Honoring those in Career and Technical Education

As the month of February came to an end, we honored those who have made an impact in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Moraine Park with the annual Moraine Park Association of Career and Technical Education Awards Banquet. The following individuals were honored with awards: Stephanie Lueck of Campbellsport for Outstanding Support Professional; Kathy Vandemark of Kewaskum for Outstanding CTE Leader; Terri Wilkens of Mayville for Outstanding Instructor; Amy Patterson of Beaver Dam for New Instructor and Bonnie Baerwald of Fond du Lac for Community Involvement. The Business Award of Merit went to Kondex Corporation of Lomira for supporting Moraine Park. I want to congratulate these individuals and thank Kondex for their support of CTE and Moraine Park. 

March brought an exciting cultural event to the Fond du Lac campus – Mandala Sand Painting. Tibetan Buddhist Monks were on campus March 11-15 constructing a sand painting, which uses millions of colored sand grains to form an image of a mandala, or circle. It was wonderful seeing so many people from our college community and from throughout the entire Moraine Park District gather together for this event, learning about a unique ancient spiritual art. Thank you to our Fond du Lac Student Senate for sponsoring this event.

As we just finished welcoming a new culture to campus, a few of our students will be preparing to experience a new culture. Moraine Park students left for London and Paris over Spring Break. We also have several of our nursing students along with their instructor, Mary Krieger, traveling to the East Coast over Spring Break to help victims of Hurricane Sandy. We’ll be hearing more about both of these experiences when they return.

We have a busy spring ahead of us and I’m looking forward to keeping you updated with my blog! If you have any questions or comments for me, please leave a post below.

Moraine Park celebrates Career and Technical Education

During the month of February, Career and Technical Education (CTE) is celebrated throughout the state and nation. Even though February is the shortest month of the year, Moraine Park is incorporating many activities over the next few weeks to recognize the importance of CTE.

Moraine Park kicked off CTE month by hosting Discover Moraine Park on each campus. This annual event is for anyone wanting to get a jump start on the admissions process and learn more about the different programs at Moraine Park. We are hosting many events for the public to attend throughout the month. For event details, visit morainepark.edu and check out the Events Calendar.

On February 19, I will join some of our students at the State Capitol to demonstrate the impact technical education has on our State. This Celebration of Student Engagement event is something Wisconsin’s 16 Technical Colleges participate in annually and I’m looking forward to getting involved again this year.

CTE month will wrap up with the Moraine Park Association of Career and Technical Education (MPACTE) annual awards banquet on February 21. I’m excited to help MPACTE recognize individuals for their dedication to and excellence in career and technical education.

Why do you think Career and Technical Education is important? Please share any comments below as I always enjoying hearing from you! Also, check out this video on exploring your options in the many emerging and in-demand career fields!

Celebrating Career and Technical Education

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and to celebrate Moraine Park held its annual Moraine Park Association of CTE awards banquet February 20 at the Columbian in West Bend.

The banquet recognized individuals and organizations for their dedication to and excellence in career and technical education. The following Moraine Park staff were honored with awards: Brenda Nickel, Outstanding Support Professional; Bonnie Bauer, Outstanding CTE Leader; Lisa Pollard, Outstanding Instructor; Brenda Schaefer, New Instructor; Mary Pat Thompson, Ann Torgersen and Bonnie Weiland-Hare, Longevity.  

A couple Moraine Park MPACTE award winners (from left to right): Lisa Pollard, Brenda Schaefer and Bonnie Bauer.



 The Business Awards of Merit went to: Briggs and Stratton, Kohler Company and Mercury Marine for their support of the Moraine Park Foundation and our Engine Research and Development Technician program. We are very proud of the relationships we share with these companies and look forward to building on those partnerships.

I hope if you know one of these award winners you will take a moment to say hello and congratulate them on their commitment to technical education and for the hard work they do to keep the CTE spirit alive at Moraine Park and our communities.

As February comes to a close and we welcome spring, let's think of ways to keep the CTE spirit going, whether it's in the classroom, office or in the community.