Service Learning Student Recognition and VISTA grant opportunity

Thursday, May 2, Moraine Park celebrated and showcased student service projects from the semester. To make it even better, the culinary students provided the gourmet breakfast. The College service footprint in the Fond du Lac community topped 552 hours and almost $12,000--that number does not include several additional courses and projects not being tracked yet. We are very proud of the efforts of our faculty and students, seeking ways to enhance and strengthen our community connections through performance excellence.

 Members of both Brenda Schaefer's and Julie Dilling's courses from the spring 2013 semester.

 Overview of a service project.

 One group presents about their project with the Solutions Center.

Dr. Jim Eden, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ms. Brenda Schaefer, S-L coordinator, Jenni Walsh, Executive Director of WiCC, and Dr. Sheila Ruhland, President of Moraine Park were on hand to celebrate and recognize our students' service efforts in the community.

 Q&A session

 The Culinary students delivered a beautiful gourmet breakfast to a packed room.

The College was also granted a VISTA volunteer to begin serving in August 2013. We are working with the Solutions Center to help heighten the awareness of poverty in our community. If you are interested in more information about the VISTA position, please contact Dr. Caron Daugherty at 920-924-3163 or cdaugherty@morainepark.edu.

Celebrating Service-Learning Successes

Service-Learning at Moraine Park Technical College is preparing for end-of-year celebrations and kudos.

April 25 was a big day for the service-learning program. At 9 a.m., service-learning students from a variety of programs (construction, corrections, HVAC, child care, etc.) united to assist the Solutions Center with the renovation of a Solutions Center house designed to provide temporary assistance to a family. The students provided radon assessments, did painting, helped with flooring, assisted with kitchen renovations, and prepared the home for the family's arrival. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Thursday, April 25.

Students arranged an additional service-learning project for Thursday, April 26, by presenting to the campus community via a lunch n learn informatoin about food sustainability. Two special speakers were invited: Representatives from Nourish in Sheboygan spoke on how they take healthy foods into the schools; Representatives from Produce with a Purpose, a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, spoke on teaching people in Africa on how to farm for sustainability as well as details related to his local farm.

To cap the service-learning opportunities, the college is hosting a celebration breakfast to showcase several students' service-learning projects Thursday, May 2, from7:30-9 a.m. in the Cyber Cafe (A-109) at the Fond du Lac campus. The college appreciates what the students do to make a positive impact in our communities. This is a small way to express our appreciation and showcase their efforts.

Upcoming Events

Thanks to Danielle Domenosky for posting blogs while the large group toured London and Paris. The pic of the group in front of the Arc de Triomphe at the Place de l'Étoile at the top of the Champs- Élysées made me yearn for those beautiful city streets and sidewalk cafes along the route. What a view from there -- of the Eiffel tower, the city, the river. So gorgeous.

For the 2012-2013 year, our international travels have concluded. We are already preparing for 2013-2014. The first ever international service trip to Jamaica is being planned by Amy Patterson for spring break 2014, and Tom Endejan is planning a culinary-specific excursion to Morocco over spring break. Academic year 2013-2014 is expected to be an exciting year for international travel with Moraine Park Technical College. These two ventures -- both Jamaica and Morocco -- are new excursions for the college and our students. Both faculty members, however, were able to scope and plan their trips by visiting these locales in early 2013.

The two pics below are of Tom (he is on the left in the top pic). This first graphic is of him with a Water Man (the one in the fancy attire). The other pic is of Tom making flatbread.

This YouTube video of is a faculty group in Costa Rica, which is what Amy will be doing in Jamaica with a group of students next year. This picture is of the biodigester the faculty group developed for the community:

Kudos to these faculty. Thank you for your efforts in providing these opportunities for our students!

What a great day in Paris! We started with a walk to the Eiffel Tower, then to the Arc de Triomphe. We had to make sure we visited the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and ended with an evening stroll down the Sienne to see the Notre Dame Cathedral. We put a lot of miles on but what an exhilarating day it was!!

Well, we are off to a good start so far in London. After a very long day of travel we jumped right into experiencing the city and culture. Navigating around on the Tube is quite a learning experience and it is amazing that it will take us anywhere and everywhere we want to go! (as long as we can figure out how to read the map!!) Today we visited Camden Market which is a large open market for shopping where you can find just about anything from clothing to jewelry, electronics, along with an amazing assortment of foods to chose from. We are having a great time so far! The pictures show the entire group right before checking in at the Milwaukee Airport for our departure flight. We were all very excited. The other pictures show us sharing meals together at local pubs and restaraunts.

Moraine Park: Local & International Service-Learning

Fond du Lac: Culinary Arts Students in Brenda Schaefer's Sociology course create delicious, healthy meals at an affordable price to share with the Solutions Center Women's Shelter in Fond du Lac. This service-learning project is educating women on how to cook healthy meals on a budget through recipe ideas and dietary information developed by these students.  Healthy eating can be affordable through these innovative cooking ideas.

Check out more opportunities for service learning by going to www.noblehour.com and joining the Moraine Park Technical College Community. Contact us if you have questions!





Costa Rica: In addition to the local impact our students and faculty make, our reach extends internationally. In January 2013, the college was able to provide representation on a Renewable Energy/Sustainability grant at Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica. This YouTube video provides an overview of the types of renewable projects the group members completed for the community there. Amy Patterson, Beaver Dam Communication faculty, participated in this grant opportunity.

London and Paris! Spring Break 2013!

Several students depart for London next week, with a day-trip excursion to Paris included with their travels. While only four students were able to share in the experience last year, this year Ms. Danielle Domenosky grabbed the reins and has orchestrated a great itinerary for the 15 travelers. While the first day includes money exchange, getting settled in the lodging, and grocery shopping, the students will have opportunities to become proficient with London public transportation (London's infamous Tube). In addition, they will visit British classics, such as the Changing of the Guard, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge, Camden Lock open market and the London Eye. The trip is not all tourism and historical sites -- Danielle has also reviewed the students' program emphasis areas (most travelers are Cosmetology students) and arranged program-specific activities for the students, which in the past has included visits to a London court room, waste-water treatment facilities, IT specialists, and the police department (shadows for the bobbies).

Safe travels to the group from Moraine Park Technical College as they prepare for their departure. We hope to have a student posting blog entries. Updates soon!