focus
volume 8, issue 2 • fall 2015
Fox Valley Technical College
your future
IT IS
Inside: Waupaca company finds workplace solutions thanks to FVTC. Page 4
EVERYWHERE
Construction careers are on the rise. Page 6
Marketing grad enjoying career as an executive VP. Page 14
Employers need Information Technology grads now. Pages 8-9
Insta
welcome! My time at Fox Valley Tech gave me far more than just a degree. The faculty are invested in the success of each student, both in and out of the classroom. If it wasn’t for the incredible instructors and staff, I wouldn’t have gained the skills and confidence I needed to embark on my career. Welcome to Fox Valley Tech! Erin Condon, Web Development & Design Specialist Alumnus Student Speaker, Spring 2015 Commencement
contents
Focus is published bi-annually for the communities of Fox Valley Technical College.
features 8
10 12
10
Programming Success When two Fox Valley Tech IT students met in class, their friendship launched a booming business. Tech Driven After losing her job, Susan Butler learned new skills to train technicians in the growing collision repair industry. People Person An ability to work with people led to a career in Human Resources for Paula Rady.
what’s now
Building 6 Career One grad nails down a great career with
in every issue
12
Director of College Marketing Barb Dreger Executive Editor/Manager of Media Relations Chris Jossart Art Director Cara Jakubiec Contributing Editors Casey Britten, Susan Lucius
2
Around FVTC A snapshot at what’s making news.
4
Focus on Workplace Training Waupaca Foundry’s new training assessment programs identify and build skills, reduce downtime and increase productivity.
Photographers Mark Ferrell, Gary Gawinski, Patrick Kelly, Adam Shea
5
Focus on the Entrepreneur One business grad is finding success making customized tables thanks to a new entrepreneur experience.
7
Focus on High-Demand Careers The demand for graduates with skills in automation is at an all-time high.
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 (email inquiries)
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Focus on Alumni Tom Clark is enjoying a career as an executive vice president for Faith Technologies.
15
Focus on the Foundation Pierce Manufacturing is helping make the Public Safety Training Center the best in the nation.
16
Focus on the Student Experience Grads are leading a large-scale watershed project in the Fox Cities.
a premier home builder.
Contributing Writers Diana Mann, Joan Neumahr, Amy Vander Stoep
President Dr. Susan A. May Fox Valley Technical College
Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission since 1974. 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.
© 2015 Fox Valley Technical College. All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity Employer/ Educator.
around FVTC The Write Move The Public Safety Training Center hosted the international Writers’ Police Academy, reaffirming its impact on economic development and innovative training. When the public voted in convincing fashion to approve Fox Valley Technical College’s 2012 public referendum, it sent a strong message about the college’s vital role in economic development and innovative training. The centerpiece project of the referendum is the 80-acre, Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) adjacent to the Appleton International Airport. In less than a year from its official opening, the PSTC has already emerged as a nationally-renowned facility for its In August, the PSTC hosted the annual Writers’ Police Academy. integrative, high-tech simulation training in the firefighting, emergency medical services, law enforcement and forensic science fields. Raising the bar on best practices in public safety training is not the only impact of the PSTC thus far. In August, the center hosted the annual Writers’ Police Academy, an international gathering of nearly 300 crime writers who enhance their understanding of all aspects of law enforcement and forensics through hands-on experiences. This year’s four-day event featured best-selling crime author, Karin Slaughter, who has sold more than 35 million copies of her literary works. Academy participants dabbled in high-tech mock crime scenes in River City, buckled up for high-speed rides on the emergency vehicle driving range, observed police response drills, and marveled at a variety of simulation props—like the FedEx Boeing 727 aircraft and multiple train wreck disaster. Events like this draw people to the Fox Valley from around the world, contributing toward the economic vitality of the region while creating visibility for the area through a high volume of national media attention.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/PSTC
We are Technology Technology Day • Wednesday, January 27 • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Appleton Campus Get an insider’s view of future and current instructional technology, including a digital cadaver table, prosthetic 3D printing, various robotic applications, a laser scanner for crime scene investigations, touch-free human computer interaction and much more.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/TechnologyDay
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
News Briefs • Laura Johnson-Lachowecki, a 2012 honors graduate of the Culinary Arts and Hotel & Restaurant Management programs with a certificate in Advanced Baking, won the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Pastry Chef of the Year award during the ACF’s national convention in Orlando.
Laura JohnsonLachowecki
• The latest Graduate Employment Research Report cites a record 49 academic programs with 100% graduate employment. FVTC’s overall graduate employment rate jumped from 90% to 92%, and another noteworthy finding reveals a 43% salary increase for graduates of the class of 2009 as a five-year snapshot of earnings.
Camp Culture Summer camp for Hispanic girls builds success Experiential learning took center stage during the Latinas Empowered Through Transformative Ideas in Education (LETTIE) summer camp. Designed for Hispanic girls entering grades 6-10, the camp helps young participants envision higher education and career options in a variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) programs. LETTIE celebrated its fourth year by increasing the camp from one to two weeks and doubling the number of Hispanic girls served from 15 to 30. A grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and support from the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region made the event possible.
News and Events For the latest FVTC news, visit our NewsCenter at
• Service Motor Company President Jim Sommer earned the 2015 Technical Education Champion award on behalf of the Wisconsin Technical College System District Boards Association. Sommer was recognized for his outstanding leadership and contributions to technical education and training, as well as FVTC.
Jim Sommer
• The following students from FVTC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international organization that recognizes academic excellence among two-year college students, earned awards for their exemplary performance in leadership and professional development: Angie Cook, Jason Lilly, Ann Remus, Donna Schmidt, Terri Somers and Jeri Zilisch. • Information Technology double-major graduate, Mark Ferrell, is hosting a year-long Artist in Residence display of photography at Atlas Coffee Mill in Appleton. Some of his work has appeared in Rolling Stone and Life magazines.
Mark Ferrell
• Printing Technologies students Tyler Tennessen, Claire Schuster, James King and Collin Tecca earned a team thirdplace finish at the national Flexographic Technical Association’s annual awards event in Nashville.
www.fvtc.edu/News.
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focus
on workplace training
“
The program is win/win because it helps employees improve their skills and reach a higher salary level.
”
Gordy Barth Waupaca Foundry
Waupaca Foundry assessment training at FVTC’s Waupaca Regional Center
A Winning Workforce Waupaca Foundry’s new training assessment programs identify and build skills, reduce downtime and increase productivity. A leading producer of iron castings, Waupaca Foundry looked to Fox Valley Technical College’s Business & Industry Services team to develop, test and implement its new maintenance and electrical assessment programs. By using hands-on realtime tests, the assessments identify each employee’s skill level in about 16 different areas and identifies those that need improvement. “We first determined what skills are critical for each position level,” says Gordy Barth, manager of employee development and training at Waupaca Foundry. “Both new hires and current employees take the tests and then work in positions based on their skill levels.” FVTC instructors worked with foundry managers for almost two years to develop these testing systems. “Our managers were the first to take the tests to work out any kinks,” states Barth. “So far the results have been excellent.”
Waupaca’s maintenance personnel are encouraged to develop a wide range of capabilities. “We don’t have specific jobs for welders or robotic programmers,” says Barth. “When everyone has a full range of skills, our company wins because problems are recognized sooner and fixed faster—and that means improved productivity.” Employees don’t have to test in all areas. For example, the electrical assessment test measures 16 areas, but testtakers only have to pass 12 to reach the highest pay level. If someone fails any area, they are immediately offered training. “More than 95% of the staff who needed training in one or more areas have completed it,” states Barth. “The program is win/win because it helps employees improve their skills and reach a higher salary level.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/BIS
BUSINESS PROS Fox Valley Technical College’s Business & Industry Services (BIS) team is one of the state’s leaders in customized business training. Last year, BIS trained more than
1,950
employers, enhancing the skills of about
21,800+
4
www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
employees.
“
focus
on the entrepreneur
I can still look to retired CEOs and experts for help even now after I’ve graduated.
”
Conor Fitzpatrick
Putting Small Biz on the Table One business grad is finding success making customized tables thanks to a new entrepreneur experience. When shopping for a dining room table made from reclaimed wood with his fiancé, Conor Fitzpatrick soon realized that the item cost a fortune. The 2015 graduate of Fox Valley Technical College’s Business Management program sparked an idea from that simple shopping experience. “My dad’s an experienced woodcrafter, and together we built a great table from old wood pallets,” recalls the 24-year-old Little Chute native. A photo of the finished table got attention on Facebook and Fitzpatrick was soon making tables for friends and family. Always wanting to be his own boss, before graduating he enrolled in FVTC’s new entrepreneurial specialty track and used table making as his class project. “The instructors helped me write a business plan,” adds Fitzpatrick. “They also gave me the confidence I needed to connect with industry resources. I can Conor Fitzpatrick still look to retired CEOs and experts for help even now after I’ve graduated.” This new offering is an 18-credit specialty track available to students who may be considering small business ownership as an emphasis with their degree. The capstone part of the class is students working in teams to identify a problem/solution project for a business opportunity by interacting with potential customers around the community. They then collectively assess the feasibility of their ideas. Uncharted Woodworks is Fitzpatrick’s new business and one that is a work in progress. “I’m focusing on tables, but we will soon offer office and residential chairs as well,” he says. Many of his projects can be viewed on Fitzpatrick’s Facebook page, Uncharted Woodworks, or accessible at www.unchartedwoodworks.com.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/BusinessManagement
E-SEED GROWS SUCCESS TM
The Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College leads the way in small business start-ups through its E-seed training program. In
15 years, E-seed has assisted in the creation of Thousands of jobs as a result of helping launch more than 400 businesses. Plans are underway to offer E-seed as a three-credit elective for degree-seeking students starting in 2016.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/VentureCenter
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What’s NOW
“
I have a full-time job with a great salary just one year out of high school.
”
Spencer Collin
Career Building One grad nails down a great career with a premier home builder.
Spencer Collin
Building Supervisors FVTC’s Construction Management Technology program offers a supervisory pathway in the field. This program, along with the Residential Building Construction program, both represent growth in the construction sector.
91%
graduate employment in the Construction Management Technology program
100%
graduate employment in the Residential Building Construction program
95
full-time career postings for skilled residential builders
54
full-time career postings for construction managers in the region over one year Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report, 2015
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www.fvtc.edu Fox FoxValley ValleyTechnical TechnicalCollege College www.fvtc.edu
Spencer Collin found the perfect career while in high school. The 19-year-old New Franken native first heard about Fox Valley Technical College’s Residential Building Construction program while attending Luxemburg-Casco High School. “I always liked building things,” he says. “After hearing about the program, I thought it would be cool to make a living out of building houses.” Today, Collin works full-time for Van’s Lumber & Custom Builders, Inc., one of Wisconsin’s premier home builders. “Right now, I’m working on a framing crew—doing measurements and putting up walls,” he says. “One day I hope to be a crew supervisor.” Collin credits the program with giving him the necessary skills for a rewarding career. “We worked two days a week on a job site and two days in class learning how to take precise measurements as well as how to safely operate power equipment,” he says. “We finished building a home in Greenville and framed a house in Neenah for the next class to finish.” Collin loves working outside and seeing the immediate results of his efforts. “When I need to measure or build something, I know exactly how to do it thanks to Fox Valley Tech,” he says. “Now I’m working on simply gaining more experience, and my parents are very proud of me. I have a full-time job with a great salary just one year out of high school.”
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Construction
focus
on high-demand careers
High-Demand Meets High-Tech The demand for graduates with skills in automation is at an all-time high. “As automation increases in manufacturing, more companies are in need of qualified professionals,” says Steve Betchner, lead engineer and operations manager at HiTech Control Systems in Neenah, a leader in automation solutions to manufacturers throughout North America. “Automation is used in all industries, including paper, automotive, food and beverage, consumer products and pharmaceutical.” HiTech regularly hires graduates from Fox Valley Technical College’s Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology program. “Fox Valley Tech gets them started in the right direction with a solid background in machine controls, PLC programming, robotics, operator interfaces and networking,” Betchner states. “We often hire Fox Valley Tech students before they graduate, first as interns and then full-time.” Area manufacturers like HiTech work with FVTC to ensure that curriculum matches the latest skill sets. Zach Roisum, a controls engineer at HiTech and a
graduate from the Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology program, felt he was well prepared for his career. “The program at Fox Valley Tech is set up exactly like working in the field,” he explains. “By graduation, I had already set up and programmed a number of robotic systems. Many of the problems I encounter at work I had already learned how to solve in school.” Betchner is working with area high school students to encourage them to consider careers in advanced manufacturing through FVTC. “If you like challenges and have an interest in science, math and problem solving, there are great benefits to working in manufacturing,” says Betchner. “You’ll earn a great starting salary and have plenty of employment options with this two-year degree.” • • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/ManufacturingAutomation
“
The program at Fox Valley Tech is set up exactly like working in the field.
”
Zach Roisum
AUTOMATION SENSATION
100%
graduate employment for graduates of FVTC’s Automated Manufacturing Systems Technology program, back-to-back years with an average annual salary of
$41,400
upon graduation from this two-year program. Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report, 2015
Steve Betchner (left) and Zach Roisum of HiTech Control Systems
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Programming
Jim Dobinski (left) and Dustin White
Success
When two Fox Valley Tech IT students met in class, their friendship launched a booming business.
When Dustin White and Jim Dobinski met 15 years ago in Web Development and Programming classes at Fox Valley Technical College, White was a recent high school graduate and computer enthusiast and Dobinski was an experienced businessman. Despite their differences, the two immediately became friends. This unconventional friendship eventually evolved into the creation of Stellar Blue Technologies, a fast-growing full-service internet marketing agency headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin. “It wasn’t by chance that we sat next to each other in both classes,” says Dobinski. “I sat by Dustin because I wanted to learn from him as he clearly knew all about computers. Little did I know how life changing that choice would eventually turn out to be.” Today, White, a 33-year-old Appleton native, and Dobinski, a 44-year-old from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, are leaders in providing custom web design, development and search engine optimization packages for a wide range of clients at local, national and international levels.
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
The two earned their Information Technology associate degrees at FVTC before completing more education in computer science. Stellar Blue was launched 10 years ago, and today the two are seeking to expand their staff of more than two dozen professionals. “We can’t find enough skilled people—especially programmers and web developers,” says White. “Our region’s healthy and diverse commerce is driving demands for IT pros like we’ve never seen.” Both Dobinski and White believe that the Internet for business marketing purposes will keep evolving. “So many companies are still discovering the power of the Internet,” notes Dobinski. “We’re on a mission to show them what the Internet can do for their business.” White and Dobinski highly recommend FVTC. “We work with Fox Valley Tech to find qualified interns and often hire them fulltime when they graduate,” says White.
IT = HERE AND NOW Projected growth for IT jobs in the region is more than
2,100
over the next 10 years . Northeast Wisconsin Educational Resource Alliance Report, 2015
In 2014, there were
130
grads from FVTC’s IT programs... and there’s room for
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/IT
more in the workforce . Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report, 2015
• • • View video: www.fvtc.edu/InformationTechnology15
“
We can’t find enough skilled people—–especially programmers and web developers. - Dustin White
”
focus 2015 focus fallfall 2015 99
“
Once I started classes, I not only survived but thrived with the help of great instructors. - Susan Butler
”
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www.fvtc.edu Fox FoxValley ValleyTechnical TechnicalCollege College www.fvtc.edu
Tech Driven
After losing her job, Susan Butler learned new skills to train technicians in the growing collision repair industry.
When Susan Butler lost her job in the insurance field after 16 years due to downsizing, she looked at the situation as both a learning experience and a new opportunity in life. “I found myself at a career crossroads when an insurance agency let me go in 2009,” Butler recalls. “But that situation prompted me to be proactive and check out Fox Valley Technical College.” Butler noticed that claims adjuster was listed as a potential career on a job posting resource at FVTC for Vehicle Refinishing & Repair Technology program graduates. “I realized that if I wanted to become a claims adjuster, I needed to have a better understanding of how to repair a vehicle,” she says. Today, the 45-year-old Appleton resident works as an instructional designer for I-CAR, the InterIndustry Conference on Auto Collision Repair. “I work as part of a team that researches and Susan Butler leads a presentation at I-CAR. develops training courses for the repair industry,” she explains. “What we do is important as there is a real need for ongoing training to help ensure technicians are completing safe and quality repairs.” GRADUATES AT EVERY TURN After spending over 20 years in an office, Butler was concerned about not having the right aptitude for returning to school and being in a shop setting. graduate employment in FVTC’s Vehicle Refinishing & Repair “However, once I started classes, I not only survived but thrived with the help of great instructors, like Jerry Technology program, 5 years running. Goodson and Joe Kircher” she says. “In fact, through FVTC Graduate Employment Research Reports, 2011-2015 the Collision Education Foundation, I won the 2009 AzkoNobel Most Influential Woman Scholarship.” Butler recommends the collision repair industry to others in search of a new career. “Vehicle refinishing and repair is a growing field,” she says. “There simply aren’t enough new techs coming into this profession.”
100%
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Automotive • • • View video: www.fvtc.edu/Automotive15
focus focus fall fall2015 2015
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Paula Rady
People Person An ability to work with people led to a career in Human Resources for Paula Rady.
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
Human Resources graduate Paula Rady credits Fox Valley Technical College with helping her find the ideal career. “I’ve always been a people person,” says the 26-year-old from Appleton. “Fox Valley Tech helped me realize that my love for working with diverse individuals could turn into a rewarding career. Now I have skills to better understand talent, tasks and policies as they relate to human resources.” Recruiting talent is something Rady first experienced while working for a local staffing agency right after graduating from FVTC. Although she found that opportunity to be helpful in her career path, Rady wanted a broader set of responsibilities. Today, Rady is the office manager for Rebuilding Together Fox Valley, a local nonprofit organization that rehabs homes and buildings for disabled, special needs and elderly people. “I keep the office up and running,” she says. “I review applications for assistance, do background checks on volunteers, set up home assessments, work with licensed contractors and manage files on every project.”
Rady credits the instructors at FVTC for helping her grow both personally and professionally. “The instructors at Fox Valley Tech truly made a difference in my life,” she states. “They helped me understand critical aspects of my job like employment law, HR record keeping and contracts.” Rady was a bit apprehensive about going back to college. After high school she had enrolled in a four-year college and found it difficult to balance fulltime work with classes. “It was also very expensive,” she says. “A friend recommended talking with a Fox Valley Tech advisor. That’s when I found out about the accelerated program for working adults.” Attending an accelerated class format worked fine for Rady. “Anytime I hear someone complaining about his or her education or career, I recommend Fox Valley Tech,” she says. “Right away you start learning something relevant.” Rady is pursuing a second degree from FVTC in Business Management and plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in business as well.
• • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/BusinessManagement
“
Anytime I hear someone complaining about his or her education or career, I recommend Fox Valley Tech. Right away you start learning something relevant. - Paula Rady
”
HR POWER
$42,700
average annual starting salary for graduates of FVTC’s Human Resources program based on the class of 2014. Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report, 2015
91%
graduate employment for graduates of FVTC’s Human Resources program. Fox Valley Technical College Graduate Employment Research Report, 2015
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focus
on alumni
Q&A with Marketing Grad Tom Clark The 41-year-old from Appleton and 1995 graduate of Fox Valley Technical College’s Marketing program is enjoying a career as an executive vice-president of preconstruction for Faith Technologies.
What first brought you to FVTC? After high school I wasn’t quite sure what I Tom Clark wanted to do with my career. Fox Valley Tech had a wide variety of reputable programs to choose from, and I knew I could get a quality education and enter the workforce in less time than attending a four-year college.
“
I wouldn’t be where I’m at in my career without the expertise of the instructors at Fox Valley Tech.
”
Tom Clark
What did you enjoy most about the marketing program? The instructors. I wouldn’t be where I’m at in my career without the expertise of the instructors at Fox Valley Tech. What they teach is practical experience, and that is something I could immediately apply in the workforce.
Why are your skills so valued in the workplace today? I’m part of a team at Faith Technologies that is results driven. By starting my college education with practical, real world applications, it was clear to focus on solutions, not theories. That knowledge was instrumental in advancing into my new role as an executive vice-president from a former position as director of marketing.
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www.fvtc.edu Fox Valley Technical College
What advice can you give others about selecting a college today? So often today there is a focus on young adults graduating from high school having to exactly know what they want to do with their life. I went to Fox Valley Tech not knowing what I wanted to do with my career, but I ended up finding my direction, receiving an outstanding education and working in a fun career as a result of going there. • • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/Marketing
NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING ALUMNI Fox Valley Technical College is seeking nominations for its 2016 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 7, 2016. Nomination materials: www.fvtc.edu/Alumni
focus
on the foundation
Blazing the Best A new partnership with Oshkosh Corporation is helping make the Public Safety Training Center the best facility in the nation for fire training. Pierce Manufacturing and its parent company, Oshkosh Corporation, raised an already exemplary bar in best practice training for firefighters at Fox Valley Technical College by providing the institution with a multi-year consignment of an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle. This massive vehicle, due to arrive at FVTC’s high-tech Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) by early 2016, is custom The ARFF vehicle that will join the PSTC as a historic training resource. designed to fight aircraft-related fires. “We will be the only school in Wisconsin to have an ARFF and an accredited education program geared for its use,” COMMUNITY INSPIRED says Jeremy Hansen, associate dean of Public Safety at FVTC and director of the training center. The increased national visibility of FVTC’s Public The development of a Safety Training Center has inspired community 40-hour class is underway to support for its growth. Everyone who voted for the prepare firefighters to work in airports across the country. public referendum in 2012 “We’ll also be providing multiple to build the PSTC can see programs, from beginner from the Oshkosh Corporation Foundation for this as one more way we’re to refresher courses,” says several scholarships for putting their investment to Hansen. public safety students at FVTC, and Hansen started concept good use. planning for the center years Jeremy Hansen ago with the ARFF in mind. from the International Order of Kings Daughters and “This truck is huge and weighs Sons, Neenah/Menasha, for scholarships, and 124,000 pounds,” he says.
“
$25,000
”
This unique venture would not have been possible without the support of Oshkosh Corporation, the FVTC Foundation and the community. “Everyone who voted for the public referendum in 2012 to build the Public Safety Training Center can see this as one more way we’re putting their investment to good use,” says Hansen. This ARFF has a unique history. It was used to fight the fire at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. “We’re honored to have it here,” notes Hansen. • • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/PSTC
$24,000 $5,000
from the Grainger Foundation. In addition, Glock, Inc. donated equipment for criminal justice training, and local businesses have provided furnishings for the PSTC’s River City—a simulated training village that is comprised of two houses, a bank, a hotel with bar and a convenience store.
focus focus fall fall2015 2015
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e c n e i r e p x e t focus on the studen Grad John Moyles testing water at Konkapot Creek.
“
River’s Mend
I gained technical knowledge plus needed soft skills to work in a team, provide instructions and make presentations.
”
John Moyles
Grad John Moyles is leading parts of a large-scale watershed project thanks to his hands-on education at Fox Valley Technical College. It’s not hard to find students and graduates of Fox Valley Technical College’s Natural Resources Technician program at the forefront of any number of environmental projects around the community. For recent graduate John Moyles, he spends his summers as a naturalist and guide for 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna, while also working on a major initiative to clean up the area’s waterways. Moyles currently serves as the technical coordinator for the Lower Fox River Tributary Monitoring Project that is funded through a state grant and implemented by FVTC. He started working on this initiative in spring as a student before graduating. Moyles trains community volunteers to take water samples at several tributaries that flow into the region’s popular Fox River—one of the few waterways in America that naturally flows northward. “By determining levels of chemicals and excess nutrients at the sites,
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we hope to identify pollution points,” explains the 36-year-old. “We’re involving volunteers to increase community awareness.” Moyles, who is planning to continue his education in environmental science, has found what he learned at FVTC to be invaluable. “I learned how to do the same tests that I’m teaching volunteers to do,” he says. “I gained technical knowledge plus needed soft skills to work in a team, provide instructions and make presentations.” Originally from New York City, Moyles moved to Menasha in seventh grade and immediately fell in love with the outdoors. “I discovered a passion for nature, animals and people,” he says. “The intersection of those elements is called natural resources.” • • • Learn more: www.fvtc.edu/NaturalResources
www.fvtc.edu Fox FoxValley ValleyTechnical TechnicalCollege College www.fvtc.edu
Water World Several students from FVTC’s Natural Resources Technician program and individuals from other environmental agencies have joined forces to test the quality of the region’s water. The Fox River serves like a conveyor belt that carries high levels of phosphorus and other impediments into the bay of Green Bay and other watersheds. Here is a snapshot of the significance of this large-scale project: The testing of
14
streams,
covering approximately
640
square miles from Lake Winnebago to the bay of Green Bay, involving more than
100
volunteers. Project organizers plan to share the results of their findings to the community by the end of 2015.
Our Grads Get Jobs 92% High graduate
employment rate
Put your career on the fast track with FVTC. With 200+ programs to choose from, you’re sure to find a career you’ll love.
49
Degree and diploma
$46,140 Average grad salary
programs with
100%
43% Average grad salary
increase over 5 years
job placement
after 5 years
Here’s what our grads have to say....
98%
97% would recommend FVTC to others
satisfaction rating
High graduate employment over the last 5 years
85%
2010
88% 89% 89%
2011
2012
2013
92%
2014
78%
15%
attended to prepare for further education
attended to learn skills for their career
View our graduate employment survery results: www.fvtc.edu/GraduateEmployment focus fall 2015
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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 700 MILWAUKEE, WI
High school students:
Take college classes for free! In high school? Take 1 class = get 2x the credit By taking approved classes at your school, you can earn credits that’ll not only apply toward high school graduation, they’ll also transfer to the college of your choice, including Fox Valley Technical College. It’s called Dual Credit and chances are pretty good that it’s available at your school. Classes include Business, Culinary Arts, Anatomy and Engineering, plus many more. Each year, 22,000+ Wisconsin high school students choose this option. And new research shows that those students are more successful in the long-run. Save time
•
Save money
•
Explore interests
•
Get ahead
Learn more!
Visit www.fvtc.edu/EarlyCollegeCredit or talk to your school counselor.
50 Win a $ ! rd cash ca
ey by der surv a e r t r o . te a sh ce to win n a h c Comple a r 2015 fo Survey Dec. 31, u/Focus
tc.ed www.fv
Appleton • Chilton • Clintonville • Oshkosh • Waupaca • Wautoma