Subscribe & Connect | Archives | Current Issue May 2011Previous Issues:

Building bridgesWorld Trade Center I-beam presented to GatewayHitting historic high enrollment figureGateway to offer Lean Six Sigma Green BeltCommunity benefits from Celebrate Earth Day eventGateway Foundation to hold Centennial Scramble golf outingGateway Interior Design students take honors at state eventGateway Technical College collegiate DECA wins top state awardGateway AITP students take first place at nationalsGateway hosts annual Deaf Culture DayGateway opens Center for Sustainable LivingAlbrecht speaks at national economic forumGateway hosts job fairsStudents seeking ELL, basic skills courses need to registerGateway students take honors at statewide culinary competitionGateway group hosts floral design showState Rep. Peter Barca joined “Whad Ya’ Know?” broadcastGateway teams bring home honors in robotics competitionGateway, Dremel partner for annual Pinewood Derby eventGateway hosts Junior Achievement Business Challenge at Racine, KenoshaGateway opens tour of historic displayBryan Albrecht speaks at international development conferenceFuture First Seminar Held at Gateway’s New Center for Sustainable LivingGateway Technical College dean’s list for the Fall 2010

Building bridgesAs we celebrate the graduation season I am reminded of allthe bridges to occupational success that have been builtthrough Gateway.

Gateway graduates are well prepared for the challengingcareers that await them as they cross the educationalbridge to their future. Supportive instructors, challengingcourses and skill building business experiences all serve asthe trusses that support student success. As a communitywe should be proud of all those that continue to useeducation as a path to personal growth and communitystrength.

[back to top]

Bryan AlbrechtPresident, Gateway Technical College

World Trade Center I-beampresented to GatewayGateway Technical College has been presented a WorldTrade Center national artifact in tribute of the 9-11 terroristattacks in New York. This national artifact was presented toGateway by the New York and New Jersey Port Authority asa tribute to the men and women who lost their lives in thecollapse World Trade Center.

The steel I-beam from one of the collapsed towersmeasures approximately 3 feet in length and 14 inches indiameter. Gateway will have the I-beam on display alongwith the national proclamation throughout the district Maythrough July. On July 12th Gateway will celebrate its 100thanniversary on the Racine Campus where the I-beam willbe then transferred to Burlington to be permanentlymounted on a specially designed monument in front ofGateway’s HERO center.

The monument “On Eagles Wings” was designed byGateway instructor Mike Skender and crafted by Gatewaywelding students. Gateway supports, educates and trainsfire and rescue professionals for volunteer and professional

www.gtc.edu/library

fire stations.

“The entire Gateway community is honored to be selectedto receive such an inspirational nation treasure. As ourcountry continues to heal even after ten years from thedevastation of 9-11 the I-beam artifact will serve as areminder of the courage and sacrifice men and women inour community make to keep us safe at home and abroad,”said Bryan Albrecht, president of Gateway.

[back to top]

Hitting historic highenrollment figureFor the first time in its 100-year history, Gateway TechnicalCollege has reached a record enrollment of 6,100 full-timeequivalent (FTE) students. Annually, Gateway serves about25,000 students and many are enrolled part-time.

Gateway has engaged in several measures to meet theneeds of students and the community. The implementationof a year-round, three-semester academic year hascontributed to the record enrollment. Course sections wereadded, faculty members were hired in crucial areas, andInternet student registration was improved, all adding tothe recent enrollment success.

“With 180,000-plus credits being earned in career andtechnical fields, the workforce in Southeastern Wisconsin isdirectly benefiting from Gateway’s degree and certificateprograms,” said Gateway Technical College President BryanAlbrecht.

[back to top]

Gateway to offerLean Six Sigma Green BeltGateway Technical College will offer Lean Six Sigma GreenBelt Certification, the standard of measure for world-classquality among public and private-sector companies.

The class will provide 48 hours of classroom instruction, 40hours of online instruction and 12 hours individualcoaching. Topics to be covered include value streammapping, an overview of the Lean Enterprise, the DMAICprocess – which is used for projects aimed at improving anexisting business process – and completion and reporting ofindividual workplace improvement projects, to name a few.

To register, go to www.gtc.edu/webadvisor and select

Contact: Robin Hoke

professional development. The first series in the spring andsummer program begins May 16.

[back to top]

Community benefits fromCelebrate Earth Day eventMore than 1,000 community members benefited fromGateway Technical College’s annual communitywideCelebrate Earth Day event on April 16 at the KenoshaCampus.

The popular celebration included environmentally friendly,hands-on demonstrations and informational opportunities.

The first 750 families received a free reusable grocery bag,courtesy of event sponsor, Snap-on Incorporated.Coneflower plants were given away and attendeesbenefited from the skills and information delivered at theevent.

Event highlights included Gateway’s new green livingdemonstration space at the Center for Sustainable Living,informational booths and Green Market. There wassomething for the entire family including children’sactivities, computer data removal, green workshops,recycling and a refashion show.

[back to top]

www.gtc.edu/earthday

Gateway Foundation to holdCentennial Scramble golf outingGateway Technical College Foundation Inc. will hold itsannual golf outing May 26 at Kenosha Country Club to raisemoney to increase opportunities for Gateway students. Thisyear’s event is called the Centennial Scramble to celebrateGateway’s 100th anniversary as the first technical collegein America.

The event includes a helicopter golf ball drop at 5:30 p.m.,with the winner taking home $2,000. The event includeslunch, dinner, complimentary soda and water at selectholes, 18 holes of golf, golf balls, a goody bag, greens fee,cart, a ticket for the golf ball drop and prizes. Dinner-onlytickets and group sponsorship tickets are also available.Reservations are due May 19.

To donate prizes, become a sponsor or for moreinformation, contact Gateway Technical College FoundationInc. Executive Director Jean Heyduck.

Contact: Jean Heyduck

[back to top]

Gateway Interior Design studentstake honors at state eventGateway Technical College student Jodi Nelson took thirdplace in Residential Design, First Year, while fellow studentDamaris Ramos captured second place in the History ofFurniture exam and third place in the Textiles examcategory at the Wisconsin Technical College System InteriorDesign Competition held in April.

Students were required to execute a project scenario andwere given several finish samples to choose from and threehours to create a plan and presentation board. Designsolutions were then judged by industry professionals.

Competitions such as these prepare students withsimulated design situations and experiences that give theman advantage as they seek employment in their careerfield. For more information, please contact Rita Serpe.

[back to top]

Contact: Rita Serpe

Gateway Technical Collegecollegiate DECA wins top stateawardNine students from the Gateway Marketing andManagement Association/Delta Epsilon Chi captured firstplace and the collegiate student organization took firstplace overall for the sixth straight year at the 50th annualWisconsin Collegiate DECA Competitive Events Conferenceheld in March in Madison.

Alex Calder, Jessica Chase, Nick Mercier, Jason Holland,Jean Kohloff, Alex Nelson, Kyle Herzog, Tim Lasco andHarold Coots received first place honors. Students werejudged by business professionals from across the state.

Bryan Albrecht, Gateway’s President, and instructor PatSmoody were presented the 2011 William E. MarotzCitation Award, given to those who have shown superiorsupport, leadership and guidance for Wisconsin CollegiateDECA. Smoody was also the recipient of the 2011 David G.Hague Advisor of the Year Award.

[back to top]

Contact: Mike Vernezze

Gateway AITP studentstake first place at nationalsThe Gateway Technical College student team of Joe Berglesand Adam Korbas brought home first place at the 16thAnnual Association of Information Technology Professionals(AITP) National Collegiate Conference. A total of 20Gateway students and four faculty members attended theMarch event in Orlando, Fla.

The team of Korbas and Bergles competed against 25 otherteams and took first place in the Visual Studio.NetDeveloper competition. In addition, a number of Gatewaystudents earned honorable mentions and ACP and MicrosoftMTA certifications.

Computer professionals from across the nation help judgethese events, and are able to share their expertise withstudents. Competitions such as these prepare students fortheir career and give them an edge over other job-seekersas they enter the workforce.

[back to top]

Contact: Allen Pearson

Gateway hostsannual Deaf Culture DayGateway Technical College’s student group, The SilentConnection, hosted the Ninth Annual Deaf Culture Day onApril 19 at Gateway’s Elkhorn Campus.

The event featured American Sign Language storytellers,the Sing Song Troupe from the Wisconsin School for theDeaf, a deaf history presentation and even a game ofJeopardy.

The annual event was held to honor deaf culture in Americaand to bring hearing and deaf cultures together. Organizershope the event will continue to increase education andawareness of deaf culture.

[back to top]

Gateway opens Centerfor Sustainable LivingGateway held an official opening ceremony for its Centerfor Sustainable Living -- located just west of theConference Center on the Kenosha Campus – as part of itsCelebrate Earth Day event April 16.Featured in the center is a “green” room created by InteriorDesign students which features repurposed furnishings andfinishes that promote sustainable and green design. Theirwork was done through the Gateway course called InteriorMaterial, Finishes, and ProductsThe room features repurposed furnishings and finishes thatpromote sustainable and green design. A number offurniture pieces that have been repurposed include: a desk(made from an entry door that came from the instructor'shome and donated after a renovation) a tile display sample,transformed into a side table, side chairs that were onceused at Gateway's Kenosha campus in the 70s and afterbeing replaced in the late 90s they found a new home inthe community.

[back to top]

Contact: Stephanie Sklba

Albrecht speaksat national economic forumBryan Albrecht, NC3 chairman and Gateway TechnicalCollege president, discussed education and industrypartnership at the 2011 Federal Economic Forum hosted bythe International Economic Development Council inAlexandria, Va. The forum focused on the emergingimportance of partnerships in federal economicdevelopment policy.

NC3 is the product of an innovative collaborative approachto partnership between education and industry. The IEDCprovides a platform for sustainable business and educationpartnerships.

“The forum was an important event for NC3 to berepresented at in the discussion of economic developmentpartnerships,” said Albrecht.

The three-day forum examined the role that innovativepartnerships between multiple public, private, andnon-profit actors will play in ensuring geographic andnational competitiveness.

[back to top]

www.nc3.net

Gateway hostsjob fairsGateway’s Elkhorn Campus and Racine Campus recentlyhosted job fairs, offering job-seekers opportunities to meetwith employers and apply for openings with thosebusinesses. Gateway partnered with area workforceagencies to host the job fairs.

The well-attended fairs provided a one-stop place forindividuals seeking employment in a range of industries.

[back to top]

www.gtc.edu/jobfair

Students seeking ELL, basic skillscourses need to registerGateway Technical College will offer English LanguageLearner (ELL), General Educational Development (GED),High School Equivalency Diploma, and basic skillsimprovement and adult basic education courses thissummer and fall. Students seeking to enroll in must firstregister for orientation in person at one of several Gatewaylocations.

New students must attend a six-hour orientation coursebefore enrolling in the program. Orientations will be May17-May 18 on the Kenosha, Racine or Elkhorn campuses orBurlington Center. Summer semester classes begin theweek of May 22.

Prospective students must provide photo identificationwhen they enroll to show that they are a state resident.Those who do not have photo identification may proveresidency with other documents. Non-residents arewelcome to enroll, but must pay out-of-state tuition.In-state tuition is free, but there is a cost for the book.

[back to top]

For more information, go towww.gtc.edu/ELL

Gateway students take honorsat statewide culinary competitionSheresa Bailey and Anthony Brkovic took home bronzemedals in the cold plate entry competition at the WisconsinRestaurant Expo 2011’s College Culinary Competition. Thecold food competition was held in Milwaukee in early March.

Industry professionals judge the student entries based onappearance, presentation and creativity. Students must www.gtc.edu/culinary

explain how they prepared the dishes and provide a recipe.

It is an opportunity for students to gain real-life experiencedeveloping dishes under the scrutiny of seasonedprofessionals.

[back to top]

Gateway group hostsfloral design showThe Gateway Technical College Chapter of the StudentAmerican Institute of Floral Designers (SAIFD) hosted afloral design presentation featuring Bob Friese, creator andhost of Nature’s Creative Edge. All proceeds from the eventwent to the Gateway SAIFD chapter for the advancement ofeducation for students.

The presentation, “Nature Inspired Floral Designs,” washeld in the Madrigrano Auditorium of the Conference Centeron the Kenosha Campus. Friese is the well-known floraldesigner who produces Nature’s Creative Edge, aspectacular outdoor floral design exhibit in Fruitport, Mich.

[back to top]

State Rep. Peter Barca joined“Whad Ya’ Know?” broadcastState Rep. Peter Barca joined Michael Feldman on stage inKenosha for the April 16 broadcast of “Whad Ya’ Know?”hosted by WGTD – licensed to Gateway Technical College –and Wisconsin Public Radio.

The event was sponsored in part by Gateway TechnicalCollege, celebrating its 100th anniversary – the first of itskind in the nation and Jockey International.

The show combined comedy, music, interviews, and theaudience-favorite, the Whad'Ya Know? Quiz.

[back to top]

www.wgtd.org

Gateway teams bring homehonors in robotics competitionGateway Technical College students took one first-placeand two third-place honors at the Fifth Annual WisconsinTechnical College System robotics competition hosted byGateway on April 16.

The Gateway team Stark Enterprises took first place in thedesign presentation competition portion of the event. The

team consisted of students Bryon Kasun, TimMatsubayashi, Nick Perse, Justin Steffen and John Strege.The Gateway team Mechies placed third in the designpresentation, consisting of students Tim Schoeppe, ScottFischer, Matthew Grulich, Chris Fincutter and ZacharyClark.

The Gateway team Dirty ½ Dozen took third in the timedtask competition portion of the event, consisting ofstudents Luke Kosterman, Jake Speckman, Nathan Proulx,MaryBeth Dawley and Beth Harris.

Technical college students from across the state competedat the event.

[back to top]

Contact: Pat Hoppe

Gateway, Dremel partner forannualPinewood Derby eventGateway for the fourth straight year teamed up withDremel Inc. to run the Pinewood Derby, a hands-on way forengineering students to learn.

The derby was held at Gateway's Center for AdvancedTechnology & Innovation. Teams of mechanical engineeringand engineering students had a little more than two hoursto carve and build their pinewood car using Dremel tools,making sure to adhere to all Pinewood Derby race rules.

The partnership between the college and Dremel helpsstudents apply their engineering and design principles in ahands-on and fun way and allows Dremel to continue itseffort to partner with colleges.

[back to top]

Contact: Pat Hoppe

Gateway hosts Junior AchievementBusiness Challenge at Racine,KenoshaGateway Technical College hosted Junior AchievementBusiness Challenges at its Racine and Kenosha campuses inMarch.

The challenge allowed 31 three-member teams from areahigh schools to become executive teams for the daythrough an interactive, Web-based simulated businessstrategy tournament. High-schoolers gain a first-hand lookat how to run a business as they work with area businessprofessionals for the competition.

Guest speakers also provide business insight and directionto the students.

[back to top]

Gateway opens tourof historic displayA historic display commemorating Gateway’s 100 years asan institution and as the first technical college in Americahas begun its tour of the Gateway Technical College Districtat the atrium of the college’s Elkhorn Campus, 400 CountyRoad H.

The large, circular display provides an insight into theimages and impact Gateway has had on the communities itserves through education and being a key player in thearea’s economic engine.

[back to top]

Contact: Jayne Herring

Bryan Albrecht speaks atinternational developmentconferenceGateway Technical College President Bryan Albrecht spokeat the 35th Annual Community Colleges for InternationalDevelopment (CCID) conference recently. His presentationfocused on Gateway’s role in developing an automotivediagnostics training program for the college of EcoleSuperieure Technologie in Morocco. Along with Snap-onIncorporated, Seattle Community College and Francis TuttleCareer Center in Oklahoma, Gateway has been developingthe automotive diagnostic training program.

“This opportunity places Gateway and the NC3 partners asa leader in workforce training throughout the world,” saidAlbrecht. “I’m pleased and honored to continue to talkabout the Gateway story and the need to provideopportunities for international partnerships through highereducation.”

The CCID is recognized by the Association for GlobalEducation as the leader in international partnerships forstudents. The conference was held in Orlando, Fla. anddrew participants from 15 countries.

[back to top]

Bryan AlbrechtPresident, Gateway Technical College

Future First Seminar Held atGateway’s New Center forSustainable LivingGateway Technical College’s Center for Sustainable Livingwill offer a course in small wind feasibility as part of itsFuture First series, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 19 atGateway’s Center for Sustainable Living on the KenoshaCampus, 3520-30th Ave.

The seminar will provide information for those consideringadding small wind energy generation units onto theirproperty, including site, obstacles, environmental impactand more.

Interested individuals can register online through WebAdvisor at www.gtc/webadvisor and select “ProfessionalDevelopment.” The attendance fee is $10.

[back to top]

www.gtc.edu/wedd

Gateway Technical Collegedean’s list for the Fall 2010Gateway is has announced the list of students named tothe dean’s list for the Fall 2010 semester. Studentsachieving a 3.75 or better grade point average with a classload of 6 or more credit hours are eligible for thisdistinction.

Gateway’s dean’s list is an opportunity to recognize thedetermination, dedication, and effort necessary to attainthe highest level of academic success. The dean’s list is asemester-by-semester honor given to students who attendGateway Technical College.

[back to top]

www.gtc.edu/deanslistfall2010

You may email questions or comments about CommunityConnection to Jayne Herring at herringj@gtc.edu or LeeColony at colonyl@gtc.edu

Get Connected! Tell a friend or colleague about CommunityConnection. Click Here

To unsubscribe, please Click Here

Copyright © 2013, Gateway Technical College