Congratulations Class of 2012!

This past Saturday was a very significant day for our students – Moraine Park Graduation! The culminating event saw close to 330 participating graduates celebrate their achievements with family, friends and Moraine Park staff as they walked across the stage to receive their degrees.  All of the 930 graduate candidates should be very proud of reaching this milestone in their lives and looking forward to the great opportunities ahead!

My very first commencement ceremony at Moraine Park had an even greater meaning because it was celebrated in the College’s centennial year. Moraine Park presented each participating graduate with a commemorative centennial medallion as a tribute to their educational achievement during this historically significant year.

It was a pleasure introducing keynote commencement speaker Steve Peterson, president and chief executive officer of Mid-States Aluminum Corporation, Fond du Lac, and 1969 Moraine Park Alumnus. Steve did an excellent job addressing and inspiring graduates and their supporters during his speech.                 

Moraine Park leadership and board members with keynote speaker Steve Peterson

                                         

With the centennial-focused graduation ceremony, I was reminded that Moraine Park’s early continuation schools underwent many changes before turning into the hub of innovative education our College is today. It is our inspiring students who have been the gears moving these changes along. Congratulations and best wishes to all of our graduates!

Recognizing our Students for their Achievements

With Moraine Park’s 2011-12 school year nearly wrapped up, I feel it’s important to congratulate all of the students who have put in so much time, effort and energy into reaching their educational goals, as well as to the many faculty and other Moraine Park staff who helped these students achieve their goals.

One of the ways Moraine Park recognizes its students is through the annual Student Awards Banquet. Each year, numerous students are honored at this event for their hard work and academic achievement.  Highlighting the 2012 banquet was the Wisconsin Technical College System District Student Ambassador Award, which was presented to Culinary Arts student Lee McClendon of Fond du Lac. Lee will assume his role with the start of the 2012-13 academic year, taking over for 2011-12 Student Ambassador Kristina White. Ryan Yonke of Berlin received the Student of the Year Award for exemplifying the College’s core abilities and for excelling in classroom and community involvement. Ryan, an Electrical Power Distribution student, was selected by a committee of students, support staff, faculty and administration members. 

Other awards presented at the event included Technical Achievement Awards, presented to six students; the Meritorious Service Award, presented to 77 students; and the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges award, which was presented to 24 students. Also recognized were students who played key roles in student government at the local, district and state levels, along with the 50 students who were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society in April; 13 students who received scholarships from the Moraine Park Association of Career and Technical Education and the Moraine Park Federation of Teachers; 23 students who served as peer tutors/notetakers for their fellow students; and 17 students who participated in international education.

Congratulations to them all!!