Faith chose the respiratory therapy program, a career path that offers job security and an opportunity to serve in a fast-paced health care environment.

“Moraine Park has been amazing,” Faith said. “My teachers have helped me so much by providing me with many resources to help me be successful in my program.”

She has utilized many resources that often are forgotten, like disability services, counseling, and the student emergency fund.

“Being a single mom is terrifying,” Faith said. “It feels like you can never get ahead or enough. I struggled for a long time, and finally, I decided to apply to Moraine Park. Since coming here I’ve had more support and help than ever before. It is possible to redefine your life.”

Faith is scheduled to graduate in May 2021 and has goals to specialize in the NICU and help premature babies with their breathing function.

“Achieving my educational goals gives me hope for my future.”

morainepark.edu/ican

Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial and Education Center, will host a 9-11 Lecture series every Thursday in February, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The events are free and will be held at the College’s West Bend Campus, 2151 N Main Street.

The lecture series will feature Mike Nichols, author of a Few Sleeps Away, on February 6; Secretary Mary Kolar, Wisconsin Dept. of Veterans Affairs, speaking on societal changes since 9-11, on February 13; Charlie Vitchers, foreman at Ground Zero, on February 20; and, Gordon Haberman, father of 9-11 victim Andrea Haberman, on February 27.

The purpose of the series is to bring continued awareness to the 9-11 Memorial efforts in Wisconsin through accounts of personal stories and the building of a memorial in Kewaskum. Current Moraine Park students are working with the Wisconsin 9-11 Memorial and Education Center to offer assistance in some areas of the project. Refreshments will be provided.

This event is made possible thanks to generous donations from Dunn Brothers Coffee, MCR Services, LLC, Property Loss Management, LLC, The Candyman on Main, and Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center.

Seating is limited, and registration is required. The event will also be available on a live stream format. For more information on the event, the live stream, or to register, visit morainepark.edu/lecture.

Are you a licensed EMT looking to advance your skills?

Moraine Park Technical College is offering an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) course at their Fond du Lac Campus.

Tuesdays & Thursdays
Jan 21 – May 14
6:30-10 p.m.
Room E-153.1

The advanced skills you will learn are:

• IV Therapy
• Advanced Assessment
• Pharmacological Interventions

Upon successful completion of the course, State certification requires:

• NREMT comprehensive written exam
• NREMT psychomotor exam

Acceptance into the AEMT program is required along with health requirements and a criminal background check. You must also be a licensed EMT.

Please apply early at morainepark.edu/apply.

For more information, please contact Renae Fischer, academic advisor, at 920-929-2477 or rfischer6@morainepark.edu.