focusFox Valley Technical College volume 7, issue 2• fall 2014
your future
Inside:Dental grad finds success. Page 7
IT student gets hands-on training. Page 12
Training from the top truck driving school took this grad on the road. Page 14
CAREERmIndEd Employers need people now with the right skills
Advanced mfg. Gradsmatt VanWie (left) &
Joey VanWie
Focus is published bi-annually for the communities of Fox Valley Technical College.
Director of College Marketing Barb Dreger
Executive Editor/Manager of Media Relations Chris Jossart
Art DirectorCara Jakubiec
Contributing Editors Sue Anderson, Casey Britten
Contributing Writers Joan Neumahr, Amy Vander Stoep
Photography Gary Brilowski, Gary Gawinski, Patrick Kelly, Adam Shea
President Dr. Susan A. May
Fox Valley Technical College1825 N. Bluemound Dr.P.O. Box 2277Appleton, WI 54912-22771-800-735-3882TTY (hearing impaired) [email protected] (email inquiries)
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.
FVTC offers more than 200 associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs, and instruction related to 15 apprenticeship trades, in addition to providing services to business and industry. The college serves about 50,000 people annually, more than any other technical college in Wisconsin.
© 2014 Fox Valley Technical College.
All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity Employer/
Educator.
Engineeered to SucceedCurrent student Dan Steiner and graduate James Koop both looked to FVTC for high-tech careers in engineering technology.
Tech BrothersRipon natives Joey and Matt VanWie are teaming up to install and service high-tech automation systems for the global paper industry.
Computer Central IT student Jessica Meshke is gaining valuable experience with computer technology while helping others along the way.
Networked to SucceedNo two days are alike for IT grad Josh Breyer, thanks to FVTC.
features2
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8in every issue
Instructors here provide students with a range of practical knowledge and skills while sharing their experiences from industry. This helps you succeed whether you’re taking one class or completing a degree program. My classes have given me confidence and prepared me for a career in hospitality.
Mercedes MarcouexCulinary Arts and Hotel & Restaurant Management
contents
138Around FVTC A quick look at what’s making news at FVTC.
Focus on Workplace TrainingAn innovative partnership with Walker Forge is building a model workforce for this economy.
Focus on the Entrepreneur One entrepreneur is sketching his talents around the globe.
Focus on High-Demand Careers For one FVTC grad, the path to a rewarding career as a dental hygienist started with training as an assistant.
Focus on Alumni Q & A with Truck Driving grad Robin Grapa.
Focus on the Foundation Scholarships helped two recent agri-business grads continue family traditions.
Focus on the Student Experience Students in FVTC’s Horticulture Technician program landscaped an eye-opening makeover for a nursing care community.
welcome!
6what’s now
Success at Every TurnThe new Student Success Center brings achievement to students through many supportive resources.
7
13
Fox Valley Technical College’s Agriculture department received
the 2014 Outstanding Post-Secondary Agriculture Program
award at the Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators
(WAAE) professional development conference in Middleton.
The department received the distinction for establishing
an innovative partnership with Case IH and Service Motor
Company, its commitment to new technologies and hands-on
learning labs, and producing outstanding graduate employment
rates for students. In addition to the Ag-related programs
at FVTC, the Horticulture and Outdoor Power Equipment
programs were part of the nomination process toward earning
the award.
WAAE is the professional association for agriculture
educators in Wisconsin. Members include 295 middle school,
high school, technical college, and university educators. The
focus of the association is to provide professional development,
legislative support, and educational resources for teachers to
enhance their local agriculture education programs.
Growing # 1FVTC’s Ag Program Named Top in State
around FVTC
Members of Fox Valley Technical College’s Agriculture department
2 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Eight StraightFor the 8th consecutive year, FVTC was voted the best
Local College/University by the Post Crescent’s annual “Best
of the Valley” People’s Choice Awards.
News Briefs
• Mary Downs has been named executive director
of the Fox Valley Technical College Foundation, Inc. and Community Relations. Previously, Downs
served as system vice-president of Spine &
Orthopedic Service Lines for ThedaCare.
• FVTC’s2014 Graduate Employment
Research Report cites a record 38 degree and
diploma programs with 100% job placement.
• ThreestudentsfromtheBusinessManagementandMarketing
programs earned top five finishes at the Collegiate Distributive Educational Clubs of America (DECA) International Career Development Conference in Washington, D.C.
The student team of Colin Welbes and Ryan Wolf took 3rd place in
the sports and entertainment marketing competition, while fellow
student Ben Hanson earned a top five finish in a role play category
for restaurant and food service. Students Denni Lecus, Brittney Workentine, and Brooke Wiegman each earned a top 10 finish at the
conference.
• Jared Huss, chief instructor for the Aeronautics-Pilot Training program, was voted one of four
recipients in the Northwestern’s annual
“4 Under 40” campaign, recognizing rising
community leaders in the Oshkosh region
who are under the age of 40.
• Julie Matulle, a graduate of the Truck Driving
program, won the 4th annual Mike O’Connell Memorial Trucking’s Top Rookie award. She
earned the national honor out of a record
pool of 55 nominations.
focus fall 2014 3
The new Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) is a premiere
national facility designed to better prepare those who
respond to emergencies and protect our communities. Here
is a snapshot of the PSTC, scheduled to open in January as
a result of a successful 2012 public referendum:
A Matter of Public Safety
Mary Downs
75 acres of indoor and outdoor tactical training space to enhance best practices in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, forensic science, and wildland fire.
30 foot + ‘ant hill’ for confined space drills.
6–story burn tower for fire training and four firearms ranges for police training, including one that is 300 yards.
River City, a simulated training village with a motel, homes, and convenience store, provides scenarios that simultaneously involve police, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel.
Emergency response training and other related crisis scenarios will take place on a Boeing 727 aircraft donated by FedEx.
Three train cars present a derailment that requires specialized, multi-disciplinary responders.
Other areas include a spacious fire apparatus training bay, an expanded Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, a water rescue pond, and more.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/PSTC
Jared Huss
News Flash!For the freshest FVTC news, see our revamped NewsCenter at
www.fvtc.edu/News.
Julie Matulle
4 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
on workplace trainingfocus
Forging a Strong Workforce An innovative partnership between Walker Forge and Fox Valley Technical College is building a model workforce for this economy.
As a recent Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year
award winner, Walker Forge builds success through
exemplary partnerships. A premier producer of
carbon alloy steel forgings for the energy, agriculture,
transportation, railroad, and construction industries,
the company relies on Fox Valley Technical College
and its Business & Industry Services division to
develop programs to cross-train its workforce.
President/CEO Rick Recktenwald credits FVTC
with listening to his company’s needs and then
providing the right training. “Walker Forge has made
Fox Valley Tech a part of our culture in retaining and
developing talent,” he states. “All of our designers
are Computer Aided Design (CAD) graduates of the
college, and for the past 15 years, virtually every maintenance
department associate is either enrolled or has completed the
State of Wisconsin Apprenticeship program and maintains
journeyperson status.”
Recktenwald believes that Walker Forge’s continuing success
comes from its strategy of cross-training all employees. “With
the integration of computers into every aspect of our work, it is
essential for everyone to understand all aspects of the business,”
he says.
According to Recktenwald, most of his company’s workplace
training comes from FVTC. “Fox Valley Tech is light years ahead
of other schools,” he says. “No one matches this college’s fast
response in setting up new programs. An example is the new
metallurgy program that started here in September.”
Walker Forge also sponsors FVTC scholarships for high
school students as a way to encourage young people to go into
manufacturing. “These are big hurdles and Fox Valley Tech
provides a great bridge,” says Recktenwald. “When we have a
need or a potential problem, we know where to go for help.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/BIS
Partnering by the numbers:Here is a snapshot of Fox Valley Technical College’s impact on
training Walker Forge’s workforce over the past decade:
Rick Recktenwald in Walker Forge’s Robotics Training Lab
169,000training hours, representing
26 different skill sets.
training by the numbers:Fox Valley technical College is a state leader in workforce training:
More than 26,000 employees
and 2,000+ employers trained for instructional
contracts and professional development classes, representing nearly 1/5 of all Wisconsin Technical College System participants
enrolled in customized training.2012-13 data from FVTC’s annual Purpose Monitoring Report
Walker Forge has made Fox Valley Tech a part of our culture in retaining and developing talent.
Rick Recktenwald
“”
on the entrepreneurfocus
Drawing on SuccessOne entrepreneur is sketching his talents around the globe thanks to training from the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center.
When Amy Pietsch, director of the Fox Valley Technical College
Venture Center, asked Mick Walsh to do a visual recording of
the Pro-SeedTM Business Model Design Workshop, she opened
the door to a new career.
Walsh, a well-seasoned art/creative director and illustrator,
had never really done visual recording before—the process of
taking notes and drawing sketches on huge charts during an
actual presentation or meeting. “I did the first project for the
Venture Center and loved it,” he says. “I then decided to start
my own business, and with Amy’s encouragement I enrolled in
the E-seedTM Express Training Series.”
E-seed helped Walsh launch his new business, SketchBIZ,
LLC. “I started putting numbers together for my business plan,”
he says. “One big key was the research I had to do, which
resulted in finding an international organization that already
does visual recording.”
Today, business is booming. Walsh has traveled all over
the country for such clients as the Smithsonian Institute,
Dell Computers, Molson Coors Brewing Company, and the
Canadian Legal Department. “I usually get an agenda and then
draw, in real time, what’s being said at the actual meeting,” he
states. “With my illustrations, the clients can literally see what’s
being presented or discussed.”
Walsh heartily recommends the E-seed series. “The Venture
Center is focused on helping you succeed,” he says. “I still keep
in touch with several of my former classmates. We’ve become
cheerleaders for each other and have built a network. They are
like my own PR group.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/VentureCenter
focus fall 2014 5
The Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center showcased its exemplary approach to entrepreneurship during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November. “We highlighted the real impact that entrepreneur training within the Wisconsin Technical College System has on our economy,” states Amy Pietsch, director of the Venture Center.
some of the activities during the week included:
•a small business Job Fair •a business model Cup Challenge at FVtC’s riverside campus in Oshkosh •a look at rural entrepreneurship throughout Waupaca County
The Venture Center is focused on helping you succeed.
Mick Walsh
“ ”
sPOtLight On gLObaL entrePreneurshiP
Amy Pietsch and Mick Walsh
6 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
This September marked the opening of the two-story Student
Success Center (SSC) at Fox Valley Technical College’s
Appleton campus, a result of the college’s successful 2012 public
referendum that passed by a two-to-one margin. The new facility
is designed to provide students with easy access to all of FVTC’s
academic services.
“In previous years, it was a bit challenging for students to find
the individual help that they needed,” says Dr. Patti Jorgensen,
vice president of student and community development. “We now
have one central place where students can go to get assistance.
During the first two weeks the center was open, about 600
students connected with tutors or study groups.”
The SSC’s services include peer and faculty tutoring and other
academic support, in addition to easy access to meeting rooms,
computers, and an expanded library that creates a learner-
friendly setting. “Almost every student will come through here
frequently during his or her academic career to use these support
services,” states Jorgensen. “We have everything from stress
management classes to career preparation training, and more.”
The SSC serves as an ideal environment to prepare
students with skills that employers are seeking—teamwork,
communication, collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and
more. These soft skills, coupled with technical knowledge, make
FVTC students well-positioned for success in this economy.
Growing Success The Student Success Center’s centerpiece is the
Tree of Success, a 24 ft. handcrafted tree with 57 leaves under a center skylight.
Each leaf is inscribed with a motivational word that students developed based off of what success means to them. The trunk and branches of the tree were built by students in FVTC’s Wood
Manufacturing Technology program in Oshkosh.
FVTC collaborated on the project with Banker Wire, Custom Metals, Inc., Miron Construction, and Eppstein Uhen Architects.
Success at Every Turn The new Student Success Center brings achievement to students through many supportive resources.
What’s NOW We now have one central place where students can go to get assistance.
Dr. Patti Jorgensen
“”
focus fall 2014 7
on high-demand careersfocus
A Dental DoubleFor one FVTC grad, the path to a rewarding career as a dental hygienist started with training as an assistant.
Katarina Auler always knew she wanted a career in
the dental field. After touring Fox Valley Technical
College as a student at Oshkosh West High School,
she was sold. “I enrolled in Fox Valley Tech’s Dental
Assistant program to get started on my dental
education,” recalls the 26-year-old. “I loved it!”
After completing the program, Auler began working
as a dental assistant. Shortly afterward she was
accepted into FVTC’s Dental Hygienist program. “I
was able to work in the field while taking classes
to advance my career,” she says. “And, because I
could keep my job while in school, I could pay for my
classes as I took them.”
Today, Auler works as a dental hygienist for
Bellevue Family Dentistry near Green Bay—three
days a week as a hygienist and two days as a dental
assistant. “Taking both programs was a great career
path for me,” she says. “I get to do it all.”
As a dental hygienist, Auler gets to know her
patients. She finds it especially rewarding when
they come back for return visits and she sees their
improvements. “I feel I am making a small difference
in their lives,” she says. “As a hygienist, I can talk to
them about overall health matters, as well as their
oral health.”
Auler still keeps in professional contact with her FVTC
dental instructors. “The instructors are all professional
hygienists themselves, and they encourage you to
do your best,” she states. “To this day, I feel they are
standing by my side. I still email them when I have
questions. I’m happy as a dental hygienist, and they
certainly played a major role in helping me get here.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/HealthScience
Katarina Auler
I was able to work in the field while taking classes to advance my career.
Katarina Auler
“”
focus fall 2014 7
92%
$53,000
job placement for graduates of both FVTC’s Dental Assistant & Dental Hygienist programs over the past two years.
FVTC’s Graduate Employment Research Reports, 2013 & 2014
average annual salary for graduates of FVTC’s Dental Hygienist program six months after graduation.
FVTC’s Graduate Employment Research Report, 2013
8 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Dan Steiner was, in many ways, destined to become an Electrical Engineering Technology student. The 20-year-
old Appleton native inherited his father’s love for problem-solving, math, and mechanical work. After graduating from
Appleton North High School, he confidently chose Fox Valley Technical College as the next logical step in reaching his
career goals.
“I love all my classes, from learning basic circuits and measurements to using formulas to predict what would happen
when you switched on the power,” says Steiner.
Steiner, who will graduate this fall, is taking advantage of FVTC’s transfer agreement with the Milwaukee School of
Engineering. “I not only got accepted, but I received a scholarship too,” he says.
Steiner finds that the diverse student body at FVTC offers a great learning environment. “Everyone in my classes
has a lot of life experience, and they treat you with respect,” he says. “I now have friends who are much older than me
because we share common interests. I’ve always felt that being treated like an adult was a much better option for me
than going to a frat party.”
Steiner also believes in the FVTC approach to teaching. “The instructors know
what they’re talking about and give you the advantage of their experience,” he says.
“Unlike traditional schools where you do textbook learning, at Fox Valley Tech you
spend the majority of your time building things, doing experiments, and learning how to
troubleshoot.”
Engineered to SucceedStudent Dan Steiner and graduate James Koop both looked
to FVTC for high-tech careers in engineering technology.
Student Dan Steiner, with instructor Steve Saindon
8 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
“I’ve always felt that being treated like an adult was a
much better option for me than going to a frat party.
- Dan Steiner
”
• • • View video: www.fvtc.edu/EET14
focus fall 2014 9
Like many people, James Koop enrolled in a four-year college right after high
school, but he soon realized it wasn’t for him. “I lacked motivation and after
dropping out, I drifted for a few years,” he recalls. “I returned home and did the
smart thing: I enrolled at Fox Valley Technical College.”
Koop first earned an associate degree at FVTC in Culinary Arts. The
Appleton native loved the hands-on approach to learning and soon found a
great job as a chef. However, married with a baby on the way, he needed
more family-friendly hours. He once again turned to FVTC, enrolling in the
Electronic Engineering Technology program. “This program was my second
love,” he says. “I landed a really great entry-level job.”
Today, the 30-year-old Koop is a technician with Ducommun, a global
provider of manufacturing and engineering services for the aerospace, defense,
industrial, and medical markets. He is responsible for working on circuit card
solutions for the medical industry. “Ducommun hired me before I graduated. I
wake up every morning and am happy to go to work,” he says. “The people are
great, the work is challenging, and I am never bored.”
Eventually Koop hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering. For now,
he’s busy enough keeping up with his three-year-old daughter and family life.
“I wish I had gone to Fox Valley Tech right out of high school,” he says. “The
teachers are great, and they all have real experience in their fields. Best of all,
there are lots of career opportunities in this industry.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Engineering
focus fall 2014 9
James Koop
96% job placement during the past three years for FVTC graduates of the Electrical Engineering
Technology program.FVTC Graduate Employment Research Reports, 2012,
2013, 2014
256 full-time job openings in the New North region for
careers in engineering-related fields. 2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report &
Wisconsin TechConnect
“Ducommun hired me before I graduated.
- James Koop
”
10 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College10 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
“I was debt-free from my Fox Valley Tech days within
one year of working here.- Joey VanWie
”
“Fox Valley Tech gave me the skills I needed for this
great career.- Matt VanWie
”
focus fall 2014 11
Joey VanWie entered the manufacturing field in 2011 after
he graduated from Fox Valley Technical College with an
associate degree in Automated Manufacturing Systems
Technology. “I tried a four-year school, which I didn’t like, and
then did odd jobs,” says the 31-year old. “I saw robotics at
work and then discovered that Fox Valley Tech had a related
program and the tuition was reasonable,” he says.
As a service technician for Tissue Excellence Center
in Appleton, a Tissue Machinery Company from Italy
that provides training, service, and parts for packaging
machines in North America, Joey handles installations and
troubleshooting. “This equipment is half the size of a school
bus and it wraps individual rolls into different configurations of
packages,” he says.
Joey has worked at paper companies across the continent.
“I’m on the road about 70-80% of the time,” he says. “It gets
hectic, but the extra pay is great. I was debt-free from my Fox
Valley Tech days within one year of working here.”
Matt VanWie, 29, came to FVTC on the advice of his older
brother, Joey. “I heard him talk about what he was doing
there,” says Matt. “I was living in South Carolina and decided
to move back.”
Matt enrolled in FVTC’s Electro-Mechanical Technology
program. “Fox Valley Tech made it very easy for me to
return to school,” states Matt. “My original plan was to get an
associate degree and then a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
That’s when Joey recommended me for a job at Tissue
Excellence Center.”
Like his brother, Matt travels across the country as
a service technician handling everything from original
installations to updates and troubleshooting. “Fox Valley Tech
gave me the skills I needed for this great career,” he says.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Automation
100% job placement for graduates of both the Automated Manufacturing
Systems and Electro-Mechanical Technology programs.2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
$43,700 average annual salary for graduates of both the Automated
Manufacturing Systems and Electro-Mechanical Technology programs. 2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
Ripon natives Joey and Matt VanWie are teaming up to install and service high-tech automation systems for the global paper industry.
brothersTECH
focus fall 2014 11
• • • View video: www.fvtc.edu/ams14
12 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Saginaw, Michigan, native Jessica Meshke loves working in the
field of Information Technology (IT). “Computers used to look
really complicated to me,” she says. “Going to Fox Valley Tech
makes computer technology easy to understand.”
Meshke took her first PC classes at a nearby university but
was frustrated by the lack of hands-on learning. Seeking a more
student-friendly learning environment, she moved to Appleton
and enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s Help Desk
Support Specialist program. “You get to learn how computers
work, not just read about them in an owner’s manual,” she says.
After completing that program, Meshke enrolled in FVTC’s
Computer Support Specialist program. “I’m now learning about
the bigger picture—things like architecture, networking, and
security,” she says. “This broadens what I can do for both
individuals and businesses.”
Meshke keeps busy working at the on-campus Student Help
Desk and serving as vice president of the college’s Association
of Information Technology Professionals. “We’re trying to bring
technology to others,” she explains. “We work with students from
other departments, like in business and nursing for example, to
help them advance their careers by becoming more proficient in
computer applications.”
Meshke wants to open her own computer support company
in the near future. “I want to show others that computer
technology can be a lot of fun,” she adds. “The more comfortable
you get with it, the better off you will be, whether it’s for personal
or professional use.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/NetworkComputerSupport
IT student Jessica Meshke is gaining valuable experience with computer technology while helping others along the way.
335 full-time job postings in one year for computer support specialists
in the New North region.2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
$45,500 average annual salary after five years in the workforce as a
computer support specialist.2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
Computer Central
“Going to Fox Valley Tech makes computer
technology easy to understand.
- Jessica Meshke
”
• • • View video: www.fvtc.edu/IT14
focus fall 2014 13
A lifelong technology enthusiast, Hortonville native Josh
Breyer has always been interested in how computer systems
work. “I wanted a tech college rather than a four-year school
to help me launch my career faster,” he says. “I took classes
at Fox Valley Tech while I was a senior in high school and
really liked them.”
Breyer enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s Network
Specialist program right after graduation. “Since I’d already
completed six classes, I was able to take fewer courses per
semester, earn dual credits, and work full time,” he says.
Today, the 24-year-old Breyer is an IT specialist for
Performa, Inc., a planning, architecture and engineering design
and consulting firm in nearby De Pere. “I’m the sole IT person
at Performa,” he says. “I do everything from maintaining
hardware and software to monitoring and configuring server
equipment.”
Performa just completed a major expansion to its
facilities, and Breyer was in charge of relocating the entire
IT infrastructure. “I worked with vendors and contractors to
strategically relocate computers, networks, and servers,” he
says. “I had to make sure that everything related to computers
worked for all the departments and the entire company.”
Breyer feels he made the right choice in schools. “At
Performa, I am always analyzing new technology and learning
how to implement it,” he says. “Fox Valley Tech really helped
prepare me by encouraging continual learning and problem
solving.”
Breyer is doing well in his personal life as well as in his
career. Recently married, he and his wife just purchased a
new home.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/NetworkComputerSupport
No two days are alike for IT grad Josh Breyer, thanks to Fox Valley Technical College.
Networked to Succeed188
full-time job listings for careers in the New North region in the IT-networking field.
2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
$56,000 average annual salary for graduates of FVTC’s Network
Specialist program five years after graduation.2014 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report
“I took classes at Fox Valley Tech while I was a senior in high school and really
liked them.- Josh Breyer
”
14 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
What first brought you to Fox Valley Technical College?A few years ago my husband, Adam, and I
started talking about driving truck over the road
as a team. He already had his CDL, and I decided to search
training options on Google. Fox Valley Technical College came
up in my search, and I remembered seeing its trucks at the
Appleton campus while driving along Highway 41. The college
is basically in my backyard, and the web search revealed that
it is one of the top truck driving schools in the nation.
How did FVTC impact you?I think about my experience in learning how to drive a semi-
truck at Fox Valley Tech every day. Applying what still seems
like a million details and hands-on knowledge all come
together to focus on safety. There is a lot of responsibility that
goes into this career, and Fox Valley Tech’s instructors do a
great job of taking what feels overwhelming and making it all
understandable.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/TruckDriving
What do you enjoy most about your career? As a team driver I get to work and share experiences on the
road with my husband every day. My office has windows and
the scenery changes by the second. I always look forward to
driving through the salt flats and the mountains, along with
seeing prairies and foothills.
This career is also about hard work. At the end of a busy
delivery day, I reflect on all that was accomplished, and that
can include driving through busy traffic in a tight downtown
area or a really tough backing situation.
What advice can you give others about selecting a college today?Explore all of your options carefully and go with what is the
best fit for not only a career, but your happiness as well.
Don’t write off truck driving as part of your options! It’s a fun
career and there are many jobs available with flexible routes.
If you’re looking for something with quick job placement, I
graduated from Fox Valley Tech on a Friday and started
working the following Monday.
on alumnifocus
The 35-year-old Phillips, Wisconsin, native is seeing the country while enjoying a great career with V&S Midwest Carriers.
Q & A with Truck Driving Grad Robin Grapa
Robin Grapa
nOminate an Outstanding aLumni Fox Valley Technical College is seeking nominations for its 2015 Outstanding
Alumni Award. The annual award recognizes an FVTC alumnus who has demonstrated the value of technical education through career
advancement, community service, personal and educational growth, career success, and support of the Wisconsin Technical College System.
The nomination deadline is noon (CST) on March 2, 2015.
nomination guidelines: www.fvtc.edu/alumni
I graduated from Fox Valley Tech on a Friday and started working the following Monday.
Robin Grapa
“”
focus fall 2014 15focus fall 2014 15
1 in 4 area high school students attend FVTC each year.If you plan to attend FVTC in fall 2015, apply for a
scholarship today!
40 high school scholarships available, $500-$1,000 each.
Scholarships can be based on need, merit, program, or even just where you live!
application deadline: February 28, 2015.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Scholarships
on the foundationfocus
A Foundation FamilyScholarships from the Fox Valley Technical College Foundation helped two recent agri-business grads continue family traditions.
Kaitlyn Tesch, a 20-year old Oconto Falls
native, received both the Heartland Women
for Agriculture and Fox Valley Technical
College Foundation scholarships. A fifth-
generation dairy farmer, Tesch always
knew she wanted to study agriculture. “I
was just going to take one semester at
Fox Valley Tech, but I enjoyed it so much
that I stayed and earned my degree,” she
says. “I learned a lot about dairy, livestock,
agronomy, and the business side of
agriculture.”
Tesch is currently working at the regional
United States Department of Agriculture
Farm Service Agency, connecting local
farmers and producers to related agriculture
support programs. She is also completing her bachelor’s degree online with
another school. “Though I worked full time while going to Fox Valley Tech,
the scholarship helped me stay out of debt and it boosted my confidence,”
she says.
The Heston Allen Scholarship winner, 21-year-old Justin Schwahn,
hopes to eventually oversee his family’s 90-cow dairy farm. The Reedsville
native spent last year as a volunteer state officer for the National FFA
Organization, traveling throughout
the state educating consumers
and agriculture professionals.
He is currently working full time
on the family farm. “I call myself
a manager,” he says. “I train
employees, manage the herd’s
reproductive dairy activity, and
help with financial records.”
Both Schwahn and Tesch believe that FVTC gave them the support
and education they needed, as well as the confidence to reach their goals.
“The scholarship brought me out of my shell,” says Schwahn. “I never
would have believed that I’d be doing what I am today without help from the
Foundation and Ag department.”
The scholarship helped me stay out of debt and it boosted my confidence.
Kaitlyn Tesch
“”
THE TIME IS NOW TO THINK FVTC
Justin Schwahn and Kaitlyn Tesch.
16 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College16 www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
focus on the student experience
Brewster Village, located right next
door to Fox Valley Technical College’s
Appleton campus, offers short-term
rehabilitation, long-term nursing home
services, and more. Thanks to the
help of students in FVTC’s Horticulture
Technician program, the village now
offers something else—a special outdoor
ambiance for its residents.
As a project management learning
experience with hands-on activities,
students helped design, plant, and
maintain the facility’s grounds as part of
a large-scale makeover. “We maintain
the village’s annual and perennial
flower beds, trees and shrubs, and pot
vegetables that individual residents can
grow in the facility’s courtyards,” states
Jim Beard, FVTC’s landscape architect
and horticulture program instructor.
The partnership between FVTC and
Brewster Village began four years ago
and provides FVTC students with real-
world, professional experience. “Once
they start working on a project, we
guide them to plant what’s needed to
make their vision a reality,” says Beard.
“We plant about 8,000 to 10,000 plants
there every year. It’s no small job, but
students learn the value of providing
something beautiful that others can
enjoy.”
Horticulture student Mason Boucher is
currently volunteering at Brewster Village
as well. In addition to grounds-keeping,
he and other students are responding
to additional needs to help the residents
enjoy a better quality of life. “The
residents asked for a butterfly garden,
so we planted a variety of flowers such
as milkweed, daisies, and cornflowers to
attract butterflies,” says the 20-year-old
Shawano native. “If there’s something I
can do to make someone’s life or stay
there better, it makes me happy.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Horticulture
This program gives me the knowledge and freedom to make someone else’s life better.
Mason Boucher Horticulture Student
“
grounded in LearningStudents in Fox Valley Technical College’s Horticulture Technician program landscaped an eye-opening makeover for a nursing care community.
”
Instructor Jim Beard talks with students in the Horticulture
Technician program
Miles of Makeovers The efforts of the Horticulture program students at Fox Valley Technical College are seen throughout the region:
•Design,construction,andlandscapework for a 9/11 Memorial in Greenville.
•GardeninstallationatRiversideMedical Center in Waupaca.
•Retainingwallandwalkwayconstructionat Neenah YMCA.
•VeteransMemorialimplementationfor White City Park in Kaukauna.
•Courtyardgardenredesignandlandscaping at Edison Elementary in Appleton.
•LandscapeworkforMilitaryVeterans Museum in Oshkosh.
•ConstructionofGreenRoofRestStationon FVTC’s Appleton campus—a gold-award winning project from the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association.
focus fall 2014 17
focus on the student experienceBut don't just take our word for it. hear what employers are telling us:
“FVTC grads come to
the job prepared with
appropriate course
work, lab activities and
clinical experience.” Karla Repta, Affinity Medical Group
“In the past 18 months,
we’ve hired nearly 100
Fox Valley Tech graduates.
They’re incredibly well-prepared.” Mike Norder, Schneider National, Inc.
“I’ve hired several FVTC
grads in the past few years,
because they come to us
so well-prepared to work in
this industry.” Kendal Bielke, Richmark Patterns
www.fvtc.edu/FastForwardLearn more:
“Students coming right out
of high school don’t realize
the opportunities the
manufacturing industry
really has.” Anna Ewerdt, Alliance Laundry
These high-demand career programs offer expanded options like evenings, weekends and accelerated. Start training now for a great career. Employers are waiting for you!
TRANSPORTATION
www.fvtc.edu/FastForward
We’ll help you get started today!
BUSINESS
ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING
heaLth Care agriCuLture
NON-PROFITORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAIDFVTC
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