From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Former Whiting Mill employee charts new course with IT degree” – Dawn Zieher never considered working anywhere other than a paper mill.
A Pittsville native, Zieher said she had family that worked in the paper industry, and she began thinking about it in eighth grade. At 19 years old, she was hired at NewPage Corp.’s Whiting mill, where she worked for more than 26 years. When the mill closed in February 2011, she was working as a rewinder operator, cutting up rolls of paper into smaller sections.
“I was shocked,” Zieher said of the closure. “I had to figure out something to do. I always thought about going back to school, but I had been doing shift work, which didn’t really give me a chance to.”
Zieher, 48, of Stevens Point, said she had a general interest in computers, and settled on Mid-State Technical College based in part on location and cost. On Thursday, she will graduate with other students from the Stevens Point campus with an information technology-network specialist degree.
“I liked the classes they offered, and how the faculty treated students,” Zieher said. “I wouldn’t have thought a couple of years ago that I would be graduating with this kind of degree, but this was a great choice for me.”
Kathryn Doar is an instructor of IT-network specialist courses at MSTC, and she has been at the college for 51/2 years. Of the 15 students graduating with that degree this week, Doar said four, including Zieher, are displaced workers.
“Those kinds of students come in here with a great past work experience and a real drive to learn everything they can,” Doar said.
Doar said Zieher is regularly among those students who put in extra hours to learn, whether it is fixing computers in the college’s PC Clinic or volunteering to work on networks for the Rosholt Library and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also has helped set up the new IT-network specialist lab at Mid-State’s new downtown Stevens Point campus, scheduled to open in January 2014.
While she’s involved now, Zieher admits that college wasn’t always so easy for her.
“It was a total 180 for me. When I was in school the last time, it was paper and pencil, and we used to look things up at the library,” Zieher said. “I felt overwhelmed, but the instructors here made a big difference because they were always very willing to answer any question I had.”
Zieher said she isn’t exactly sure what her next job will be, but that she’s interested in possibly working with computer servers and would be willing to move if necessary. She will benefit from the college’s near 100 percent placement rate for graduates in her field.
“I’ve been able to get a lot of experience at school, so I feel like I have options,” Zieher said.
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Retiring fire chief reflects on 31-year career” – Marshfield Fire Chief James Schmidt retires May 24 after more than 31 years of service to the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department. I had a chance to sit down with him recently to reflect on his career and more than three decades of service to the city of Marshfield.
A Wisconsin native, Chief Schmidt grew up in the Fox Valley area and attended school in Appleton. His father worked for a large fire apparatus manufacturer in Appleton, and his uncle worked for a fire department in the Milwaukee suburbs. The seeds of a career in the fire service had been cast. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the Fire Protection Program at Fox Valley Technical College, graduating in 1981. He completed the cadet program a Grand Chute and Oshkosh Fire departments. Shortly after graduation, he landed his first full-time career in the fire service with the Kaukauna Fire Department.
A strong work ethic and a desire to serve the public in concert with all the ideologies of a new recruit were met with the realities of recession and budget cuts. After only six months on the job, the new recruit’s position was eliminated.
Newly unemployed in a recession that was affecting most municipalities in Wisconsin, Schmidt began testing state-wide for positions. On April 5, 1982, he accepted a position with the Marshfield Fire Department.
Clayton Simonson was the fire chief at the time. The Marshfield Fire Department was in the process of addressing a referendum regarding the Optional Powers of the Fire and Police Commission, the reorganization of the two platoon shift schedule, and a paid-on-call firefighter program. Firefighters had many questions for Schmidt about his time at Kaukauna, Oshkosh and Grand Chute and the schedules and operations at those locations.
He served as an acting lieutenant/relief lieutenant before being promoted to deputy chief of the Red Shift on Aug. 7, 2001. In that capacity, he was responsible for the city and county hazmat team, the Fire Investigation Team and specialized rescue programs. He secured a grant for the purchase of rescue vehicles, equipment and training as part of a Central Wisconsin Collapse Rescue Team. He was a fire investigator for the city and served on the Wood County Fire Investigation Task Force as secretary/treasurer and president.
Schmidt was instrumental in developing the regional training center in partnership with Mid-State Technical College. The training center is one of his proudest accomplishments. As a fire service instructor, he recognizes the complexities of emergency service response and making sure our rescue workers are prepared.
Schmidt is on the board of directors for the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, co-chairman of the Wisconsin Technical College System Fire Service Advisory Committee on Education and Training and chairman of the MSTC Fire Service Advisory Committee.
People always are curious about rescue workers’ most memorable calls.
“You remember a lot of calls for various reasons,” Schmidt said. “The calls that seem to stick with me are the untimely deaths of the young, whether it is by traumatic accident or illness.
“If pressed, I would say the Central State Supply fire on Depot Street early in my career was one of the more memorable because I was treated and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion,” Schmidt said.
“I also responded to a fatal fire that same year where a young child perished. I can still see vividly the image of the lifeless child being carried in the arms of another firefighter from a second-story closet.”
The downtown Magic Moments fire on April 1, 2005, was the largest multi-agency fire response Schmidt commanded.
In three decades of service, the biggest changes in the Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department from Schmidt’s perspective are the development of the paramedic ambulance service, the advancements in personal protective equipment, firefighter safety and the cost of vehicles.
When Schmidt started in 1982, the annual fire department budget was $800,000; this year it was just under $4 million.
Other notable changes are in training and education. We have a more educated workforce, and advancements in state and national standards have increased the need for more training to meet the many varied emergencies to which today’s fire departments respond.
“I am happy to say the fire service has become more proactive versus reactive,” Schmidt said. “The fire department culture has become more professional and less traditional.
“We have become the risk managers of our community,” he said. “We spend more time identifying potential threats, analyzing the risk, and assessing our vulnerabilities.”
“Through our fire prevention and training efforts, responsive fire codes, improved building design, and cooperation from the general public, the number of significant fires has been reduced,” Schmidt said.
“We still have far too many fires that could have been prevented by adherence to simple fire safety practices,” he said.
Two accomplishments he is proud of are the part he played in the development of the regional training center and the construction of the new fire station. However, he is most proud of his role in changing the organizational culture of the department.
“The high level of cooperation that currently exists within the organization has helped us overcome most any operational challenges we have faced over the past six years,” he said. “The fire service truly becomes your second family, and when the alarm sounds, regardless of any interpersonal conflicts, all members work as a team for the common goal of saving the life or property of someone they typically have never met.”
Schmidt said, “I’ll miss the camaraderie, and I am confident the department will continue to adhere to the basic philosophies: treat people the way you want to be treated, make decisions that are best for the community and department and do what you can to leave the department in a better position than we you got there.”
Dual credits help save money, time
April 30, 2013
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: Dual credits help save money, time” — By Sue Budjac – Today is Dual Credit Day. This day recognizes the role of Mid-State Technical College during the past two decades in helping thousands of high school students accelerate their educational attainment.
Recognition of similarly successful collaborations is happening today at technical colleges all across Wisconsin.
What is dual credit, and how does it work? Dual credit classes are college-level courses taught in high schools by high school teachers who are Wisconsin Technical College System certified.
Essentially, specific classes in the high school use MSTC books and curriculum, and students receive college credits for successful completion. Examples of dual credit classes include college accounting, advanced computer applications, medical terminology, alternative energy and marketing principles.
Each high school partners with MSTC to determine classes that are eligible for dual credit, so dual credit classes will vary from high school to high school. Eleven high schools currently offer dual credit classes in the Mid-State Technical College District.
The 16 colleges in the WTCS have offered dual credit opportunities for more than 20 years. During that time span, we have expanded dual credit into new program areas and presented high school students with numerous opportunities to get an inexpensive head start on their college education. Technical colleges across the state are specialists in transitioning high school students into higher education.
Every dual credit earned is one less credit to pay for in college. How so? With dual credit, high school students take a free MSTC college course that also counts toward their high school graduation requirements. Dual credit is thus a great way to reduce the cost of a college education.
Dual credit saves time and money. Students can focus their time in college on those courses and skills they need most to graduate quickly. Who wouldn’t prefer a paycheck in their pocket over another semester of college loans? Dual credit students also gain an early appreciation for the demands and rigor of college courses while putting themselves on the fast-track to a good-paying career.
About 20,000 Wisconsin high school students each year are already taking advantage of this head start on the path to a college degree. They learn a high-quality skill set and acquire hands-on experience in less time for less money. Dual credit students are more likely to enroll in college and complete an MSTC degree or certificate. Local businesses also benefit from a well-trained workforce. If our economy is to thrive, our communities need to embrace a healthy workforce that in turn stimulates economic growth and job creation. Dual credit is a means to that end.
If you are interested in learning more about earning college credit in high school, please visit with your local high school counselor or CTE teacher, or call MSTC’s high school career coach, Xiong Vang, at 715-422-5521.
Sue Budjac is president of Mid-State Technical College.
MSTC students give back to community
April 2, 2013
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: MSTC students give back to community” – Winter is ending — I am sure of it! Well, almost sure. Despite the weather, Mid-State Technical College students have been actively engaged in our communities, demonstrating service learning at its finest. MSTC students and employees positively impact hundreds, possibly thousands, of lives each year through volunteerism and service learning.
Service learning is a method of instruction that combines classroom knowledge and skills with real-world experience through community service. Many MSTC students engage in service learning and charitable activities, demonstrating that a technical college education not only provides students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, but also community spirit to be valuable contributors to central Wisconsin.
The number of MSTC community projects is too great to list them all, but I’d like to share a sample of the spirit of giving among our students.
Many MSTC programs arrange service learning to help meet specific community needs. For instance, the Early Childhood Education, or ECE, Club filled pillowcases with pajamas, toys, personal hygiene items and games for children who have been removed from their home due to possible neglect or abuse. Mid-State Student Nurses Association, or MSNA, sponsors an on-campus blood drive every semester.
Students also are quick to address tragic events and previously unforeseen needs. Corrections students sponsored a walk that raised $9,800 to assist a local family with their child’s medical expenses. The same group of students is raising money for the family of an Adams County deputy injured in the line of duty.
Student projects also increase awareness and educate. Students Environmentally United for a Sustainable Society, or SEUSS, a club made up of students from MSTC’s five renewable energy programs and the Urban Forestry program, regularly promote environmental sustainability through a variety of events and charitable giving. In one instance, the SEUSS club recently bought and prepared locally grown foods and served dinner to about 180 people at The Neighborhood Table in Wisconsin Rapids. MSTC law enforcement students mentor local high school students and members of the community through the police academies.
I am humbled and inspired by these outstanding and selfless acts of kindness. Generosity and service learning are truly a part of our culture at MSTC. The student club concept fosters self-improvement by providing opportunities to develop leadership qualities, social awareness, occupational understanding and civic consciousness. Development of these skills helps students discover new interests, make connections, and enhance opportunities for employment — all while positively impacting their future employers and the fabric of our communities.
Summer opportunities abound at Wisconsin’s tech colleges
March 26, 2013
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: Find summer opportunities at MSTC” – In the last couple of weeks, it seems like everyone is talking about the weather. I have heard people saying things like, “When is it going to stop snowing?” “When will it finally be spring?” “Will the weather ever turn nice?” “I was planting my garden last year at this time.” “I wore shorts on St. Patrick’s Day last year.” And so on.
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you when the weather will change, only that I’m sure it will. This anticipation of summer weather has us thinking about summer school opportunities at Mid-State Technical College. As a matter of fact, we think the summer session has something for everyone.
Many students find that our summer session provides the opportunity to focus on just one course rather than several courses at once. Delivery options include face-to-face, video-conferenced classes and online instruction.
If you are a college student who is at home for the summer, many of these courses are transferable to other colleges or universities. Please check with your college to see if they accept these transfer opportunities.
Another option is the chance to work on your basic skills in the Academic Success Center, or ASC. Staff members are available to help you brush up on basic skills in computers, math or language, or to help you improve your entry-level scores for admission to an MSTC program. Maybe your college admissions test did not come out as well as you would have preferred or you would just like to upgrade your skills in a particular area for work
MSTC’s summer session would allow you to enroll in a class that may have been filled during the fall or spring semester, enroll in a class to update and enhance your professional skills, earn credits that will transfer to other colleges and universities or take a class in an environment in which classes are often smaller and less formal.
For an enjoyable and rewarding summer experience, consider joining us at MSTC. Visit us online at mstc.edu or, better yet, stop by Marshfield Campus at 2600 W. Fifth St. and register for summer classes or get more information about any of these options. We look forward to seeing you here.
Brenda Dillenburg is dean of the Mid-State Technical College campus in Marshfield.
Educators can tour tech college programs
March 26, 2013
From wisconsinrapidstribune.com: “Educators can tour tech college programs” – Local kindergarten through grade 12 educators will have the opportunity to tour Mid-State Technical College and four other technical colleges during the week of June 17 to 21.
Registration has begun for a statewide collaborative offering graduate credit for increasing awareness of Wisconsin Technical College System, or WTCS, programs and services.
Teachers, counselors and administrators participating in the week-long Tours of Excellence visit a different technical college each day for hands-on learning about the programs and services available to students, as well as the 21st century career options that await WTCS graduates. Tour participants complete an action plan for disseminating what they’ve learned, and will earn 3 graduate credits from Marian University in Fond du Lac.
The tours are planned on a regional basis to allow for broad participation with local partners. Tours are broken into north, central and south sections, and space is limited to 30 individuals per section.
A participant of the 2012 Tour of Excellence said, “I feel much more prepared to share the opportunities for jobs and associate degrees that the technical colleges offer, as well as suggesting programs I feel my students would excel in.”
“Participants complete the tours with 3 graduate credits and an increased understanding of the great career and entrepreneurship opportunities available through MSTC and other WTCS programs,” said new student specialist Lana Mallek.
Additional information and online registration is available at www.fvtc.edu/wtcstour.
Police and EMS prepare for the worst
March 25, 2013
From wsaw.com: “Simulating an unthinkable tragedy” – The campus of Midstate Technical College appears quiet and peaceful on this Sunday afternoon when suddenly the calm is broken by the sounds of a simulated chaos.
This was a day in which police officers and EMS personnel could train for the unthinkable. While first responders are trained frequently about how to handle these situations, today was an opportunity for them to put the skills they have learned into a real world scenario.
“We are teaching the police officers how to take care of themselves and their partners if they get injured. It is also to be able to treat the public in mass casualty situations where people need to be rapidly treated and extricated out to the various hospital facilities around the state.” said event organizer Chad Stiles.
The training involved three separate scenarios including a shooting at a church, a school, as well as a bomb situation. Even the Aspirus medical helicopter was on hand to aid in the training process.
The program was put on by the Waukesha County Technical College, which has a class teaching first responders how to act in mass casualty situations. They are taking training around the state to reach many different police and fire departments. Since Waukesha County Technical College is located just one town over from the site of two recent mass shootings, today’s training hits home for many of its leadership staff.
“Me and my partner co-instructor were actually at the Azana Spa shooting. So, for us those kind of events have happened in our back door. We are trying to bring forth the knowledge we have learned in these events.” Stiles said.
As jarring as it may be to see these scenes play out, we can be thankful that todays guns were made of plastic, the blood was nothing more than red tape, and that the screams for help were made by actors. However today’s training does prove that if the unimaginable was ever to happen in Central Wisconsin, those we trust most to uphold the peace would be able to restore it as soon as possible.
8 Wis. Technical Colleges awarded funds for laser equipment
March 21, 2013
From wsaw.com: “8 Wis. Technical Colleges awarded funds for laser equipment” – Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson says eight Wisconsin Technical College System schools will be awarded nearly $105,000 to to purchase precision laser alignment tools to help train apprentices in manufacturing and address the skills gap.
“The funding is another example of our continuing efforts to equip workers with the latest skills, empowering them for employment in family supporting jobs,” Secretary Newson said. “With the grants, our workforce partners in the technical colleges can purchase high tech, laser equipment to train apprentices for good jobs in the skilled trades.”
Grants of $13,100 each are being awarded to Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids, North Central Technical College in Wausau, Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Waukesha Technical College, and Milwaukee Area Technical College.
The U.S. Department of Labor funds will go to purchase precision laser alignment tools for rotating machinery. Precision laser alignment is a common testing procedure in maintaining manufacturing equipment and ensuring production efficiency. The colleges will use the equipment to train apprentices in training for occupations as machine repairer, maintenance mechanic, millwright and pipefitter.
Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn
March 19, 2013
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn” – Career and technical education is a cooperative effort between technical colleges and employers. Students receive instruction and training in the classroom and also with local employers through internships, externships and clinical rotations. These real-world skills and experiences help graduates be better prepared to enter or re-enter the world of work.
Mid-State Technical College offers certificates, technical diplomas and associate degrees in more than 100 areas.
MSTC graduates enjoy careers in many industries and service areas in all of our communities. Some examples include law enforcement and corrections officers, surgical technologists, manufacturing and electronic technicians, welders, registered nurses, automotive technicians, accountants, cosmetologists, urban foresters, business managers, supervisors, marketing professionals, computer programmers, medical assistants, respiratory therapists and much more. As we look around at the businesses and industries in our community, it is easy to see the impact of career and technical education.
A technical college education is the training that is sought after and needed by employers in the 21st century. In fact, 93 percent of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with the education and training and would hire technical college graduates again.
The preparation provided at a technical college includes the necessary academic and technical skills to be highly productive employees in their field of choice.
The required technical skills are changing each and every year; many of these skills were unheard of a generation ago. We work with employers in our communities to stay abreast of changes and advances in technology so that these new tools and skills are incorporated into our programs.
In addition to offering programs of study to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow, technical colleges are well suited to offer just-in-time training and training aimed at upgrading employees’ skills.
Mid-State Technical College is your community’s college. Turn to us when you are ready to develop employee training or enter a program of study to earn your associate degree or technical diploma. MSTC’s Marshfield Campus is at 2600 W.Fifth St. in Marshfield. You may reach us at 715-387-2538 or visit our website at mstc.edu. Let us know how we can be of service to you.
Brenda Dillenburg is dean of the Mid-State Technical College campus in Marshfield.
Education fair to promote technical jobs
March 13, 2013
From stevenspointjournal.com: “Education fair to promote technical jobs” – GRAND RAPIDS — For Scott Stanczyk, losing his job at the Whiting paper mill when the facility closed its doors in 2010 provided the incentive he needed to pursue a new career path.
Now in his last semester of the renewable thermal energy technician program at Mid-State Technical College, Stanczyk said his love for the outdoors and the environment gave him the opportunity to reinvent himself.
“The economy was terrible when they first shut the doors, and the job outlook was pretty tough, so I needed to do something,” he said. “I was glad to have the opportunity to take this course and have some support from our government as a dislocated worker. It’s been a great experience here at Mid-State.”
It’s experiences like Stanczyk’s that workforce development leaders hope to share with a new generation of students in a world of changing perceptions about the relevance and role of the technical and industrial sector. It’s for that reason that Mid-State Technical College is hosting its second annual Technical and Industrial Education Fair from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at its Wisconsin Rapids campus.
“This is a great opportunity to explore technical educational and apprenticeship programs that lead to great careers with excellent pay,” said Gary Kilgas, associate dean for the college’s Technical and Industrial Division, which is organizing the event.
Designed to benefit high school students seeking to advance their education, individuals looking to expand their skill set or retrain for a new career, as well as parents and friends, the event will provide them with an opportunity to tour facilities and engage in a variety of individual technical program demonstrations, according to an MSTC news release.
There are opportunities in south Wood County for people who want to work in fields such as industrial mechanics, instrumentation and controls, engineering technology and welding, said Rick Merdan, a manufacturing facilitator for Workforce Central, a grassroots initiative to help match local employers with the skilled workers they need.
“All of those are very high-demand fields, with people in very good positions, very good jobs coming out of those programs,” Merdan said.
A key part of promoting jobs in the technical and industrial sectors is to change what have become outdated perceptions, especially with an expected increase in the number of such jobs available due to looming retirements, said Bruce Trimble, employer services director for the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.
“The perception (of technical jobs) has been dumb, dirty and dark, but they’re anything but that,” Trimble said. “If you go into a welding shop, the air is just like if you would walk into an office building.
“It’s about getting people to realize what’s needed and what those actual jobs are like and that those positions pay very good, family-sustaining entry-level wages.”
At Corenso North America, for example, the core board manufacturer has had a couple positions open for a while that company officials have not been able to fill, President Tom Janke said.
“There’s really an immediate need in some areas,” said Janke, who also serves as board chairman for the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce. “This isn’t something that’s necessarily three, four, five, seven years down the road; there’s opportunities for it right now.”
Janke also encouraged those who are thinking about getting into a technical field to seek out the many opportunities available right in south Wood County.
“You don’t have to relocate,” he said. “You don’t have to go to a large city; there are opportunities right here.”
Student achievement high at MSTC
March 5, 2013
From stevenspointjournal.com: “Column: Student achievement high at MSTC” — By Sue Budjac, president of Mid-State Technical College — As Mid-State Technical College nears the midpoint of spring semester, I pause to reflect on 100 years of student achievement in the Wisconsin Technical College System, or WTCS.
After all of these years, the basic premise remains the same: MSTC provides our students with the hands-on skills and real-world knowledge they need to be successful in central Wisconsin business and industry. All 16 colleges of the WTCS stand united in this commitment to student success.
The technical college model responds and evolves as employer needs and local economics change. That’s why MSTC graduates are in such high demand year after year. Nine out of 10 (88 percent) WTCS graduates are employed within six months of graduation. And not just any job — more than seven in 10 graduates are employed in a field related to their education and training. Who else can measure up to that?
While it’s important that our graduates attain employment, it is also vital that graduates employ their newly acquired skills here in Wisconsin. In fact, 86 percent of WTCS graduates remain in Wisconsin, and two-thirds don’t even leave their technical college district. Community and state appropriations for Wisconsin’s technical colleges are solid investments in our local and state economy.
Family sustaining wages are also a vital ingredient in a healthy local economy. WTCS associate degree graduates working full-time in a field related to their training earn an average of $36,000 within six months of graduation. A recent study showed this median salary increases to $44,000 within five years of graduation.
Student success is an integral part of everything we do at MSTC, because our graduates are central Wisconsin’s workforce of today and tomorrow. We measure our success in many ways. For example, 95 percent of graduates are satisfied with the education and training they receive at MSTC. A ready supply of employers want to hire MSTC graduates: 95 percent of surveyed employers said the education MSTC graduates receive meets or exceeds their expectations.
While I can go on about the many great benefits of a technical college education, seeing is believing. I invite you to attend the second annual Technical & Industrial Division Education Fair from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 12 where you will encounter hands-on activities and learn more about some of MSTC’s educational programs that lead to great careers with excellent pay in organizations seeking skilled employees.
Enjoy free pizza, enter a drawing for great prizes, visit with faculty, ask about scholarships and learn about financial aid. During this free event, you can preview all of our Technical & Industrial Division programs, including Industrial Mechanical Technician, Civil Engineering Technology-Highway Technician, Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician, Urban Forestry Technician, Electrical Power Engineering Technology, Welding, our unique renewable energy programs, and many more. For more information or to register, call Mary at 715-422-5400.
Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn
March 1, 2013
From marshfieldnews.com: “Column: Career, tech education a real-world way to learn” — By Brenda Dillenburg, dean of the Mid-State Technical College Marshfield campus – Career and technical education is a cooperative effort between technical colleges and employers. Students receive instruction and training in the classroom and also with local employers through internships, externships and clinical rotations. These real-world skills and experiences help graduates be better prepared to enter or re-enter the world of work.
Mid-State Technical College offers certificates, technical diplomas and associate degrees in more than 100 areas.
MSTC graduates enjoy careers in many industries and service areas in all of our communities. Some examples include law enforcement and corrections officers, surgical technologists, manufacturing and electronic technicians, welders, registered nurses, automotive technicians, accountants, cosmetologists, urban foresters, business managers, supervisors, marketing professionals, computer programmers, medical assistants, respiratory therapists and much more. As we look around at the businesses and industries in our community, it is easy to see the impact of career and technical education.
A technical college education is the training that is sought after and needed by employers in the 21st century. In fact, 93 percent of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with the education and training and would hire technical college graduates again.
The preparation provided at a technical college includes the necessary academic and technical skills to be highly productive employees in their field of choice.
The required technical skills are changing each and every year; many of these skills were unheard of a generation ago. We work with employers in our communities to stay abreast of changes and advances in technology so that these new tools and skills are incorporated into our programs.
In addition to offering programs of study to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow, technical colleges are well suited to offer just-in-time training and training aimed at upgrading employees’ skills.
Mid-State Technical College is your community’s college. Turn to us when you are ready to develop employee training or enter a program of study to earn your associate degree or technical diploma. MSTC’s Marshfield Campus is at 2600 W.Fifth St. in Marshfield. You may reach us at 715-387-2538 or visit our website at mstc.edu. Let us know how we can be of service to you.
MSTC students honored with statewide scholarships
January 30, 2013
From voiceofwr.com: MSTC students honored with statewide scholarships” – The Wisconsin Employment and Training Association offers two statewide scholarships and both have been awarded to Mid-State Technical College students.
Kristine Ahles and Matt Nievinski, both of Wisconsin Rapids, have each received a scholarship in the amount of $750. Ahles is pursuing Business Management and Administrative Professional associate degrees. Nievinski is seeking an associate degree in Information Technology-Network Specialist.
The scholarship application considers economic need, personal characteristics, school and community involvement, personal expression of training and career goals, academic achievement, Wisconsin residency, and two letters of recommendation. MSTC Financial Aid Supervisor and WETA member Mary Jo Green recommended both students for WETA scholarships.
“I am confident these two individuals will continue to achieve in the classroom and community,” said Green in a press release. “They are a reflection of the quality of students we have here at MSTC.”
Ahles originally enrolled at MSTC through the Workforce Investment Act Dislocated Workers Program and enjoys MSTC’s personable hometown friendly atmosphere.
“I look forward to coming to school and learning,” she said in a press release.
Nievinski chose MSTC because he had seen firsthand how much faculty and staff care about their students and foster student success.
“I like the fact that at MSTC you are not treated like a number,” Nievinski said in a press release. “Faculty and staff are friendly and want to help you succeed when you put forth the effort.”
WETA established scholarships like the Harmon Memorial Scholarship and the Brasch Memorial Scholarship to help students achieve their educational and career goals.
Dennis Harmon was a dedicated professional who spent most of his work life serving the needs of the poor and unemployed through the development, operation and management of education, employment, and training programs in Wisconsin.
John Brasch was one of the founders of WETA and remained an active member until his death. In his role as a technical college counselor, Brasch was deeply committed to working with disadvantaged students.
MSTC’s Costello named Board Member of the Year
January 24, 2013
From wispolitics.com: “Mid-State Technical College: WTCDBA honors MSTC board member with 2013 Board Member of the Year” – MADISON – Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) Board member Patrick Costello was honored Thursday with the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association (WTCDBA) 2013 Board Member of the Year award. The award recognizes one person annually for their demonstrated collaboration, passion for technical college education, and leadership needed to be an effective district board member in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS).
Costello has been a member of the MSTC District Board of Directors for nearly 20 years, serving 75% of that time in a board officer role: Chairperson twice (1999-2001), Vice Chairperson five times (1996-99, 2001-03), Secretary once (1995-96), and Treasurer eight times (2005-current). He also is the longstanding chair of the college’s Finance & Audit Committee. Fellow board members and college administrators say his reputation of dependability and credibility is second to none. Indeed, Costello has not missed an MSTC Board meeting in more than seven years.
“I have had the good fortune of serving alongside Pat for nearly 20 years and know first-hand how much energy and determination he puts into MSTC and the WTCS,” fellow MSTC Board Chairman Bob Beaver said.
The WTCDBA likewise realized the benefits of Costello’s dedication to advancing the quality of Wisconsin’s technical colleges. In 2007, Pat joined the WTCDBA Board of Directors, serving as Secretary/Treasurer from 2007-09, Vice President from 2009-11, and President from 2011-present. He has been a member of the WTCDBA Human Resources Committee since 1996.
“Students, MSTC, and our communities have all benefited from Pat’s lifelong commitment to advancing the quality of Wisconsin’s technical colleges,” MSTC President Dr. Sue Budjac said. “His wealth of experience and solid understanding of technical college issues and challenges are only surpassed by his strong commitment to MSTC.”
Costello’s award is the second prestigious WTCDBA award given to an MSTC-affiliated individual within the last three months. Scott Glinski, president of Skyward, Inc. and MSTC graduate, was honored last October with the WTCDBA 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award.
MSTC starts Quick Start Learning program
December 10, 2012
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “MSTC starts Quick Start Learning program” – Mid-State Technical College is now offering people the opportunity to more easily fit coursework into their everyday schedules.
Beginning this fall, the college began offering Quick Start Learning classes. Rather than attending daytime classes, students now have the opportunity to attend in the evenings or online. Steve Smith, dean of the Stevens Point campus, said there are around 25 courses in such areas as project management, personal finance, computers, quality management, real estate, first aid, health care, hydraulics, alternative energy and welding.
Rather than having to sign up for classes in either the spring or the fall, Smith said that Quick Start Learning classes are offered regularly throughout the year. He added the courses are a good fit for people who want to increase their skills in their current career or are training for a new one.
“It’s another option for students who can’t fit into a traditional class schedule and still want the option to have a quality education,” Smith said. “Some people might think it might be an easier route, but I would suggest that students are still getting the same level of education and working just as hard.”
Sean Stilson oversees computer-based training courses, which make up a part of the learning program. Students interact with Stilson via email as they complete sections of a course and take tests. Stilson said he has about 37 students in the courses.
Stilson said the classes range from partial up to three credits, and are electives rather than courses required for a degree.
“It’s more to round out their degree, if they are looking to work in a specific area,” Stilson said. “The advantage of taking these classes is that people can spread the coursework out, or they can finish it in a couple of days or weeks.”
Jodi Belongia, 29, attends school at Mid-State’s Stevens Point campus and plans to graduate with a degree in business management in the fall of 2013. Following graduation, she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout to earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources.
She’s will take two computer-based training courses as electives — effective use of feedback for business and leading from the front line — during the upcoming winter break. She said she found out about the option of taking the computer courses when looking into fitting in her education around a full-time job at North Central Irrigation in Plainfield.
In fact, Belongia said the courses will allow her to avoid having to take courses next summer as she originally planned.
“I don’t mind having to have a class during the break because I don’t have to add any more classes during the spring, and I can work around my job,” Belongia said.
Column: MSTC helps close Wisconsin’s skills gap
December 4, 2012
From wisnconsinrapidstribune.com: “Column: MSTC helps close Wisconsin’s skills gap” – Wisconsin’s technical colleges are essential to closing the state’s skills gap, a term used to describe the mismatch between workforce skills and available jobs in business and industry.
Despite persistent unemployment, the Department of Workforce Development estimates there are 32,000 to 45,000 unfilled jobs statewide.
The “Silver Tsunami,” an industry term referring to the impending impact of the retirement of the baby boomer generation, only adds to this workforce shortage.
To help address Wisconsin’s skills gap, Mid-State Technical College continues to offer and advocate for the educational resources MSTC students need to be successful in the workforce.
Half of all jobs require a two-year degree, making MSTC a preferred destination to learn skills for a new career or enhance skills in your current career. Our college serves about 9,000 students per year. In fact, the 16 colleges that make up the Wisconsin Technical College System, or WTCS, serve 370,000 students and form the largest higher education system in all of Wisconsin.
MSTC offers 10 unique career programs that can be found nowhere else in the WTCS. We regularly assess our more than 100 career programs and certificates to ensure they are relevant to today’s economy, enhanced by flexible technology and easily accessible to individuals in our district communities.
Recent survey results indicate that 86 percent of MSTC graduates were employed within six months of graduation. An MSTC associate degree graduate earns an average of $31,000 in their first year, and in their lifetime can expect to earn $400,000 more than those with a high school diploma.
Student success is priority number one at MSTC. Our students experience small class sizes, hands-on instruction, engaging faculty with industry experience, and programs of study tied to local workforce demand. Interested in learning more? Stop by any of our four locations, call 888.575.MSTC, or visit www.mstc.edu. Spring semester classes start Jan. 14. Enroll now!
Sue Budjac is president of Mid-State Technical College.
MSTC Quick Start Learning classes set for winter and spring
November 27, 2012
From voiceofwr.com: “MSTC Quick Start Learning classes set for winter and spring” – Want to train for a new career? Need to advance your skills in your current career? Mid-State Technical College’s new Quick Start Learning classes are an easy solution for people on the go.
Quick Start Learning classes are ideal for the busy lives of local businesses and their employees. These short-term classes don’t follow traditional semester schedules. Convenient start dates offer more flexibility and choices in what, when, and where students can learn. Evening and online classes accommodate those who are unable to attend daytime classes.
Class options include topics like fire training, first aid/CPR/AED, gerontology, hazardous materials, hydraulics, leadership, medical terminology, Microsoft Office, nursing assistant acute care, phlebotomy, quality management, and Spanish. View classes in these and many other fields at http://www.mstc.edu/quickstartlearning.
Additional classes are added often. Class offerings are subject to demand and provided on a first come, first served basis. For more information, contact an MSTC Career Coach at 1-888-575-MSTC or stop by an MSTC Campus Office. Individuals previously enrolled at MSTC can register online through MyMSTC.
Stevens Point receives grant for MSTC site
November 15, 2012
From spcitytimes.com: “Stevens Point receives grant for MSTC site assessment” – The City of Stevens Point has been awarded a $34,500 Site Assessment Grant by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to assist in environmental investigation on a site located at 1201 Third Court.This grant is in addition to a future grant application the city will apply for through the Wisconsin DNR as announced at Monday night’s finance committee meeting.
The Community Development Authority of the City of Stevens Point acquired the 3.83 acre site property in October 2011 by condemnation. The grant will facilitate the redevelopment of the former CenterPoint Mall by Mid-State Technical College. Mid-State will be renovating a portion of the former mall as part of Mid-State’s new campus.
“We are extremely pleased to have been awarded this grant, and we are grateful for the continued support from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation of this project,” said Michael Ostrowski, Director of Community Development for the City of Stevens Point.
“This project will be an investment in the revitalization of the downtown Stevens Point area, and will ensure that Mid-State Technical College will have the resources to provide continued educational opportunities for community residents.”
The Brownfield Site Assessment Grant (SAG) Program is state program for WEDC to grant funds to local governments to perform environmental investigations, demolition of structures, removal of abandoned containers and underground tank systems.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), formed in 2011 as a public-private entity to foster economic development efforts for the state and business climate.
MSTC campus updates good for communities, too
November 6, 2012
From wisconsinrapidstribune.com: “Column: MSTC campus updates good for communities, too” — By Dr. Sue Budjac, president of Mid-State Technical College. Mid-State Technical College, a provider of quality higher education to the people of central Wisconsin for nearly a century, actively is engaged in maximizing our resources to the benefit of our students, communities and local employers. We remain committed to delivering cutting-edge education relevant to the needs of the businesses of today and tomorrow. Recent investments throughout our 2,500-square-mile district illustrate this ongoing desire for quality improvement.
Our MSTC Stevens Point campus is on the move to 1001 Centerpoint Drive. The existing campus on Michigan Avenue served us well, although the space no longer can accommodate today’s quantity of students seeking an MSTC education. The new Stevens Point campus, tentatively scheduled to open in January 2014, gives us an additional 17,000 square feet in which we will expand programs, and offer additional services, courses and conveniences in a much more functional design. Our increased capacity is an investment in workforce needs and economic development and subsequently a substantial bonus for the many central Wisconsin companies who rely on MSTC to provide a highly trained and readily available workforce.
Wisconsin Rapids campus experienced similar innovation last year in the form of the Center for Sustainability and Energy Technology, an investment in educating students for careers in renewable energy. The facility supplies dedicated learning laboratories and testing grounds for students in MSTC’s unique selection of renewable energy associate degree programs. It also houses state-of-the-art technology and equipment designed to provide students with the hands-on education and real-world skills they need to lead central Wisconsin’s drive toward sustainable energy.
Plans are just under way for a major innovative shift at our Marshfield campus. MSTC recently received a portion of a $15 million Wisconsin Technical College System “Making the Future” federal grant designed to improve and enhance training for highly skilled jobs in advanced manufacturing. MSTC has committed our $580,000 share of this grant to developing a stainless steel welding program in Marshfield. This new welding certificate is a direct response to employer feedback and seeks to meet the welding needs of local manufacturers who rely on stainless steel.
Each of these investments in our central Wisconsin communities and economy demonstrate that MSTC is not stagnant, rather a continually evolving community resource that strives to stay ahead of the curve in providing students the skills they need to be competitive in today’s workforce. Meeting workforce needs is a vital element of our core mission. I invite you to learn more about these and other exciting MSTC innovations by visiting our campuses or our website at www.mstc.edu.
MSTC grad is 2012 Distinguished Alumni
October 24, 2012
From mstc.edu: “WTCDBA honors MSTC graduate with 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award” – Scott Glinski, president of Skyward, Inc. and Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) graduate, was honored Friday with the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes one person each year for their demonstrated value of a technical college education through career advancement, community service, continued personal and educational growth, and support of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS).
Glinski earned a Computer Electronics Associate Degree in 1986 and an Instrumentation Associate Degree in 1987, both from MSTC. He is now a 25-year veteran of Skyward, a premier provider of K-12 administrative software. Born and raised in Stevens Point (WI), Glinski is engaged in numerous local activities, leaving an indelible positive mark on the area. He is an active member of the Portage County Business Council’s Board of Directors and also serves on the Stevens Point Area YMCA Board of Directors.
Glinski regularly praises the quality of a technical college education, substantiated by the company’s steady employment of MSTC and other WTCS graduates. Skyward’s corporate office in Stevens Point employs more than 50 WTCS alumni, 60% of them from MSTC. To date, 26 MSTC students have received Skyward, Inc. and Skyward Employees scholarships, established in 2002 and awarded to central Wisconsin information technology students demonstrating financial need and high academic standing. The company also helps keep the MSTC Information Technology-Programmer/Analyst program current by providing a representative for the program’s Advisory Committee.
“Widely known for his successful business acumen, Scott Glinski represents the ideal of a committed, industrious, and caring individual to whom Mid-State Technical College looks to as a distinguished alumni,” said MSTC President Dr. Sue Budjac in nominating Glinski for the award. “Scott’s endorsement of a Wisconsin technical college education is second to none.”
With Glinski as president, Skyward has experienced annual double-digit growth, has grown to more than 350 employees, and is now serving more than 1,500 school districts in 17 states and eight countries. The company serves over 80% of Wisconsin’s K-12 school districts and its 98% business retention rate is a standard seldom matched among software product companies.
Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Technical College System Board presented Skyward with the Futuremakers Partner Award for significant contributions to technical college programming and workforce development. The company has also been recognized as the 2008 Wisconsin Family Business of the Year, a Top 100 product by District Administration magazine in 2010, “head of the class” in the field of school district software by Corporate Report Magazine, and one of the top 50 products for 2012 through a eSchoolNews Readers Choice award. Skyward was touted by industry journals in 2006 as “One of the Most Influential Technology Leaders” and honored by Corporate Report Wisconsin as a Small Business Success Story for the State of Wisconsin based on its combination of growth and stability.
Under Glinski’ s leadership, Skyward also received the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award in 2009 for its leadership practices and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve. The Portage County Business Council Decree of Excellence was awarded to Skyward in 2010 for the company’s contribution to the area’s economic vitality and community service.
“Scott is an exceptional and deserving winner of this Distinguished Alumni Award,” said Budjac. “Mid-State Technical College is proud to be the higher education institution of choice for Scott and others throughout Central Wisconsin.”
Medical college officials to visit Mid-State Tech
October 17, 2012
From marshfieldnewsherald.com: “Medical college officials to visit Point on Thursday” – Representatives from the Medical College of Wisconsin will be in Stevens Point on Thursday to view the community as the possible site for a new campus.
Stevens Point Mayor Andrew Halverson said the representatives will be visiting the campuses of Mid-State Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and do a general tour of the community.
“We’re looking forward to having the opportunity to having them tour our community. We feel like we bring exactly to the table what this college is looking for,” Halverson said.
In June, the medical college announced plans to locate a satellite college in Green Bay and another in central Wisconsin. Stevens Point, along with Wausau, Mosinee and Marshfield, is among the possible locations being considered in the region.
The college will announce its choice for the new campus in November. About 15 students are expected to be part of the first class at each of the two new campuses when they open in 2015, and would expand to 25 students by the second year.
The city announced Sept. 10 its bid for a campus, the main part of which was offering the current Mid-State building on Sims Avenue as the location. The building will be vacated after the college moves downtown as part of the city’s redevelopment project for the former CenterPoint MarketPlace.
The city is demolishing part of the mall and will move MSTC into the former J.C. Penney wing of the mall. The college would be offered about 8,000 square feet of the MSTC building initially, but that could be expanded to as much as 30,000 square feet.
“The Mid-State location is a great plus because it’s already been used as a teaching center,” Halverson said. “We are also the only community with a four-year comprehensive university, which will allow those new students to have a comfort level here.”
Mid-State Tech owns mall property, can proceed with construction
October 11, 2012
From wifc.com: “Mid-State owns mall property, can proceed with construction” – The former Penney’s wing on the west side of Centerpoint Marketplace has officially been sold. Mid State Technical College and the City of Stevens Point’s Community Development Authority completed the deal Wednesday.
MSTC Dean of the Stevens Point Campus Steve Smith says when the renovations and construction is complete, the college will have almost 35 percent more space than their present building, going from 36,000 square feet to nearly 55,000 square feet. He says the first step in construction is to create an east wall where the mall used to be, which will be done beforethe snow flies.Smith says the college will now be able to proceed with an aggressive construction schedule, as they aim to occupy their new campus home by January of 2014.
There are presently 28-hundred students attending the Stevens Point campus, which is at capacity and has no room for expansion. The new location will allow for additional students, programs, parking, and give them room to expand in the future if necessary.
Bus tour will show students local manufacturing technology
October 4, 2012
From voicefwr.com: “Bus tour will show students local manufacturing technology” – October is Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin and manufacturing is definitely the backbone of our community.
The paper industry built our area and continues to support thousands of workers and their families. Many other manufacturers and processors, in many different sizes and industries, have grown in our community and are leading to a comeback for our local economy.
A lot of people think we no longer make anything in our country. This statement is far from the truth. If the U.S. manufacturing sector were its own country, its $1.7 trillion worth of annual value-added would make it the ninth largest economy in the world. This is larger than the entire economy of India, Canada, Mexico or South Korea. On in seven private sector jobs depend on manufacturing to succeed in their business.
A potential problem within manufacturing, which is very prevalent here locally, is the aging workforce within manufacturing. The mean age of the manufacturing workforce is 44.1 years, vs. 42.1 years for non-manufacturing workers, and this gap is growing quickly. In talking with local company representatives, I would say the gap is even bigger here in our community. One local manufacturer called this gap the “silver tsunami” as many of their skilled workers would be retiring over the next several years, and they are not seeing the skills needed from possible applicants to replace this workforce.
Working at these manufacturers is not dark, dirty, and dangerous as might have been thought in the past. The skills needed at today’s manufacturers include high level math, engineering and physics. Technology, including computers and robotics, also play a huge role in modern manufacturing. These jobs of now and the future are high paying, have good benefits, and offer a great quality of life, and are right here in the heart of Wisconsin.
There are many groups hard at work to try to fill this generational skills gap here locally. We are blessed to have Mid-State Technical College in our community. They have the ability to train local workers in the skills needed to fill these opportunities and are working with many local manufacturers to align their curriculum with specific manufacturer’s needs. My colleague Rick Merdan at Incourage Community Foundation has worked hard to help set up programs with MSTC, which includes a food manufacturing science program that has placed several graduates into local food processing companies like Ocean Spray and Membrane Systems.
In an effort to educate our local students about our manufacturers, The Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Heavy Metal Bus Tour” on Oct. 10. We will be taking more than 40 eighth and ninth grade students from Assumption, Immanuel Lutheran, Lincoln, Nekoosa and Port Edwards on tours of several local manufacturers. The Heavy Metal Bus Tour was first held in the Wausau area last year with great success. We will be touring Domtar, Tweet Garot Mechanical, SKS Machine, Corenso, and ECC Corrosion.
We hope to make this an annual event and tour some different local manufacturers every year. MSTC will host lunch, which will include a visit and talk from Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, as well as visits from State Sen. Julie Lassa, State Rep. Scott Krug and Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Zach Vruwink.
The goal of the day is to show students some of the amazing work that is being done right here in their own backyard and highlight the skills and education that is needed to fill the positions that will be needed in the near future.
Currently our local manufacturers have to take applicants from around the country to fill engineering and technology positions. Our community has the ability, the facilities, and the skills to keep manufacturing strong and growing and we can fill these positions with locally trained students who want to stay and raise a family here in the Heart of Wisconsin.
I want to thank all of the manufacturers for helping to sponsor the tours, as well as Mid-State Technical College, Lamers Bus and local media WGLX and WFHR. Manufacturing is our base, our backbone, and we need to support it, highlight it, and celebrate it.
Phil Hartley is the director of business development at the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
