Unfortunately, I was a high school drop out. It was 1969 and yes, I had to drop out of high school because of pregnancy. After having my baby and struggling for two years, I decided to return to high school to obtain my high school diploma. It was extremely difficult; I had no support from family and no formal babysitting services. I had to find someone to care for my little son while I attended school during the day and I had to care for my little boy at night and still study. But I did it! After graduating high school, I realized that I wanted to become something. I dreamt of becoming a nurse and helping people. I took out books from the library on anatomy and physiology and anything I could get my hands on about medicine. I studied and studied and finally I made an appointment at MPTI. I met with a Donald Berkowski (probable wrong spelling) at the FDL campus in 1978-79,and he encouraged me to enter the LPN course. I felt I should begin my journey in nursing first as a aide, to learn the ropes from the bottom up so I began with that program with Marcie Donaldson R.N. as my Instructor. This was the first post high school education I had, and I was impressed with how much the Instructor and faculty cared about me as a individual! After I graduated, my advisor and Instructor again encouraged me to enter the Licensed Practical Nursing program in Fond du Lac. I did and once again I found the Instructors and courses wonderful! After working a few years as a L.P.N., I entered the Associate Degree Nursing Program in West Bend. As usual, the Instructors were terrific and the education and clinical was once again superb! My education has helped me to advance in my career as a Registered Nurse. Beginning as a Emergency Dept. R.N. and then advancing as a Perioperative R.N. and as a Cardiac R.N.. To anyone interested in a superb education both in theory and clinical, I encourage them to seriosly consider Moraine Park Technical College! In my opinion as a experienced Registered Nurse, MPTC offers the best comprehensive education availiable in Wisconsin. I hope to see MPTC offer BSN and MSN completion programs in the future, which I will be the first to sign up for!

Just what the doctor ordered, thakinty you!

The fact that serious, important work takes place here really hit home for me during one special assignment. I had heard that our EMT program was partnering with Flight for Life for a year-end project. Thinking this would be a good experience to capture, I made arrangements to attend with a photographer. We arrived and chatted with the instructor and class prior to the beginning of the exercise, but were given strict instructions to stay back once the staged 'incident' began. Its a good thing we did, because once the instructor gave the signal, the students snapped into serious mode and attended to their simulated accident victim as though his life depended on it. The Flight for Life helicopter and staff arrived, and we were hard-pressed to distinguish between that staff and our soon-to-graduate Moraine Park students. They had taken all the skills they'd learned and practiced in their time at MPTC and and were using them to impact lives. It struck me that one day very soon someone's life would depend on them. And I was really proud that they'd be well prepared for the task. –Jean Dodge, Customer Communications

I have experienced many technology changes at Moraine Park throughout the years – In 1978 there were punch cards for every class in Registration. If a class had a limit of 20 students, there were 20 cards for that class. When a student came to register we pulled a card for every class they wanted to register for. When the cards were gone we knew the class was full. Financial Aid was all done by manually checking the student's information and writing up check orders to get the student’s grant checks processed. All outside calls had to come into the switchboard and were then forwarded on to the appropriate staff member. -Karen Jarvis, Administrative Asstant - Dean of Students

My parents met at Moraine Park. My dad was in the Marketing program and my mom was in the Ward Clerk program. When I was little, my mom returned to MPTC to get her nursing degree. I remember coming to classes with her once in awhile and watching the instructor teach hands-on skills, like taking a blood pressure. I also remember her graduation ceremony and how proud we all were. I now work at Moraine Park and I love it. It has the extra bonus for me of feeling like my parents' memories exist in the same hallways that I walk down every day. -- Melissa Worthington, Marketing & Recruitment Associate

While attending MPTC,finishing my courses and working a couple of jobs via the first time "out on my own". I remember always making sure I had $1.00 in my pocket to buy a bagel from the MPTC cafe, ONLY because the women behind the counter was so sweet to me. I still remember her, it was like being at home. I also cherish the knowledge of life I had learned from one special instructor many years ago. I am MORE than pleased with my education from MPTC. Also as important are the roots that were planted those long years ago. Thank you.

I was hired one week after graduating from Moraine Park's Clerk Typist program in 1973. I have experienced almost 40 years of changing technology, from typesetting to iMacs, and witnessed many program and facility changes at Moraine Park. When I attended school and started working on Moraine Park's Fond du Lac campus, there was only the District Office and E building and the College only offered a few basic programs. There have since been several positive changes, including new programs and building additions. I am proud to have experienced part of Moraine Park's history. -Sharon Peitz, Graphics Prod & Web Cont Spec

One of my favorite memories as a Moraine Park employee is the day that I went to work dressed like a box of Froot Loops for Halloween! There is definitely something to be said about having fun at work, and it’s real hard not to when you're a box of Froot Loops and your boss is a silly rabbit. -Jodie Schneider, Asst to the Vice President