FVTC helping feed demand for pilots
June 30, 2011
From The Northwestern: “FVTC helping to feed demand for pilots, which is only expected to increase”—
Joe Arnold remembers his first flight.
He was three years old and the blue airplane was big enough to seat him, the pilot, his dad and his stuffed animal, Birdy. While Birdy got the front seat view, Arnold was bitten by the flight bug.
His fascination with flight continued as he was growing up, first with a learn to fly day at the local airport in Wisconsin Rapids when he was a teenager and continuing on to six years of flight school – sandwiched around two military deployments. After graduating from the aeronautics program at Fox Valley Technical College earlier this year, Arnold has now joined the staff as an aeronautics flight intern and is helping teach the next classes of hopeful pilots to fly.
Tavern training scholarships available
June 30, 2011
From the Wausau Daily Herald: “Tavern training scholarships available”— A group consisting of Marathon County Tavern League members, local law enforcement officers, public health educators and Northcentral Technical College staff received $9,000 this year for scholarships. The grant money is available through the Marathon County Alcohol and Other Drugs Partnership Council for scholarships to the Responsible Beverage Server training at NTC.
The scholarship covers a $25 course fee for the revised RBS training course offered at NTC. The course at NTC is the only classroom training available in central Wisconsin. Training takes place the second Wednesday of each month.
For a scholarship application, call Renee Trowbridge, public health educator for the Marathon County Health Department, at 715-261-1931.
FVTC students receive scholarships
June 30, 2011
From Waupaca Now, “Bestul receives nursing scholarship” –– The Riverside Health Foundation has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to nine Waupaca-area residents who plan to pursue careers in healthcare. Jordan Bestul of Manawa is one of the recipients.
“By awarding these scholarships, we help support health care education for our future providers and honor the legacy of those who have served our community,” said Steve Huhta, president of the Riverside Health Foundation. “We are proud of these hard-working students as they continue their education and pursue careers in healthcare.”
The board administers three scholarship funds that were established to honor Dr. Marshall and Mary Boudry; Isabelle Rowe; and Nancy B. Salan.
The Isabelle Rowe Nursing Scholarship was established to assist non-traditional students in pursuit of an education leading to a career in nursing. This year three recipients received $1,000: Kelsea Moore, of Scandinavia, plans to attend UW-Fox Valley; Jordan Bestul, of Manawa, plans to attend Fox Valley Technical College; and Corinne Lund, of Wild Rose, is attending Fox Valley Technical College.
The Boudry Health Career Scholarship, established by the Boudry family, hopes to expand health care opportunities by encouraging promising young scholars to fulfill career goals in medicine. This year three recipients each received $1,000.
NWTC teaches motorcycle safety
June 30, 2011
From WLUK-TV, Fox 11: “Motorcycle season brings safety reminders”— GREEN BAY – With more than one of every ten traffic deaths in Wisconsin being a motorcycle rider, officials say it is important to remember safety on the roads.
“The safety is paramount, the riding techniques are proven techniques, everybody is hopefully going to be riding the same and using the same safety techniques,” said Gene Rousseau, who currently teaches motorcycle safety at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
One technique Rousseau preaches is to be defensive.
“You’re only on two wheels and you don’t have this cage around you, this protective barrier around you like in a car or pickup truck,” said Rousseau.
“When you’re out there riding your bike there’s a lot of traffic, there’s deer and I think that if you learn these techniques and these skills it will help you to prevent any crashes and accidents,” said Garrett Roush of Green Bay who is taking the motorcycle class at NWTC.
SCJ donates $100,000 for Gateway scholarships
June 28, 2011
From the Journal Times: “SCJ donates $100,000 for Gateway scholarships” RACINE – SC Johnson has donated $100,000 to Gateway Technical College for student scholarships, the college announced Monday.
The donation is being used to create an endowed scholarship fund for Gateway students in recognition of the college’s 100th anniversary this year.
“We’re very proud to be able to have the support from SCJ to be able to provide opportunities for students,” Gateway President Bryan Albrecht said. “Our students in particular need financial support and the scholarships will help provide education to a lot of young people in our community.”
Up to five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded annually to students enrolled in any associate degree program. The average cost of attaining a Gateway associate degree is $3,800 per year so the scholarships will make a difference, Albrecht said.
MPTC students celebrate GED, HSED success
June 27, 2011
From the Fond du Lac Reporter: “Students celebrate GED, HSED success”— For some high school students, work, family life and other obstacles have prevented them from graduating with a high school diploma.
Students who attended the Moraine Park Technical College General Educational Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) graduation ceremony on June 16 overcame these obstacles to achieve the first step to educational success.
“To earn a GED, a candidate must demonstrate a level of skill that is rigorous and standardized to all graduating seniors,” said Sandra Huenink, Moraine Park dean of basic education.
More than 300 students completed the GED/HSED program at Moraine Park during the past year.
“This is a milestone to celebrate and enjoy,” Huenink said. “By obtaining your GED or HSED, you have opened new doors to your future and should be proud of your success.”
New MPTC president returns to roots
June 27, 2011
From the Fond du Lac Reporter: “New MPTC president returns to roots”— Sheila Ruhland is ready to take on the challenge of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget bill as new president of Moraine Park Technical College.
The two-year, $66-billion state budget, headed to Walker’s desk after it cleared the state Legislature with only Republican votes, cuts aid to technical colleges by 30 percent, or $72 million.
“I recognize the work ahead and the challenges we are now faced with,” Ruhland said. “I am coming aboard to join a very strong team set up under the previous leadership.”
Federal budget cuts that support career technical education also appear to be eminent, she said.
“No doubt the cuts will have an impact on our school and our property tax levy, as well as collective bargaining with our faculty and staff. I intend to provide leadership and support to these groups,” Ruhland said.
Nicolet College anticipates another enrollment jump
June 27, 2011
From the Northwoods River News: “Nicolet College anticipates another enrollment jump in fall” — Nicolet Area Technical College is about two months away from the start of the 2011 fall semester, and already, enrollment numbers are on the trajectory for another increase.
The college’s Director of Admissions Susan Kordula said about 1,000 students are registered in one of Nicolet’s programs for the fall, an approximate 3 percent increase from what enrollment was at in June of last year. Kordula said about one-third of the college’s students enroll during the months of June, July and August, putting Nicolet on another projected enrollment increase once classes begin Aug. 24.
“The economy hasn’t really changed and in down times, people go back to school,” Kordula said.
Some of Nicolet’s programs are already filled. The Culinary Arts and Barber/Cosmetology programs have reached their capacity (each program is able to take in approximately 20 new students). Others (e.g. all the health-related programs) are filling up fast Kordula said. Even if a program is already full, students can still enroll and begin meeting some basic course requirements Kordula added.
From the Journal Times: “Youth offenders receive diplomas”—
RACINE — Joseph Williams was all smiles Friday morning as he stepped up to receive his high school diploma. As family and friends cheered, the 22-year-old and 71 other graduates achieved a goal that for many had seemed impossible.
Williams and his fellow students are all inmates at the Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility (RYOC), 1501 Albert St., a medium security adult institution for male offenders between the ages of 15 and 24. RYOC offers inmates classes to build their skills to help them re-enter the workforce upon release.
Many of the men, like Williams, had not attended school for years prior to incarceration and relished the opportunity to improve their lives.
“I didn’t go to school before I got in here,” Williams said. “It’s not a good thing that I got in here, but it was a good wakeup call … My degree means when I get out of here I can keep going to school, better my life, get a job.”
From the Post Crescent: “Communities try to remain optimistic jobs will return after mill closure”— KIMBERLY — Ontonagon, Mich., and Kimberly have something in common — both are grappling with the closure of paper mills and the loss of hundreds of good-paying jobs.
To passers-by, both sites appear capable of resuming production at a moment’s notice. But residents and leaders of the two villages wonder what the future holds as the Ontonagon mill is readied for demolition and Kimberly’s NewPage mill awaits the fate that will be decided by the scrap metal recycling company that now owns both mills.
The mill in Ontonagon, which operated for about 90 years, employed about 180 people when it closed in December 2009. American Iron & Metal Co. Inc., a scrap metal specialist from Montreal, purchased the Ontonagon mill in January and plans to tear down the facility.
New agreement makes transfer easier for NTC students
June 27, 2011
Inside Newsroom of UW-Green Bay: “Initiative extends UW-Green Bay bachelor’s options for Wausau tech students”— A program starting this fall will make it easier for students from the Wausau-based Northcentral Technical College to transfer in at junior status and earn bachelor’s degrees from UW-Green Bay.
The two schools finalized the partnership this past spring in a signing ceremony at NTC’s main campus in Wausau. UW-Green Bay Chancellor Tom Harden and President Lori Weyers (above) represented their respective institutions.
Under the agreement, UW-Green Bay will offer some weekend classes at NTC and employ an academic adviser on that campus to help placebound NTC graduates earn their bachelor’s degrees either fully online or in combination with weekend offerings.
“What they’ll get from the program we offer is an opportunity to extend the application of those technical skills, to get a broader education,” Harden told reporters at the April announcement. “To think sometimes in a broader way, a different way, is something you find business leaders looking for in employees.”
A student who earns 60 credits from NTC can begin as a junior with UW-Green Bay, regardless of when he or she earned a degree from NTC.
MPTC recognizes Board’s deputy director with award
June 24, 2011
From the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin: “Moraine Park Technical College recognizes Board’s deputy director with Basic Education Award — Madison, WI — Moraine Park Technical College held its General Educational Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) graduation ceremony on June 16, 2011 at its Fond du Lac campus.
As part of the ceremony to recognize the accomplishments of GED/HSED graduates, Seth Lentz of the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin was presented with the Friend of Basic Education Award. He also gave the congratulatory address to Moraine Park’s graduates at the ceremony.
The award was presented to Lentz for his work in driving adult basic education and career pathway development. Lentz began working with the Moraine Park Technical College-Beaver Dam campus in 2008 to develop and launch a short-term skills development and transition center to serve as an access point for dislocated, unemployed and underprepared workers in South Central Wisconsin. The platform design of the skill center includes case management, financial literacy, GED completion, and basic computer literacy services to help adults prepare for the high level of skills required for today’s jobs.
Agriculture careers on the rise
June 24, 2011
From Fox 11: “FVTC: Agriculture careers on the rise”–APPLETON – A local tech school says jobs are booming in agriculture.
On Thursday, Fox Valley Technical College held a special boot camp to help students explore those opportunities.
“This industry is moving forward really fast,” instructor Jason Fischer said. He says you don’t need to be from a farm to take advantage.
The school held the day long camp to help people interested in agriculture explore their options and get some hands on experience.
“It was a lot of fun,” attendee Laura Sorenson said. “This was the first time I actually drove a tractor, so I had a blast.”
“I would like a career in agriculture, but I’m not quite sure what,” Jeremy Uitenbroek said.
Originally the free session was designed for displaced workers, but a grant helped widen the opportunity for anyone curious about agriculture.
Madison College instructor receives national award
June 23, 2011
From WisBusiness.com: “Madison College: Instructor receives prestigious national award” — Madison Area Technical College information technology instructor Andy Czerkas and his wife Jenny, a Madison College graduate, received the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis award at the recent national Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.
Andy and Jenny founded The River Food Pantry in Madison about ten years ago. The pantry provides hot meals, groceries, clothing and household items to about 21,000 Dane County families that are struggling to make ends meet.
The Jefferson Awards are considered the “Nobel Prize for public service.” They are presented to unsung heroes for their extraordinary and selfless volunteer work.
The Czerkas’ were among a “who’s who” of award winners. Others receiving national honors at the Jefferson Awards ceremony included Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sports owner Jerry Reinsdorf and actress Marlo Thomas.
Madison College hosts construction trade fair
June 23, 2011
From WisBusiness.com: “Madison College: Hosts construction trade fair” — Interested in a career in the building trades?
Madison Area Technical College is hosting a Construction Trade Fair from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28 in the Truax campus cafeteria, 3550 Anderson Street.
Eric Cobb, executive director of the Buildings and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, will be among those talking about career and apprenticeship opportunities in the building trades.
Madison College representatives will also be available to answer questions about the first phase of the College’s building plan and the construction bidding process. The $134 million project was overwhelmingly approved by voters last November. Groundbreaking for Madison College’s new Health Education Building is scheduled for this September.
The College will hold similar trade fairs this August in Reedsburg, Portage, Fort Atkinson and Watertown.
Colleges do the lost-aid shuffle
June 22, 2011
From the LaCrosse Tribune: “Colleges do the lost-aid shuffle” —
Staff cuts and financial juggling will help the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Western Technical College absorb the impact of the pending cuts in the state budget bill passed last week.
Anticipating a $2.4 million reduction because of the bill, Western officials opted to eliminate 12 full-time faculty and staff positions. Seven will be laid off and five vacated positions will be phased out, effective next month.
Wade Hackbarth, controller for Western, called the state aid cut a major issue.
Facing about $10.4 million in possible cuts for the next biennium, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse officials will eliminate two non-faculty staff positions in the university’s tech department through attrition as part of its plans, but there will be no layoffs, said Bob Hetzel, UW-L vice chancellor for administration and finance.
From the Superior Telegram: “WITC-Superior Foundation announces 2011 distinguished alumni” — Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Superior Foundation has named Jim Dahlberg as the recipient of their 2011 Distinguished Alumni award. The award was presented during WITC-Superior’s graduation ceremony on May 13, during which Dahlberg delivered the commencement speech to WITC graduates.
Dahlberg graduated as a programmer analyst from WITC-Superior in 1983. That same year, he began working for the college part-time as a programmer. He has been with the college more than 27 years, currently serving as the director of information technology for Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.
From UW – Platteville: “University of Wisconsin-Platteville expands credit pact with technical colleges” — The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, an accredited pioneer in distance learning for 33 years, has expanded its credit transfer agreement with Lakeshore Technical College, Cleveland, Wis. The UW-Platteville has added constitutional law and criminal law to its list of courses that will transfer to its bachelor’s degree program from Lakeshore’s Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement program. Graduates of the program can take advantage of the new agreement starting this fall.
“Increasing the number of transferable courses from two to four demonstrates the commitment by both our institutions to students,” said Amy Nemmetz, coordinator for UW-Platteville’s undergraduate criminal justice program. “And it’s our responsibility to provide them whether they’re online or on-campus, with every opportunity to succeed. This does just that.”
Nicolet College Foundation honors Lac du Flambeau tribe
June 22, 2011
From NewsoftheNorth.net: “Lac du Flambeau tribe honored with Nicolet College Foundation Friends and Partners Award” — The Nicolet College Foundation recently named the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians as the recipient of its 2011 Friends and Partners Award, honoring the band’s long-standing dedication to promoting education.
“Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe education staff, its enterprises and its leaders have gone above and beyond in their efforts to work with Nicolet to bring education to their community,” wrote Nicolet staff in nominating the tribe. “The relationship between the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation and Nicolet College has been good for the college, good for the tribe, and generations of students have benefitted.”
Accomplishments have included establishing a Nicolet classroom in tribal facilities in Lac du Flambeau, creating a Tribal Management academic certificate, working cooperatively to allow Nicolet students to gain professional experience in tribal enterprises, offering GED and HSED classes in Lac du Flambeau, and establishing academic pathways for Lac du Flambeau students to earn their two-year associate degree from Nicolet and then transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
CVTC Foundation awards scholarships
June 20, 2011
From Oak Creek Now: “CVTC Foundation awards scholarships”— Two hundred and twenty-four Chippewa Valley Technical College students received scholarships recently at a donor-scholar luncheon held in their honor.
Scholarships are administered by the Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation, Inc. This year the Foundation awarded over $110,000 in scholarship funds.
Kyle Wojciechowski of Oak Creek received the Tech Training Systems Electromechanical Technology Scholarship. Wojciechowski expects to graduate in June 2012.
Scholarships are funded through the generous donations of individuals and businesses. To learn more about the CVTC Foundation, Inc. or the scholarship program, visit http://www.cvtc.edu/foundation.
Chippewa Valley Technical College delivers superior, progressive technical education which improves the lives of students, meets the workforce needs of the region and strengthens the larger community. Campuses are located in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Neillsville and River Falls. CVTC serves an 11-county area in west central Wisconsin. CVTC is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and is one of 16 WTCS colleges located throughout the state.
Blackhawk Tech College introduces kids to their future
June 20, 2011
From the Janesville Gazette: “Tech college helps kids have fun and thing about their future”— JANESVILLE — The Legos robot built by Alex Vanbrocklin and Kadan Ruiz clipped the wheel of a chair and toppled onto its side.
The two boys took a moment to grumble before picking up their creation and rushing back to their computer to adjust its programming. By calculating distances, power usage and the angle of turns, Vanbrocklin and Ruiz attempted to navigate their car through an obstacle course.
They succeed on their fourth try and were rewarded with candy from instructors John Horkey and Dave Gile.
The boys were having fun and getting hands-on experience of what it’s like to be an automated systems engineer.
That was the goal at Blackhawk Technical College’s 14th annual Tech Knowledge College for Rock County students entering seventh to 10th grade.
Vanbrocklin, who will be starting high school in Milton this fall, said he hopes to be a mechanical engineer. This was his second year taking the robot challenge class, and he’s planning on taking a programming design class in high school.
Gile said the classes were a great way to get the kids thinking about their futures.
NTC opens dairy education center
June 16, 2011
From the Wausau Daily Herald: “Northcentral Technical College opens dairy education center”— TOWN OF MAINE — A project six years in the making to create a state-of-the-art agriculture learning facility officially opened Wednesday, and officials hope the center will prepare farmers for years to come.
Northcentral Technical College leaders and others cut the ribbon Wednesday on the Agriculture Center of Excellence, which spans more than 100 acres on Highway K in the town of Maine. Students will be introduced to technology, such as a robotic milking machine, and learn about different cattle-management techniques. A partnership with the manufacturer Case IH also gives students a chance to try out the latest in agriculture equipment.
The center will host more than 30 students in NTC’s dairy science associate degree program — the only one of its kind in Wisconsin — and serve about 250 students overall in various NTC agriculture courses, said Susan Ryman, coordinator of marketing and public relations for the college.
“It isn’t just classrooms, it’s hands-on experiences, it’s the people that work here and the educators who will provide that information to students,” said Ben Brancel, secretary for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “That’s more valuable even than the structures and the buildings.”
2011 Apprenticeship Centennial award winners named
June 15, 2011
From WisPolitics.com: “Dept. of Workforce Development: 2011 Apprenticeship Centennial award winners named” — MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and its Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards announced today the 2011 Wisconsin Centennial Hall of Fame Award winners. The award winners were honored at the 25th Wisconsin Biennial Apprenticeship Conference and Centennial Celebration in Madison.
“I am pleased to announce this year’s award winners on behalf of the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards and the Wisconsin Apprenticeship Advisory Council,” said DWD Secretary Scott Baumbach. “We are proud to celebrate 100 years of apprenticeship in Wisconsin, and this is one way to honor those who have been actively involved in the apprentice program’s success.”
Secretary Baumbach said that, in June 1911, Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to enact legislation regulating apprenticeship. Since that time, apprenticeship in Wisconsin has remained a vital partnership between employers, organized labor, the technical college system and highly motivated apprentices.
Individuals and organizations were nominated for awards by apprentice stakeholders. They were selected because of their support for apprenticeship, excellence in their work, and willingness to go “above and beyond the call of duty” for the continued growth of apprenticeship.
NTC Dairy Sciences School opens in Maine
June 15, 2011
From WSAU.com: “NTC Dairy sciences school opens in Maine today”— North Central Technical College will be officially opening their Agriculture Center of Excellence school this morning.
The school is a partnership between NTC and the Dairyland State Academy. The facility is located just northwest of Wausau near the Maine Town Hall and Maine Elementary. The move is a culmination of a 3 year long process of permits, funding from Marathon County, and approval for the site construction.
Students at the Academy will have a chance to learn the trade of dairy farming on a live and operational farm. They’ll also be using state of the art equipment under an agreement with CASE. The program will offer a two year associates degree in Dairy Science, and allow for progression into a four year degree with NTC.
From University of Wisconsin Green Bay: ” ‘Return to the U’ partnership helps adults complete degrees”— A new partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Fox Valley Technical College is encouraging former UW System students to come back and finish their degrees.
The initiative, “Return to the U,” kicked off in earnest June 6 as officials sent letters to about 3,500 individuals who have credits at UW-Green Bay, but for one reason or another did not complete their degrees at the University. “Return to the U” invites those students to either complete a degree at FVTC or another Wisconsin technical college first, or come back directly to UW-Green Bay in person or via online classes.
Respondents who show interest in returning to school will be asked to take an online Student Success Survey to assess their readiness, identify strengths and pinpoint areas in which they may need support. Returning students will be paired with volunteer alumni mentors who help them navigate their return.
Wisconsin Technical College News 