Fox Valley Technical College Focus Magazine Fall 2010 by Fox Valley Technical College

focus Fox Valley Technical College

volume 3, issue 2 • fall 2010

your future

Wired

for Success Thom Willecke’s eagerness to learn led him to design his own major—and earn a new career in the electronics field. Page 7

inside: >

Job Seekers Network: New Skills for the New Economy Page 6

Start Smart: Early Childhood Education program Page 10

New Construction Management Program: Building the Future Page 12

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contents

Focus is published bi-annually for the communities of Fox Valley Technical College. EXECUTIVE EDITOR/MANAGER OF MEDIA RELATIONS Chris Jossart CUSTOM PUBLISHING SERVICES The Coghlan Group

10 in every issue

6 What’s Now Discover how the Job Seekers Network is using a new approach to providing individuals with careerchanging tools.

features 7

Making His Own Future Thom Willecke’s eagerness to learn led him to design his own major— and earn a new career in the electronics field. Start Smart FVTC’s Early Childhood Education program helped Arica Ludwig find her career path—and it’s helping her make a difference in children’s lives. Building the Future FVTC’s Construction Management Technology and Residential Building Construction programs provide students with the tools they need to build successful careers in the construction industry.

FVTC 2 Around A quick look at what’s making news at FVTC.

Focus on Workplace Training Miller Electric Mfg. Co. turned to a familiar source when it needed software training.

Focus on the Entrepreneur FVTC provided Kendal Beilke with a solid career foundation. It also made him into a passionate advocate for technical college education.

Focus on Alumni Pa Lee Moua’s career pathway has led her to rewarding opportunities enriching the lives of others.

Focus on the Foundation A 10-year partnership with CASE IH and Service Motor Company will provide FVTC students with an impressive array of state-of-the-art equipment.

Focus on Student Life A new club offers services for U.S. military veterans, and an eye-catching rose garden on the Appleton campus is attracting visitors thanks to a collaborative student project and longtime friend of the college.

welcome

I chose Fox Valley Tech because of the impressive Culinary Arts program and staff, along with the reasonable cost. The people here care not just about my education, but also about me as a person. They go above and beyond to help me succeed. Other than classes, there are so many different activities to take part in. I’m in the Culinary Club, and it’s a great way to build friendships. Because FVTC is so involved in the community, there are always different volunteer activities too. I’ve been told countless times, “The more effort you put in, the more you get out of your education.” I believe it.

EDITOR Chris Mikko ART DIRECTOR Amy Bjellos CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Phil Bolsta, Sara Gilbert Frederick, Chris Jossart, Gary Legwold, Todd Nelson, Vicki Stavig, Sue Wilson PHOTOGRAPHY Gary Brilowski, Cara Jakubiec, Gary Gawinski, Patrick Kelly DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE MARKETING Barb Dreger

PRESIDENT Dr. Susan A. May Fox Valley Technical College 1825 N. Bluemound Dr. P.O. Box 2277 Appleton, WI 54912-2277 1-800-735-3882 TTY (hearing impaired) (920) 735-2569 www.fvtc.edu jossart@fvtc.edu (e-mail 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 20 apprenticeship trades, in addition to providing services to business and industry. Annually, the college serves about 47,000 people throughout its five-county district. Member of:

Welcome to my college. Laura Johnson

FVTC Student, Culinary Arts

aroundfvtc IT Students Among the Best in the Nation

Criminal Justice student Alondra Cendejas and instructor Dan Feucht observe new crime scene technology.

High-Tech Eyes on Crime Scene Investigations

FVTC continues to find its students in elite company when it comes to training Information Technology professionals. The college once again earned several team awards during the 15th Annual Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) National Collegiate Conference in St. Louis. Students took first place in the Graphics Communications competition, second place in the PC Troubleshooting category, third place in the Artistic Banner competition, and honorable mention in the Systems Analyst category. FVTC was also named Outstanding Student Chapter from Region 5, which represents 44 AITP student chapters in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, the St. Louis metro area of Missouri, Northern Kentucky, Eastern Iowa, and Wisconsin. Brenda Wilz, IT instructor at FVTC, received the “Going the Extra Mile” award among 70 nationwide faculty attendees. Nearly 500 students representing 69 colleges and universities, including the likes of Purdue University and the University of Texas, competed at the national conference. For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/aitp.

The process of documenting evidence at crime scenes just received an extra set of eyes in the region. Thanks to the latest generation of 3D laser scanning technology, the first of its kind for any training entity in Wisconsin, FVTC’s Criminal Justice division will continue to play an even greater role in championing best practices for those who serve and protect. The Leica Geosystems ScanStation C10–3D Laser Scanner introduces new levels of speed, accuracy, and detail for law enforcement practitioners and public safety professionals. The technology is broad enough for use in crime scene reconstruction, vulnerability and threat assessment, police involved shootings, crash investigations, and post-blast investigations, to name a few. Data generated from the Leica unit has been accepted in U.S. courts. Prosecutors can place jurors into actual crime scenes due to its detailed scanning capabilities, virtual imagery, and multiple vantage-point projections. Students in FVTC’s law enforcement and public safety programs will have access to this new technology, fostering greater skill sets for tomorrow’s police officers, fire protection technicians, and forensic analysts. For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/cj.

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

News Briefs A Leader in Crash Test Research FVTC is a leading academic research institution for producing relevant electronic control module (ECM) data used in testing vehicles for the Wisconsin State Patrol and National Transportation Safety Board, among others. The college’s expert faculty has helped law enforcement officers maintain proficiency in data extraction and learn new software updates. FVTC transportation instructors helped develop the ECM Field Guide, a nationwide publication designed to assist officers in crash response investigations. Findings from ECM testing performed in 2009 at FVTC’s J. J. Keller Transportation FVTC was featured on the front cover of Center were presented the Spring 2010 issue of Wisconsin at the 2010 Society of Trooper magazine. Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit. Since 1905, SAE International has been dedicated to promoting vehicle safety, maintenance, and energy resource conservation through its 84,000-plus members, representing 97 countries. The impact of FVTC’s vehicle testing initiatives is wellchronicled in the Spring 2010 issue of Wisconsin Trooper magazine.

• Chris Matheny was named vice president for Instructional Services. Matheny began his career at FVTC in 2004 as vice president of Student Services and was promoted to vice-president of Student and Community Development in 2008. • The college announced Patti Jorgensen as vice president for Student and Community Development. Jorgensen joined FVTC in 2009 as the director of Instructional Development & Delivery. Prior to that role, she served as the director of the Kellett School of Adult Education for Lakeland College. • Kelly Vils, a 2003 graduate of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, published an article in the August issue of a national magazine, OT Practice. The article, “A Light Bulb Went Off,” discusses the influences of fluorescent lighting in learning environments for autistic children and any potential health risks. • Alumna Melissa Raddatz, who received integrated training from the Airframe & Powerplant Mechanics and Aircraft Electronics programs, was featured on the front cover of the September/October issue of the international publication, Aviation for Women. Raddatz now serves as program coordinator for the National Association of Flight Instructors.

Chris Matheny

Patti Jorgensen

Kelly Vils

• The Agriculture-related programs held their 60th Annual Farm Tour earlier this year. The tour showcases area family farms that use the latest technologies and sustainability practices to enhance production.

For more information, call (920) 996-2889.

Thanks for Choosing Us! For the fourth consecutive year, Fox Valley Technical College was voted #1 in the Continuing Education category as part of the PostCrescent’s annual “Best of the Valley” reader survey. All of us at FVTC appreciate the support of the community as a reaffirmation of the college’s vital role in developing skilled employees and enhancing lives through continuing education.

• The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Training & Technical Assistance program trained a record 1,200-plus law enforcement practitioners, probation and Melissa Raddatz parole officers, and prosecutors during the 2010 ICAC National Conference in Jacksonville. Attendees included representatives from the United States, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, and England.

Focus is also on the Web! Visit www.fvtc.edu/focus for the online version

focus fall 2010

focus

on workplace training It’s All About the Image Miller Electric Mfg. Co. turned to a familiar source for software training to enhance its training materials. By Phil Bolsta Miller Electric Mfg. Co. needed to train some of its employees in desktop publishing, so the firm did what numerous local companies have done for years: It asked Fox Valley Technical College’s Business and Industry Services team for help. That request was easy to fill. Adjunct Graphic Arts instructor Mark Schlueter was eager to work with Miller Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of arc welding products designed for manufacturing, fabrication, construction, aviation, motorsports, education, agricultural, and marine applications. Miller Electric had specific goals in mind. The company had been streamlining the development and production of its training manuals and wanted to improve efficiency and quality. Training five of its employees in desktop publishing software would enable them to immediately put together a number of key publications. Over the course of four weeks, the Miller Electric trainees took part in daylong training sessions for each of three software programs: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. According to Nick Peterson, welding engineer and curriculum developer for Miller Electric, streamlining the in-house

“

Our industry is fast changing, so we need to change along with the demands for our products.

”

Nick Peterson

Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

production of various training materials enables the company to have better control over the timing, inventory, and presentation of key product information. “For instance, we learned how to utilize new design applications to update a welding process in one of our manuals,” says Peterson. “We can also make ‘just-in-time’ copies of these materials when we need them to better support our training objectives.” Peterson cites this new level of crosstraining as an invaluable tool for a company that aspires to lean practices and world-class service. “Our industry is fast changing, so we need to change along with the demands for our products,” he notes. Jill Rosio, another Miller Electric curriculum developer and fellow trainee, sees enhanced imagery as an important benefit from the training as well. “Understanding the differences between image quality in our highly detailed world of specifications and technical applications is critical,” she says. “The customized training from Fox Valley Tech really enabled us to save printing costs and time.” Saving money and time are important for any business, but for Miller Electric, improved efficiency in presenting new training materials that are valued by its customers is essential. “The training needs of our distributor base have changed,” notes Paul Cleveland, manager of training and mobile sales support for Miller Electric. “Providing distributors with updated, customized training materials when they need them enhances customer satisfaction.” The company is now better skilled to create educational materials for in-house training programs on an ongoing basis. “It was rewarding to get the trainees to realize the characteristics of each individual application, and how they all can work together,” Schlueter says. FVTC’s long-standing partnership with Miller Electric has included other training concepts like robotic welding, rapid prototyping, and multimedia development through learning objects, to name a few. The company has also been a strong supporter of the college’s welding programs.

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

Jill Rosio and Paul Cleveland, Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

Resources and Results for Your Workplace For nearly three decades, the workplace training experts at Fox Valley Technical College have been delivering customized workplace solutions for thousands of high-performing companies and their employees. Each year… • Over 1,700 employers choose FVTC for their training needs • Over 20,000 employees participate in FVTC training sessions Learn more about the broad range of customized training plans, technical assistance, seminars, and more offered through the Business and Industry Services team at FVTC in the latest Resource Guide.

To view the Guide or to request a copy, visit www.fvtc.edu/bisguide.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/bis.

focus

on the entrepreneur

The Right Tools FVTC’s Machine Tool Technician program provided Kendal Beilke with a solid foundation for a rewarding career. It also made him an advocate for technical education. By Gary Legwold Early in high school, Kendal Beilke sat in the machine shop looking at cool projects that made his head turn. They influenced him to take a machine shop class during his junior year, and he soon found the mix of mechanical and intellectual challenges a powerful combination. The experience caused Beilke to enroll in Fox Valley Technical College’s Machine Tool Technician program right after high school. “The guidance counselor said I should go to a four-year college,” says Beilke, who in his mind respectfully disagreed. “A four-year degree is nice, but it shouldn’t be automatically recommended for everyone. Keep it simple and match your passion with a program.”

“

In reality, job placement prospects and average starting wages are often higher for technical college graduates than for four-year grads.

”

Kendal Beilke Co-owner, Richmark Patterns

First Steps While at FVTC, Beilke landed a part-time position at Richmark Patterns, a Greenville-based design and machining facility with 13 employees. “The timing was ideal,” he says. “Our industry was experiencing an evolution of the end product from wood to a metal-based platform, and I was on the ground floor.” The part-time gig became a full-time job after graduation, and Beilke was one

of the first to use the fast-emerging technology of CNC machining, a highly accurate and costeffective method of tool-making. The process was an incredible challenge and defined Richmark’s direction for the following decades. Today, 25 years later, Beilke is one of the owners of Richmark, which now employs 36 skilled workers. His FVTC education Kendal Beilke, co-owner, Richmark Patterns provided a path to a great career. Jim back to a program that helped him Kitchen, the Machine Tool Technician launch his career. It also allows him to program’s lead instructor, says the find new employees; he’s hired eight program emphasizes individual FVTC graduates in the last few years. learning. “We push them to figure things out,” he notes. “That’s the reality in the workforce. You have to A High “Five” for Economic think on your feet.”

Development

Real World, Real Training, Real Jobs Employers are excited when they interview job seekers with that kind of initiative. So, it’s not surprising that 80% of the 2009 class were employed six months after graduation from the Machine Tool Technician program. “And that was low because we were in a down economy,” says Kitchen. “Normally, we have placement rates in the 90% range.” Beilke will back that up. He says that many high school students are eager to immerse themselves in real training for real work. “Yet, they’re often advised not to go to a technical college,” he says. “In reality, job placement prospects and average starting wages are often higher for technical college graduates than for four-year grads.” Given that perspective, it’s not surprising that Beilke has continued his relationship with FVTC, serving as an advisory committee member for the college’s Machine Tool Technician program. The role allows him to give

The Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College marked its fifth anniversary in September, celebrating a strong presence as a driving force in regional economic development. Start-up entrepreneur training and business growth training are cornerstones of the Venture Center’s services through both the E-Seed and Pro-Seed programs. Here is a five-year snapshot of the Venture Center’s economic impact: • More than 200 business start-ups, creating more than 700 jobs • Around 13,600 people served through entrepreneur programs in the Fox Cities, Waupaca, and Oshkosh • More than 2,600 hours of instruction, one-on-one coaching, and technical assistance for entrepreneurs and small businesses

For more information, visit www.venturecenterwi.biz.

focus fall 2010

what’s

>> NOW

By Chris Jossart

Preparing Today’s Job Seeker for Success Today’s unemployed individuals represent all walks of life and are a sign of the struggling economy. While dealing with a challenging transition, many career-changers have found a fresh approach to controlling their job search.

New Skills for the New Economy Job seekers are learning that today's economy requires new skill sets. “The days are pretty much gone where a high school graduate could walk into a company and earn a job making $15 to $20 an hour on an assembly line,” states Paul Verbeten, president of Perfecseal, a Bemis company specializing in medical and pharmaceutical packing products. “Today’s employers are looking for advanced skills that align with the changing economy.” In spring of 2008, Fox Valley Technical College’s Student Employment Services department launched the Job Seekers Network (JSN) to arm career-changing individuals with marketable tools to help re-enter the workforce. During the first year, JSN meetings were held once a week at FVTC’s Appleton campus, but the down economy and word of mouth caused the fast-growing resource to add sessions. Today, JSN is running four sessions a week, including a recent addition in Oshkosh at FVTC’s Riverside campus. Chris Czarnik converses with JSN participant Michelle Jaeger “Job Seekers Network introduces the career seeker to a different approach to being hired,” notes Chris Czarnik, facilitator/instructor for JSN. “We focus on teaching people to market themselves through emphasizing his or her achievements, networking, and identifying unadvertised job opportunities. This is very different than a traditional job search support group.” Since its inception, JSN has impacted nearly 250 individuals and built an ever-growing network through social media. “We’re learning of new successes almost weekly by way of participants landing careers or continuing their education,” says Czarnik. “The beauty of JSN is that the networking creates energy among participants, and that dynamic gives people the motivation to control their job search.”

Need JSN? Sarah Dempsey of Oshkosh needed a different approach to a new career after losing her job. After nine months of being out of work, she attended a JSN meeting and discovered a strategic, structured resource to landing a job. “Getting a job today requires a new way of networking,” says Dempsey, who earned a full-time career with an accounting firm in Appleton as a result of attending JSN. “Job Seekers Network gave me confidence to help others spread the word about my skills.” Job Seekers Network classes are free and open to the public. To learn more, visit www.fvtc.edu/jsn.

Get Connected Student Employment Services at FVTC helps connect students and alumni to job opportunities through Wisconsin TechConnect, an up-to-date, free online pool of job postings by statewide employers. To learn more, visit www.fvtc.edu/ses.

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

Thom Willecke’s eagerness to learn led him to design his own major— and earn a new career in the electronics field. By Sara Gilbert Frederick

Making

His Own

Future

Thom Willecke

It didn’t take Tim Meredith long to realize he should hire Thom Willecke as a communications technician earlier this year. Meredith, the president of Wire Technologies, a Kaukauna-based communications contractor, knew when he reviewed Willecke’s resume that he would be an asset to the company. “It was a very easy decision,” Meredith says. What he saw on Willecke’s resume was an associate degree as an Electrical Communication Systems Specialist from Fox Valley Technical College, plus 11 specialized certificates that Willecke earned in the course of creating his own degree at the college. Three of those—Electronic Communication and Data Cabling, Fiber-Optic Cabling/Devices, and Telecommunications Field Service, are directly related to the job he was applying for at Wire Technologies. But the rest were just as impressive to Meredith.

focus fall 2010

Certifiably Certified A look at the 11 certificates Thom Willecke received on the way to his customized Electrical Communication Systems Specialist degree from FVTC: • National Electrical Code • Electronic Communication and Data Cabling • Internet Protocol Telephony • Telecommunications Field Service • IT–Network System Design • Fiber-Optic Cabling/Devices • IT–Network Infrastructure • Photovoltaic Installer, Entry Level • Commercial Construction Technician • Network Topics for Engineering Technology • Cisco CCNA Preparation

“Thom had the necessary skills to help us out tremendously,” Meredith says. “His wealth of experience would be a benefit. There are few people who can cross over and work in both cabling and networking. That was definitely a selling point when we brought him on.” Willecke knew he wouldn’t find a job that completely incorporated all 11 of his certificates. But he also thought that whatever he did and wherever he worked, the variety of knowledge and experience would serve him well. Turns out he was right. “All of my training at Fox Valley Tech has impacted me,” Willecke says. “There are bits and pieces from all of the courses that I use on my job. Some things are not exactly part of what I do daily, but they are part of the environment that surrounds me.”

Defining a Degree Willecke’s customized degree program came about when he was denied a financial aid award because he didn’t have a declared degree. He was taking a full load of classes and working toward a number of certificates that sounded interesting to him, but none of them counted toward an established associate degree. “I didn’t figure that out until my award came back indicating zero dollars,” Willecke says. “Then someone I was working with in Enrollment Services (at FVTC) suggested I try to create a degree out of the classes I was taking.” Willecke met with a counselor, who recommended that he pursue an individualized technical studies degree. Together, they developed a proposal that showed how the various certificate programs he was enrolled in would result in employable skills. Willecke then had to find someone in the workforce to review the proposal and acknowledge its feasibility. In addition, he had to share it with several people on campus, including the department chair of the engineering-related programs. That process, he says, helped him visualize his future more clearly. “It was the icing on the cake,” he says. “It allowed me to transition my mindset from just completing certificates to realizing that this is actually what I want to do.” His initiative impressed many instructors. “It’s very unusual for a student to design a program like this,” says Brenda Wilz, an Information Technology instructor and the advisor for the FVTC chapter of the Association for Information Technology Professionals (AITP). “What Thom did was amazing. He now has a unique combination of skills and a much broader background than most students. He developed a clear plan of what he wanted to do, and he put it together in a way that would be most beneficial to him and anyone fortunate to employ him.”

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

“

Thom had the necessary skill sets to help us out tremendously.

”

Tim Meredith President, Wire Technologies

Willecke completed 29 credits in one semester, far exceeding full-time status as a student. Despite this load, he excelled academically. “He had a very heavy workload, but he was always a top student,” says Gary Herlache, an Electronics Technology instructor who had Willecke in several classes. “He was driven to learn and do the best in everything he did.” That included his involvement in AITP. Willecke was part of a team that twice took first place in the nation in the organization’s National Collegiate Conference Graphic Communications competition— topping teams from such schools as the University of Texas, Purdue University, and more from across the country. “We earned an award in just about every category,” Wilz says. “It was a great event; I had to pinch myself many times because I was so proud of our remarkable students.” As important as the recognition was to Willecke and others, both he and Wilz agree that hands-on learning is a leading reason that FVTC can compete with four-year institutions in collegiate conferences. It speaks to the high-quality education available at FVTC, Willecke says, and discredits the notion that two-year schools are inferior to four-year colleges. “People from other colleges approached us and asked how they could transfer to Fox Valley Tech,” says Wilz. “It was quite impressive.” So is what Willecke has done, both while at FVTC and since he’s graduated.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/its.

focus fall 2010

Start Smar 10

Arica Ludwig provides care for many diverse children at 21 for Tots Child Care Center

FVTC’s Early Childhood Education program helped Arica Ludwig find her career path—and it’s helping her make a difference in children’s lives. By Sue Wilson

Arica Ludwig has always enjoyed taking care of children. She watched over her younger cousins and helped out at her mom’s in-home child care center while growing up. As a high school senior, she discovered she liked teaching during a year-long cooperative education class with second graders. Now, thanks to her associate degree from Fox Valley Technical College in Early Childhood Education, Ludwig has transformed her passion into a career, working as a co-teacher at 21 for Tots Child Care Center in Appleton. It took Ludwig some work to get to this point, however. “I’ve always wanted to teach young children, but I wasn’t sure about the best way to pursue the goal,” she says. Ludwig initially enrolled in a large, four-year university after high school. “As a freshman, I was overwhelmed by the size of the school. My classes were large, and it was difficult to build personal relationships.”

Small Classes, Big Benefits Ludwig began exploring other options. She attended FVTC’s Discovery Days and toured the Early Childhood Education department. During the event, she learned about on-campus activities as well. “I really liked the Early Childhood Education program and the friendly environment at Fox Valley Tech,” Ludwig says. “The small class sizes really sold me! From the first day of class, I felt welcome and comfortable getting to know my classmates and instructors.” According to Amy Werba, FVTC’s Early Childhood Education department chair and instructor, the associate degree program includes a mix of early childhood and general education courses. It focuses on curriculum methods, child development, and practicums that provide hands-on experience in varied care settings for children of all abilities. Students teach in a licensed child care center, a kindergarten, a preschool, and the FVTC Parent/Child Center. Ludwig says her training provided her with opportunities to teach, interact with children and parents, and work in different classrooms. “During every experience, I used what I was learning in my classes,” she notes. “My courses on curriculum planning and art, music, and language for young children were particularly helpful.” She also had great experiences outside the classroom. She was a member of the women’s competitive basketball and volleyball teams, served as a student ambassador for the Early Childhood Education program (on Discovery Days and Campus Visit Days), and was a new student orientation leader.

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

“

It's extremely helpful to draw from the lesson plans I created in college and to use the resources and teaching methods from my classes. I was very well prepared.

”

Arica Ludwig

Centered Around Learning Experience is the best form of learning at FVTC’s Parent/Child Center.

Ready for the Real World Ludwig is now putting her FVTC training to work at 21 for Tots Child Care Center. The center, which is sponsored by Century 21 Real Estate, is licensed for 40 children ages six weeks to 12 years. “I care for and teach two- and three-year olds, write parent letters and lesson plans, and build relationships with parents,” Ludwig says. “It’s extremely helpful to draw from the lesson plans I created in college and to use the resources and teaching methods from my classes. I was very well prepared.” This fall, Ludwig enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. As a student in an accelerated program, she attends class at night while working full-time. Almost all of her FVTC credits transferred through a transfer agreement with the university. According to Werba, Ludwig exemplifies many Early Childhood Education students. “While Arica participated in our traditional-format degree program, we provide an accelerated program option for people already working in early childhood education,” notes Werba. Werba adds that the program classes meet Wisconsin state licensing requirements, which offers an advantage for graduates. And what is the job outlook like these days for graduates? “Our students have many employment options, including working in Head Start programs, preschools, child care centers, 4-K classrooms, and more,” says Werba. “They also work as nannies, paraprofessionals in school districts, and child care center owners.” She expects to see many new students due to Wisconsin’s recently passed YoungStar regulations that increase the education requirements for child care center staff members. “There’s never been a better time to return to campus and continue your education,” says Werba.

To find out more, visit www.fvtc.edu/earlychild.

You probably won’t see the youngest attendees of FVTC sitting next to you in class. That’s because they are children at the college’s Parent/Child Center, an accredited preschool licensed to care for kids that range in age from six weeks to 11 years old. Not only is the center a convenient, high-quality child care option for faculty, students, and community members, it also plays an important training role in the Early Childhood Education program. All Early Childhood Education students have at least one practicum at the Parent/Child Center and are mentored by the center’s experienced instructors. The center’s close collaboration with the Early Childhood Education department benefits staff, children, and parents. Center staff members can pursue continuing education opportunities on campus and employ the latest teaching methods. Sally Beining, director of 21 for Tots Child Care Center in Appleton, worked at the FVTC Parent/Child Center for 13 years before assuming her current role. “FVTC graduates are well prepared due to their many hands-on learning experiences,” she says. “As employees, they fit in well and easily transition to our center.” For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/parentchildcenter.

focus fall 2010

Building FVTC’s Construction Management Technology and Residential Building Construction programs provide students with the tools they need to build successful careers.

the

Tony Hill was fresh from two years in the U.S. Naval Construction Force when he enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s new Construction Management Technology (CMT) program last year. While he had gained extensive experience building mostly residential-style projects in the military, Hill knew he needed to round out his skills and take on greater responsibilities in the private sector or back in the service. “It’s been a great way to ease back into civilian life,” says Hill. “I’m taking the next step toward going back to the Navy as an officer or trying to find a civilian job.” Hill was a member of the inaugural CMT course when FVTC introduced the program in 2009 as a complement to its Residential Building Construction (RBC) program, a one-year offering that began in 1993. Construction Management prepares students for entry-level supervisory positions in residential, commercial, or industrial construction. Residential Building trains students to work Tony Hill, a student in FVTC's as entry-level carpenters for builders, remodelers, and new Construction Management subcontractors in such specialties as estimating and material Technology program sales. Both programs are housed at FVTC’s S.J. Spanbauer Training Center in Oshkosh. Depending on their goals, students can learn to manage construction projects from the ground up or build homes from start to finish. Both programs feature hands-on projects, use sophisticated software, and incorporate principles of sustainable, energy-efficient building design and construction wherever possible.

Construction Management on the Fast Track Construction Management Technology is the first and only associate degree training program of its kind in Wisconsin, according to department chair and instructor Rich Cass. All graduates are qualified for such entry-level management or supervisory positions as assistant project managers, assistant construction managers, and project engineers. First-year program enrollment exceeded expectations, with 21 students signing up. It now has 35 to 40 students, counting both first- and second-year students. “Students can finish in two years if they apply themselves,” Cass says. I decided to get a Coursework covers the basic principles of building science, project cost control, degree; it teaches you document management, supervision, and safety and risk management. The core classes teach the fundamentals of construction materials and methods. Other everything you need and coursework enhances construction project management skills and introduces students gets you out in the to architectural design and building information modeling software. Students are also required to complete a 10-week summer internship, where they learn and apply workforce quickly. construction management skills in a real-life setting with local contractors.

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Paul Shaver

Residential Construction Gets Hands-On

Enrollment in the Residential Building Construction program, which peaked before the national housing bubble burst, is at about 20 students this year. Students typically are one to three years out of high school, though a small percentage of nontraditional students also enroll. “I feel the market has bottomed out and we’re climbing again,” notes instructor Bill Tuchscherer. “Our students are getting jobs, more so in the remodeling market; where a few years ago it was in new Culinary Arts graduate Mark Biesack. construction.”

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

FUTURE By Todd Nelson

Students spend half their week in the classroom learning theory and practicing a specific skill until they perfect it. The other half of the week focuses on working on a phase of a home that the class builds from start to finish. Students do everything a carpenter would, from staking out the house for the excavator to framing and roofing to putting in windows, siding, insulation, and sheetrock. Inside, they install stairs, hardwood floors and crown molding, and other special woodwork. Over the years, the RBC program has built and sold 20 homes, Tuchscherer says, with all the profits going to the FVTC Foundation for college-wide student scholarships or special projects. The program has enjoyed the support of four trade associations in completing the projects: Valley Home Builders Association, Winnebago Home Builders Association, the Fox Valley Construction Management Association, and the Fox Valley Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Students apply their skills on community projects in FVTC's Residential Building Construction program

A Foot in the Door Growing up helping with his father’s construction business, Paul Shaver already knew a lot about building. But he also realized he needed additional credentials. “In today’s economy, unless you have a degree, it’s hard to get your foot in the door,” says Shaver, who completed the RBC program in August. “I decided to get a degree; it teaches you everything you need and gets you out in the workforce quickly.” Shaver says he chose the program in part because of its reputation as one of the state’s best finish programs. It met his expectations. “Finish work is what really makes a carpenter,” he says. “It’s not easy, but they broke things down so everybody could understand it and apply it. Anyone going through the program is capable of succeeding at carpentry.” Shaver will have to wait before he joins his father on the job site. He’s off to serve as a combat engineer in the U.S. Marine Corps, building base camps, airports, and other structures for the military. He expects to go overseas after completing basic training in California. “I thought it would be cool to use the skills I learned for something that might be bigger than building a house for one family,” he says. “It’s a different way to apply my degree.” For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/rbc or www.fvtc.edu/constructionmgmt.

Growing Green Sustainability is a focus of both the Construction Management Technology (CMT) and Residential Building Construction (RBC) programs at FVTC. For example, the CMT program features an entire course in sustainable design and construction that provides an introduction to the Green Building Rating System from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) organization. When students finish the course, they will be prepared to take the LEED Green Associate accreditation exam. With architects and engineers employing sustainability into their designs today, students who have knowledge will have a leg up. Similarly, RBC program students receive hands-on experience in sustainability in a variety of ways. All student house projects employ the latest air-sealing techniques and incorporate a high degree of insulation. Special attention is given to economical use of material, recycling, and reuse. A recent student project involved disassembling an existing house and reclaiming a large share of the framing lumber for reuse in the new home. Other material was offered to the local Habitat ReStore or made available to students for use in personal projects. Minimal waste is sent to landfills in both new construction and remodeling projects. These green-related initiatives are just a sampling of the college’s sustainability efforts. To learn more, visit www.fvtc.edu/sustainable.

focus fall 2010

focus

on alumni

Finding Success Along the Way Pa Lee Moua's career pathway has led her to rewarding opportunities enriching the lives of others. By Sara Gilbert Frederick Pa Lee Moua started classes at Fox Valley Technical College in the fall of 1998, determined to succeed. At 18, she was already a wife and a mother. She knew that enrolling in FVTC’s Administrative Professional program was the right path for her to attend college and forge ahead with a career. And she knew that many members of the Hmong community, including an older sister who hadn’t been able to attend college, were watching. They were pinning their hopes and dreams on her success as well. “Failing wasn’t an option,” Moua recalls. “It was find a career and taste success, or crumble and not be able to support myself or my family. There are many options for higher education; you need to find the one that best fits your needs. Fox Valley Technical College was the right path for me.”

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Fox Valley Tech was the foundation for what my life is now.

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Pa Lee Moua

The determination that helped her earn an associate degree from FVTC in 2000 has since helped her finish both a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lakeland College in 2003 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 2006. Today, she is the assistant dean of students for Multicultural Affairs at Lawrence University in Appleton—and the recipient of FVTC’s 2010 Outstanding Alumni Award. “I feel very privileged to have earned this award,” Moua says. “But I didn’t

do it alone. It takes not only a lot of will power, passion, and motivation, but also people power. In my opinion, networking is the key to opportunities. And that’s what I experienced from my husband, my parents, and the people at Fox Valley Tech.”

Laying the Groundwork It was FVTC’s flexibility that made it all possible, Moua says. She needed to FVTC Outstanding Alumni Award take classes at night and recipient Pa Lee Moua have online options as friends were all on her mind when she well. At FVTC, she could. She needed to accepted the Outstanding Alumni stay close to her Appleton home. At Award. “I felt like I was living everyone’s FVTC, she could. And she needed to feel dream along with my own,” she says. comfortable as a student. At FVTC, she did. “Some students were right out of high school, like I was,” she says. “But Seeking Outstanding Alumni some were nontraditional with young FVTC is seeking nominations for its children. They could understand what a 2011 Outstanding Alumni Award. Each young mom like me was going through. year, this distinguished honor is The mixture of traditional and presented to a deserving alumna who nontraditional students was very has completed a Fox Valley Technical important to me.” College associate degree, technical So was the support network that diploma, or apprentice program. surrounded her at FVTC in the form of Rita Van Groll and Willie Pekah, who The award was created to recognize noticed her skills and outgoing an FVTC alumna who has personality. They recommended her for demonstrated the value of technical a job as a minority retention specialist in education through: the Minority Student Services center on • Career advancement campus. That experience and the • Community service connections she made there helped her • Continued personal and educational become a multicultural advisor at an growth area two-year university before landing • Support of the Wisconsin Technical her current job at Lawrence University. College System FVTC, Moua says, laid the • Success within his/her career field groundwork for all of those experiences. She can now see that her experiences at FVTC will honor the award recipient in the college were the stepping stones that May 2011. Nomination guidelines are led her to where she is today. “It was the available at www.fvtc.edu/alumni, or starting point for everything,” she says. call (920) 735-4859 for more “When I reflect back on the courses I’ve information. taken, people I’ve met, and the hands-on experience I’ve gained, I know that Fox Valley Tech was the foundation for what my life is now.” She also knows that her success sets For information, visit an example for the rest of her family and www.fvtc.edu/alumni. the Hmong community. Her family and

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

focus

on the Foundation

The Power of 10 A new 10-year partnership with CASE IH and Service Motor Company will provide FVTC students with an impressive array of state-of-the-art equipment. By Vicki Stavig When CASE IH and Service Motor Company (SMC) signed a partnership agreement with Fox Valley Technical College in February, it far exceeded anything college officials could have anticipated. Under the 10-year agreement, CASE IH and SMC will provide the college with an impressive array of state-of-the-art equipment for use in training students. CASE IH is a Racine-based supplier of agricultural equipment, and SMC is a dealer for that equipment with six locations throughout Wisconsin, including one in nearby Dale.

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We are supplying Fox Valley Technical College with brandnew equipment right off the assembly line.

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Kevin Sommer, vice president, Service Motor Company “When CASE IH decided to support some of the training going on in colleges throughout Wisconsin, they looked at Fox Valley Technical College and were excited about what we were doing,” says Alyce Dumke, executive director of the FVTC Foundation, Inc. and Community Relations. “This partnership took our breath away; we had no idea that it would be so extensive.” Through the partnership, FVTC is receiving such equipment as tractors, planters, combines, tillage implements, mowers, skid steers, and utility vehicles. All are being used by students in the college’s Agriculture, Natural Resources, Horticulture, and Outdoor Power Equipment programs. Grounds-keeping

employees will also benefit from the generosity of CASE IH and SMC by having access to hightech snow removal equipment. “It’s difficult today for universities and colleges to expose their students to state-ofthe-art technologies,” says Pattie Lardie, manager of government sales for CASE IH North America. “We feel strongly that students in Wisconsin should be able to experience the most upto-date equipment, and to understand its impact.” The equipment that FVTC Kevin Sommer (left), Service Motor Company, will receive each year carries a and Tom Yost, FVTC Agriculture instructor combined price tag of over $1 million. “It’s a 10-year escort. It was awesome.” partnership,” says Dumke. “It’s Partnerships like this provide tools and incredible because the experiential training to meet the ever-changing needs learning our students engage in allows of today’s workforce. “We are always them to hit the ground running. We need seeking partnerships that can support our these kinds of training tools.” students and our programs,” says

Loyalty Runs Deep The partnership also provides FVTC instructors and students access to SMC employees. Along with CASE IH product specialists, SMC staff provides hands-on training and assistance in field demonstrations. “It’s going very well,” says Kevin Sommer, a Service Motor Company vice president and current FVTC student. “Service Motor Company has been working with the college for 35 or 40 years, lending equipment for students to set up and repair, and helping provide training. Through this new partnership, we are supplying Fox Valley Technical College with brand-new equipment right off the assembly line.” “I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from our students,” says Mike Cattelino, associate dean of FVTC’s Manufacturing, Information, and Agriculture Technologies division. “They have an opportunity to operate this equipment to its fullest extent. Potential buyers also can come here to see what we’re using.” Lardie is more than a little impressed with FVTC. “The folks at Fox Valley Technical College are phenomenal,” she says. “They have really engaged with us. In fact, when we drove the combine to the school, they arranged for a police

Dumke. “The reputation, passion, and dedication of our faculty made this happen, and the students are thrilled about the opportunity.”

Jumpstarting an Agriculture Career For Andrea Korth, a 2010 graduate of New London High School, enrolling in FVTC’s Agri-Business/Science Technology program was an easy choice. Korth received the Patrick D. Rohan Memorial Scholarship, one of 12 agriculture-related scholarships available to students attending FVTC. “Fox Valley Tech’s reputation made the decision to go there a breeze,” notes Korth. “I was also happy to learn the Tech provided scholarship opportunities in something I have wanted to pursue for a long time.” The FVTC Foundation, Inc. is accepting scholarship applications from current high school students from January 5 through Feb. 11, 2011. To learn more, visit www.fvtc.edu/scholarships.

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/foundation.

focus fall 2010

focus

on student life

Supporting the Troops A new club offers services, assistance, and camaraderie for U.S. military veterans. In 2009, Bruce Rathe had an epiphany: There was nothing at Fox Valley Technical College that students who were military veterans could call their own. Rathe, who works in the college’s Educational Support Services department, wanted to change that. “I wanted veterans to know that their presence on campus was valued,” he says. In April 2010, Rathe put out feelers to determine if others shared his views. Feedback from students, faculty, staff, and community members gave him the

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The club will help fellow vets support one another while they adapt to new settings.

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Chris McKeithan

answer he was looking for. Thus, V4V—the Veterans for Veterans Club was formed. Club meetings are open to anyone. Currently enrolled students who have served or are serving in the military, from any era or any branch, have voting privileges in the club. Chris McKeithan (left), V4V, and Almost 40 vets, including an Bruce Rathe, FVTC counselor FVTC alumnus, have signed up, along with a handful of • Benefits and services: Awareness and faculty and community members. education will help veterans identify Chris McKeithan, a student in the what benefits and services are available college’s Natural Resources Technician and how to access them. program and the inaugural V4V • Camaraderie: Increasing interactions president, views the club as an important among veterans will provide consistent offering for those readjusting to civilian networking opportunities. life. “The club will help fellow vets support one another while they adapt to Rathe, who has no military experience new settings,” he says. “We’re also himself, is glad he took the initiative to hoping to unite similar clubs around the get the club started. “I’m not familiar area by offering cross-generational with military culture, but I wanted to networking opportunities.” honor veterans,” he says. “I appreciate After brainstorming sessions with club what these folks have done and are members, Rathe helped the group doing for our country.” narrow its focus to three areas: • Outreach: Events, activities, and service projects like speaking at schools or For more information, visit holding fundraisers for service www.fvtc.edu/studentlife. organizations or military families.

Taking Time to Smell the Roses An eye-catching rose garden at FVTC’s Appleton campus is attracting visitors thanks to a collaborative student project and longtime friend of the college.

Horticulture Technician student Vickie Bartman in FVTC's new rose garden

www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College

The beautiful new rose garden near Entrance 3 at FVTC’s Appleton campus is a living memorial to a very special man. “Bill Hartling was a dear friend to Fox Valley Technical College,” says Jim Beard, FVTC’s lead Horticulture instructor and landscape architect. Bill’s wife, Jeanne, who recently retired after 25 years as an employee at FVTC, approached Beard shortly after Bill’s passing in December of 2009. She said Bill wanted the college to have his roses. Hartling, a Master Rosarian and the go-to guy for any and all questions about roses, had a wonderful collection of more than 200 roses. With the college administration’s blessing, Beard met with local rosarian Carl Christenson and Horticulture Technician student Vickie Bartman to plan and design a rose garden.

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The finest thing this garden represents is the quality and dedication of Fox Valley Tech students.

Since the designated spot was grasscovered and a former fill site laden with rubble, rock and different soils, Beard’s students spent all of May excavating planter beds and filling them with layers of topsoil and composted horse manure. Students then lifted, transported, and transplanted Hartling’s rose collection, a task made more difficult by unseasonably high temperatures and an excessive amount of rain that month. A trickle irrigation system and fertilizer attachment were added so the roses could be automatically watered and fed at the same time.

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Jim Beard

FVTC Horticulture students did all of the on-site work, which included laying the brick work for walkways and patios, as well as constructing two arbors, a pergola, a porch swing, and a lattice trellis. FVTC’s Automated Manufacturing Systems program and the Production Welding program in Oshkosh combined forces to create the two stainless steel signs and the patio's stone-cut rose. Bartman, 52, whose background is in design and art direction, threw her “whole heart and soul” into the project. In addition to the landscapingrelated projects, she worked with other

students to create and assemble nameplates for all the roses, and more. “Roses were Bill’s passion for over 30 years,” she says. “I wanted to be part of honoring Bill’s memory, his legacy, and the generosity of the Hartlings’ contribution to the college.” Beard couldn’t be happier with the final result. “The rose garden is one of those places where you can go to reflect, smell the roses, and recharge your batteries,” he says. He cannot praise his students enough for their achievement. “The finest thing this garden represents is the quality and dedication of Fox Valley Tech students,” he says. “It’s because our students work across department lines to form partnerships that we are able to accomplish these kinds of projects.”

For more information, visit www.fvtc.edu/horticulturetech.

focus fall 2010

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Accredited and Affordable Fox Valley Technical College offers a solid return on your investment: s )T S A QUICKER PATH TO YOUR FUTURE GIVING YOU A lNANCIAL HEAD START s &64# HAS MANY lNANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SIMILAR TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES s (ERE YOU LL PAY ABOUT HALF THE COST OF A PUBLIC FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY s -ANY OPTIONS EXIST TO TRANSFER CREDITS TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SAVING YOU TIME AND MONEY s 7E VE BEEN ACCREDITED BY 4HE (IGHER ,EARNING #OMMISSION AND A MEMBER OF THE .ORTH #ENTRAL !SSOCIATION SINCE s &64# INSTRUCTORS HAVE REAL WORLD WORK EXPERIENCE s (IGH GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT RATES AVERAGE ABOUT s 4WO THIRDS OF THE FASTEST GROWING OCCUPATIONS REQUIRE A TECHNICAL COLLEGE EDUCATION s 7E VE BEEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY FOR NEARLY A CENTURY OUR REPUTATION IS SOLID AND WE RE READY FOR THE NEXT YEARS

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