Milwaukee Area Technical College

McGowan Receives 'Partners' Award
Congratulations to Sean McGowan, president and CEO of Tramont Corporation, for receiving the 2007 Partners in Excellence award from the MATC Foundation. He is being recognized for his commitment to innovative workforce training. His company engaged with MATC and other partners in a highly successful, fast-track welder training program. The Tramont Model is now being expanded to other industries.

Mr. McGowan will receive the award at the Foundation's annual Partners in Excellence banquet, May 10 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. The event also will recognize 78 student scholarship recipients and the Foundation's many individual and corporate donors.

Photo: Tramont's Sean McGowan takes an active role in training.

E = (MATC)²
Expanding on our commitment to energy sustainability, large solar arrays soon will be installed on rooftops at the Mequon and Oak Creek campuses, each rated at 17 kilowatts. Two more panel arrays rated at 2.5 kilowatts also will be installed at Oak Creek as part of ECAM. A grant of up to $100,000 from We Energies helped to make it happen. MATC has applied for another $70,000 in funding from Wisconsin Focus on Energy. The two grants in total would cover two-thirds of our costs.

When the panels are up and running, We Energies will pay MATC 22-1/2 cents for each kilowatt hour produced. That's three times our current electric rate. Thus the system should pay for itself in less than 10 years. Plans are on the drawing board for similar installations at the Downtown Milwaukee and West Allis campuses.

Meanwhile, a 160-foot wind turbine soon will rise at the Mequon Campus as part of RETEC - the Renewable Energy Technology Education Center. The turbine could meet almost 10 percent of campus energy needs. MATC will have total capacity to generate 128 kilowatt hours from renewable sources, once all the above pieces are in place.

In related news, the Mequon Campus also has gained preliminary approval for a wetlands project to naturally filter phosphorous and algae from the campus pond. The pond provides vital flood protection for the Village of Thiensville by holding water upstream and restricting flow. Work should start in 2008. Naturally, we are proud to show the way to a smarter energy future.

Photos: Our Green Colleges Workshop on April 20 at the Mequon Campus was well attended. (Top): Drew Szabo, We Energies, Renewable Energy Development, congratulates MATC's Jim Guthrie, one of 18 faculty members who won We Energies curriculum grant awards. (Bottom): Keynote speaker Fred Schnook, manager of economic development, Foth & Van Dyke, discusses the rationale for energy sustainability.

Green Vehicles on Campus
Judging by the extensive media coverage, this year's annual Green Vehicles Workshop showed that energy sustainability is a growing public priority. Fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles were displayed on the Student Center mall, allowing visitors to learn all about the newest generation of personal transportation. Workshops and panel discussions provided further learning opportunities. Dr. George Stone again organized this event, along with the Green Colleges Workshop, and helped procure the We Energies solar panel grant. Again, our thanks, George.

Photo: Whitefish Bay Middle School students explore an electric car.

Job Fair Connects Employers to Students and Community
Student Employment Services assisted hundreds of people with employment contacts and job information at the Oak Creek Campus Job Fair on April 3. More than 60 employers met with more than 500 students and other job seekers. Many brought resumes and got valuable leads. We provided bus and shuttle van transportation from the Downtown Milwaukee and West Allis campuses. Special thanks to Jenny Thomas, Ter Her and Cynthia Beltran of Student Services for making this important event possible. Also, thanks to the many, spirited campus staff who pitched in. We were outstanding hosts and made a positive impression on all who participated.

Photo: Shannon Lippold, Operations Program Manager, Johnson Controls, Inc., meets with students at the MATC Job Fair.

Summer and Fall Registration Push
As always at this time of year, please encourage students to register for their next classes before the current semester ends. Summer school starts June 11; fall semester starts August 27. Also, please encourage returning program students to see their advisor before registering. Advisors help students stay on track to graduate - even more critical because of the recent statewide curriculum changes.

Canadian Firm Donates Turboprop Engine
The Aviation Technician program has received a PTA-67 turbo-propeller engine worth $47,000 from Pratt & Whitney Canada. The gift provides MATC with the most modern version of the PT6 engine to train our students in the inspection and maintenance of multiple-engine systems.

Two members of the Aviation Technician Advisory Committee were instrumental in obtaining the gift. John Canfield, maintenance manager at Skyway Airlines, Inc., helped arrange the donation and located a truss to mount the engine for delivery. John has hired many of our graduates.

Pete Lakich, owner of Condor World Aviation Services, helped with the shipping and import paperwork. John and Pete, please accept our heartfelt thanks for your generosity and your commitment to keeping our aviation program among the very best.

Photo: Aviation Technology Instructor Mark Moen (left) and MATC student Jonathan Morgan check out the PTA-67 engine.

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Pearson VUE Testing Center Opens
Leading competency measurer Pearson VUE has opened a center in the Main Building of the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, Room M410, allowing on-site test taking for our students and instructors. Hours for the balance of the semester through May 25 are Fridays, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pearson VUE provides computerized certification testing for industries including information technology, health care, academic admissions, human resources, financial services and driver education. The company operates worldwide at nearly 4,000 locations. Its presence here will enhance IT and other programs, which should aid recruitment. For more information, please contact Dr. Mohammad Dakwar.

Please note that scheduling and registration are managed by Pearson VUE directly. You can register online at www.vue.com or call:

For CompTIA exams, 1-877-551-7587
For Cisco exams, 1-877-404-3926
For Microsoft exams, 1-800-837-8734

Photo: MATC student Kou Yang at the Pearson VUE testing desktop.

ECAM on Track for Fall Opening
I am pleased to report that the center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing (ECAM) at the Oak Creek Campus is rapidly taking shape. As of mid-April, construction was halfway done, with walls up and roof on. Next follows interior construction. Operational startup remains scheduled for early fall. Designed to rejuvenate local manufacturing, with an emphasis on new and better ways to use energy, ECAM is shaping up to be an important part of the MATC landscape.

Photo: ECAM takes shape under a fair spring sky.

Events Showcase College, Employees and Students
Our faculty and staff have been part of many recent events showcasing the college and our services. Just a few highlights:

Apprenticeship Banquet - We honored the 2006 apprentice program graduates and recognized our employer/apprentice partners on April 4. The banquet's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mark Maierle, MATC District Board member and business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 317. Our 23 apprenticeship programs play a vital role in on-the-job skills training. Thanks to Apprenticeship Coordinator Nick Triscari for planning the event.
Soul Food Celebration - Sponsored by the Black Student Union, this important annual event drew more than 200 people, including many MATC students, faculty, staff and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Columbia University professor Dr. Marable Manning was the keynote speaker. Three staff members were recognized for "Building a World Community Beyond Racism": Gloria Pitchford-Trice, dean, Pre-College Education; Emma Palmer, business faculty member; and Nina Powell, Human Resources. Thanks to the BSU and Rose Massey, coordinator of the Just One Mentoring Program, for continuing to ensure the celebration's success.
Literacy Conference - Coordinated by the Pre-College Education Division, the recent daylong conference drew 650 Adult High School, GED/HSED, ESL and Basic Skills students to the Downtown Milwaukee Campus to learn about transitioning to college. Thanks to Pre-College staff member Ron Fancher and faculty member Sue Nemetz for their active involvement.

Photo (top): Dr. Cole presents the Distinguished Service Apprentice Award to Mark Maierle.

Photo (middle): Soul Food Dinner keynote speaker Dr. Marable Manning meets with student organizations.

Photo (bottom): At our literacy conference, Kimberly Motley, State Public Defender's Office, gives a talk about ex-offender rights.

Please Attend Commencement
I urge all faculty and staff to celebrate with our candidates and their families at spring commencement on Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m. at the Bradley Center. About 1,400 associate degree, technical diploma, apprentice and Adult High School graduates will be honored. Your presence makes a memorable event even more special. Commencement is always triumphantly uplifting. I look forward to seeing you there.

Annual Report Available Soon
Look for our 2006 annual report, Redefine Smart, in early May. In a way never done before, it brings to life the dynamism of MATC, captured through the prism of one eventful year in the life of the college, picturing our collective striving for excellence. The report will be distributed internally, posted on matc.edu and sent to key community decision makers.

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New Heights for Portfolio Night
The new Discovery World will serve as the glittering location on May 3 for Portfolio Night. Graduating students from about 12 programs will display their work. Other enhancements:

More programs featured: They include graphic design, photography, business and related programs, music occupations, and TV and video production.
Bigger attendance goal: The event has been opened to the public in the hope of creating broader exposure to student achievement.
Keynote speaker: Bruce Sterling, "Visionary in Residence" at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., will discuss his innovative design theories.
Expanded hours: 5 - 9 p.m.

Longtime Employees, New Retirees to be Honored May 4
We acknowledge our 25- and 35-year employees and new retirees at the annual Employee Recognition Banquet, May 4 at the Italian Community Center. The event is a small way for all of us to say thanks for a job well done. This year, 50 new retirees are being honored, along with eight 35-year employees and 20 25-year employees. We wish the new retirees the best. Their expertise will be missed. We thank the 25-year and 35-year employees for their commitment and dedication.

Communique is a monthly online newsletter of Milwaukee Area
Technical College. Got an item for Dr. Cole? Please contact
Dan Reszel, coordinating editor.