The Moraine Park Foundation has received a $6,000 certified nursing assistant (CNA) scholarship gift from SSM Health. The scholarship is given on behalf of SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital. The donation will allow the Foundation to provide scholarships for students seeking to become CNAs. 

“Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) represent an essential part of the patient-care team,” according to Nicole Gill, vice president – Patient Care Services & chief nursing officer, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital and SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital. “In assisting the medical staff, CNAs not only provide physical care for patients but also emotional and spiritual support, truly making a difference in the lives of patients and families.  SSM Health values the CNA profession and is honored to help support the career in our communities.”

The scholarship is one way that the SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Region can meet a growing demand for CNAs.

“These clinicians play a vital role on our care delivery team working closely with patients to ensure their physical and emotional needs are met,” Tami Schattschneider, vice president Patient Care Services/chief nursing officer, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital. “St. Agnes deeply appreciates the value that CNAs bring to the care we provide and is pleased to partner with The Moraine Park Foundation to provide financial support through scholarships for those who have chosen this noble career path.”

Moraine Park’s Nursing Assistant training prepares students for work as nursing assistants by teaching the foundations of how to communicate and interact with patients, family and co-workers, maintain and protect client rights, and record observations. Students also learn ethical and legal responsibilities of nursing assistants, how to provide safe care for a diverse population, assist clients with long-term, disabling conditions, and more. The program also prepares students to take the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry exam through a combination of more than 75 hours of classroom theory, laboratory work and clinical experience. 

“SSM Health is a generous partner in providing scholarship funds that make education affordable for Moraine Park students,” Dana Bourland, director of college advancement at Moraine Park, said. “Their gift also ensures there is a pipeline of talented healthcare professionals to fill workforce needs in our local communities.”

For more information about Moraine Park Foundation scholarships, visit morainepark.edu/scholarships.

Did you know that many times, the barrier to education is financial?

A student who wants to earn their GED/HSED diploma can come to Moraine Park for free adult education instruction. However, the testing, required by the state, costs approximately $150.

The instructors in the adult education department wanted to help break this financial barrier. So, they started a scholarship through the Moraine Park Foundation in 2011. This funding helps not only with the testing fees, but students who enroll in a program at Moraine Park can also apply for a $500 scholarship to help with application fees, textbooks, or tuition. To date, 16 of those scholarships have been awarded, and one of the previous recipients recently earned their Master’s Degree!

As you begin to determine your year-end giving, know that a contribution to the Moraine Park Foundations Basic Education Fund could help change the lives of individuals right in your community.

For more information, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

The Moraine Park Foundation has received an annual scholarship contribution of $700 from their long-time community friend, the Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis.

“We are so grateful for the continued commitment from the Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis,” Dana Bourland, director of college advancement at Moraine Park said. “Their loyal and generous contributions benefit many students and have helped make educational dreams become a reality.”

The partnership between the Foundation and Kiwanis dates back more than a decade, providing financial support to students who need it most.

“We understand that a college education can help influence a family-sustaining career and break the cycle of poverty,” Lisa Karst of Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis said. “For this reason, the Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis is committed to providing scholarship support to Moraine Park students.”

The Beaver Dam Noon Kiwanis scholarship is offered to students who are enrolled full-time, attend at the Beaver Dam campus and have a minimum GPA of 2.75.

For more information on the Moraine Park Foundation, visit morainepark.edu/foundation.

A total of 14 Moraine Park apprentices will benefit from the Tools of the Trade scholarship offered by Ascendium Education Group scholarship (formerly Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates).

Currently, both the construction and industrial trade industries have a high demand for skilled workers. An apprenticeship offers up to five years of real-world work experience while attending school, and businesses gain access to skilled workers with legitimate on-the-job experience. However, financial pressure can make it hard to complete an apprenticeship, and students are often juggling the demands of school, work, and family. Additionally, apprentices incur substantial costs beyond tuition, such as purchasing tools, clothing, and other supplies. The Tools of the Trade scholarship provides funding to help cover those expenses.

“Many students struggle to meet the financial obligations of their school commitments on top of their personal obligations,” Bonnie Baerwald, Moraine Park president said. “We serve many first-generation, low-income students. This generous gift will certainly ease the burden and help them purchase the tools of their trade. My sincere appreciation to Ascendium Education Group for their interest in helping our apprentices succeed!”

The Moraine Park apprentices who received the 2019 Tools of the Trade scholarship are, Brock Ayers of West Bend, Austin Baumann of Rubicon, Nicholas Beine of Campbellsport, Aaron Brewer of Slinger, Jeremiah Cantrall of Fredonia, Jared Deming of Jackson, Joshua Frederick of Horicon, Kate Kilp of Milwaukee, Ethan Moldenhauer of West Bend, Daniel Reineke of Oostburg, Robert Riedijk of Milwaukee, Ripley Sartain of Port Washington, Taylor Schauer of Plymouth, and Erick Schmidt of Waupun.

Each student receives a total of $1,500 for the 2019-20 school year. A total of $298,500 in scholarships were awarded to 199 construction and industrial trades apprentices from 15 Wisconsin Technical College System institutions.

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

Moraine Park Technical College students can apply for a scholarship for books and necessary supplies, thanks to the generosity of community supporter Judith Berger O’Brien.

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“I’m a second year student at Moraine Park Technical College in the Mechanical Design Technology program.  I’m interested in designing mechanical components and products for machines and equipment through computerized drawings for the manufacturing industry.

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Across the country, there are millions of college students striving to be a better version of themselves. Many of them work, have families and are juggling multiple responsibilities, but still, they have made the commitment to their education. Moraine Park students are no different. In fact, the one thing that all college students could probably all agree on is that college, in general, is far from easy. However, if you walk the hallways of any of the three Moraine Park campuses you will see a robust list of student names on the wall. If you’re wondering, there are 1,163 to be exact. (Yes, I counted.)

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WHAT IF … attending college were determined by a student’s potential rather than his or her financial resources?

Well, that’s the case if you’re a high school senior living in the Moraine Park Technical College district. Moraine Park Promise scholarships allow eligible students to obtain a a college degree tuition-free!

Check this out: Moraine Park Promise program scholarships provide five semesters of FREE TUITION, plus additional services like mentoring, tutoring, assistance with financial aid filing and other support services.

Promise students agree to attend Moraine Park as a full-time student, maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, complete eight hours of community service per semester, stay in good standing with college policies and participate in Promise program support services.

To be eligible, students must: Continue reading

Heather Evenson, MSN, RN, has been employed with Moraine Park for almost three years as a member of the nursing team. Her great leadership is obvious to those who work with her or are students of hers. But there is more to Heather’s contributions to nursing and her students that often goes unseen. Continue reading