Moraine Park Technical College has named Jacob Schreiber of Kiel as its 2026 Student of the Year. Schreiber will also serve as the student speaker at the College’s commencement ceremony on May 16.
Schreiber, a second-year student in the Surgical Technology program, is set to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree this May. His passion for health care was inspired by his mother, Shelly, a registered nurse who passed away from breast cancer in 2019.
His path to the field was further shaped by his experience working as a CNA in a COVID ICU, where he saw firsthand how rapidly health care could change.
“During my time in the COVID ICU, there was a lot of change within health care in general,” Schreiber said. “It was a lot different than what I initially thought health care to be. I wanted a more direct way to help people and see that same impact right away.”
That desire led him to surgical technology—a career that offered the hands-on, immediate impact he was seeking.
At Moraine Park, Schreiber has embraced opportunities inside and outside the classroom. He serves as president of the Surgical Technology Club and president of the Fond du Lac Student Senate, building connections and developing leadership skills along the way.
“My experience at Moraine Park has definitely been transformative,” Schreiber said. “I’ve been a part of and done a lot of things that I never thought that I could, and I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person and leader.”
Faculty say Schreiber’s initiative and commitment set him apart early in the program.
“I co-nominated Jacob for this award because he has always gone above and beyond,” Nicole Sexton, surgical technology instructor at Moraine Park, said. “In the classroom and in clinicals, he took initiative early applying his knowledge in the field during his first year. That experience allowed him to become a mentor to his classmates, helping bridge the gap between what they were learning and what he was already doing in practice.”
Schreiber’s clinical experiences have reinforced his decision to pursue a career in surgical technology. While working as an OB tech, he supported a patient through a difficult procedure, helping ease her fears and seeing the impact of compassionate care firsthand.
“She went from being terrified and shaking before the procedure to a lot calmer,” he said. “By the end, she was hugging the staff and saying she really appreciated it. Being able to make that big of a difference confirmed that I chose the right career.”
Schreiber describes being named Student of the Year as meaningful and unexpected.
“To be named Student of the Year is surreal,” Schreiber said. “I wasn’t sure if I was able to go to college or be successful at it. To go from that to this is amazing. I’m very honored and grateful.”
He recently accepted a full-time position at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton and plans to attend UW–Milwaukee in fall 2026 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. He aspires to become a surgical physician assistant or cardiothoracic surgeon, inspired in part by his youngest brother’s experience with a life-threatening heart defect as a newborn.
Outside of the classroom, Schreiber enjoys building computers, playing video games, working on cars and spending time with his girlfriend, Caroline, and their two cats, Sherbert and Spookus.
As Student of the Year and student commencement speaker, Schreiber represents the dedication, compassion and hands-on learning that define the Moraine Park experience.