Welcome Dr. Monroe
We welcome Nicolet School Superintendent Dr. Richard F. Monroe to the MATC District Board. Dr. Monroe was appointed Nov. 13 and will complete the term of retired Germantown School District Superintendent Dr. Victor Rossetti, which expires June 30. He brings a rich professional background to the board. Before his current position he was principal at Shorewood High School and, earlier, St. Francis High School. He also worked for the Milwaukee Public Schools for 20 years as a teacher and administrator. MATC District Board members are unpaid citizen volunteers, appointed by the elected school board presidents within the MATC District, plus four additional members from the MPS School Board.

Photo: Dr. Richard F. Monroe

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Holiday e-Card Dazzles
In what has turned into an exciting and fun holiday tradition, the MATC season's greetings e-card showcases both technical command and incredible creativity. It reached new heights this year thanks to interdisciplinary cooperation. Students and faculty from Animation, Graphic Design, IT, Music Occupations and TV/Video Production worked together to make it happen. I'm also pleased to announce that the number of viewers of this year's card will increase dramatically - by thousands, in fact - when it airs on WMVS-TV Channel 10 throughout the holiday season.

Thanks to the many students, faculty and staff who spent long hours designing, drawing, animating, composing music and more. Please pass along the card to your family and friends through this link, and congratulate these instructors and their students: Edward Adams, Graphic Design; Tim Decker, Animation; Robbi Heighway, Music Occupations; Brian Mennenoh, Animation; Craig Smallish, Graphic Design; and Thay Yang, TV/Video Production.

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Banquet Honors Student Achievers
We had the great pleasure of congratulating a select group of graduates at our winter honors banquet Dec. 14. Thirty associate degree and technical diploma graduates received the Lamp of Knowledge award, given to honors students based on instructor nominations. We also recognized 12 Outstanding Graduate candidates and four All-USA Academic Team candidates. The President's Award recognizes a graduate who has excelled scholastically and performed an important public service. This year the President's Award was presented to Business Management student Mary Van Ackeren. Our best wishes to all the honorees. They represent the finest of MATC.

Photo: President's Award winner Mary Van Ackeren (left) and Dr. Vicki Martin, provost.

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Tune In or Click On Graduation
The Dec. 18 graduation ceremony will be broadcast live via streaming video on matc.edu, on Time Warner Cable Channel 13, and on AT&T U-verse Channel 99. This wide media exposure gives relatives and friends of graduates who cannot attend the opportunity to experience the event. Commencement begins at 6 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

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MATC Holiday Ornament Adorns Governor's Residence
Animation instructors Brian Mennenoh and Tim Decker, along with partners from Discovery World, collaborated to create a holiday ornament now on display at Gov. James Doyle's executive residence. The process united the creative talents of MATC staff with the state-of-the-art technology at Discovery World. This partnership will be replicated in future collaborations between MATC students and Discovery World.

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Employees 'Step It Up'
Almost 300 employees participated in the recent five-week "Step It Up Team Walking Challenge," logging an estimated 48,800 miles. After all the results were tallied, the Downtown Milwaukee Campus team ("N it 2 Win It") of Nikki Atkinson, Kalisa Brown, Lynette Ilk and Regina Moore emerged as the champions. Susan Scasny, also from the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, took individual honors. Congratulations to the winners and to all who took up the challenge of a more active, healthier lifestyle.

CVE Tech Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship
The Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors has generously acknowledged the accomplishments of Civil Engineering Technology student James Blaine. The professional organization awarded James a $2,000 scholarship for the spring semester, citing his exemplary academic performance. Civil Engineering Technology instructor David Langoff said James, a single father who is unemployed as a result of the current economic downturn, is very deserving of the award.

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We're an Energy Champion
MATC recently received the first Clean Energy Champion Award from Wisconsin Clean Cities-Southeast Area, Inc. WCC-SEA is a group of local organizations that has been promoting smart transportation choices regionally since 1994. We were recognized for incorporating energy conservation into our curriculum and operations, and for investing in and promoting clean and green automotive technologies. Francis Vogel, WCC-SEA executive director, presented the award. It acknowledges the efforts of many staff and faculty. The work of two teachers was especially instrumental. Dr. George Stone, noted expert on global warming and energy policy, sits on the WCC-SEA board of directors. David Schwid has championed eco-driving initiatives and is pursuing biodiesel processing at MATC.

Photo (left to right): Accepting the Clean Energy Champion Award on behalf of MATC were Dorothy Walker, associate dean for manufacturing programs; John Stilp, vice president and administrator of the Oak Creek Campus; and Joe Spitz, assistant dean and Automotive Technology instructor.

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A Float with an Edge
Veteran horticulture instructor Gary Stanwood led a group of students who created a holiday float that has represented MATC at parades over the last several weeks. Since Thanksgiving, they represented MATC at events in Germantown, Grafton, West Bend, Port Washington and Kewaskum. The float has lights, music and an evergreen tree decorated with garden hoes, emblematic of the "Hoe Hoe Hoe" theme. Gary said the theme has been a brain teaser for some, "but once they get it, they really appreciate it."

Photo: The MATC float with a horticulture theme brought smiles at many recent holiday parades.

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Board Report
At its Dec. 16 meeting the MATC District Board passed a special resolution in appreciation and remembrance of the late Jeannetta Robinson, co-founder and executive director of Career Youth Development. She helped build CYD into one of the city's most effective anti-poverty agencies. MATC basic skills classes are taught there. Ms. Robinson's son, Charles Walton, received a commemorative plaque of the resolution and a very special toy wagon from the MATC community, inscribed: "In Memory of Jeannetta Robinson and her Kids that Santa Forgot." The wagon was built by our Cabinetmaking students (see story below). We mourn this loss but are hopeful that Jeannetta's inspiring legacy will live on for generations.

In other news, thanks and congratulations to MATC District Board member Ann Wilson on her appointment to two national committees. She will serve on the Association of Community College Trustees Diversity Committee and the Association of Public Television Stations Leadership Council.

Photo: MATC District Board member Ann Wilson

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Warmly Received
It was cold on Dec. 5, but the cause warmed hearts and helped make a difference in our community. The third annual "Walk Against Poverty," sponsored by our own Service Learning Center and AmeriCorps VISTA, started and ended at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus and raised awareness of poverty in Milwaukee. Participants braved temperatures in the single digits for 1.5 miles and brought nonperishable food items for the Hunger Task Force.

Photo: Cold weather couldn't stop all of these caring MATC students from making a difference.

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Students Brighten Holidays
Cabinetmaking students will brighten the holidays for 50 children. Under the direction of instructor Dan Stich, students built 50 wooden wagons to be donated to the local Career Youth Development (CYD) organization. CYD handled the distribution to low-income families with children. The class has been working on the project since early November. Students built the wagons with both safety and fun in mind.

Photo: MATC Cabinetmaking students applied their craft in the holiday spirit.

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MATC Family Mourns Losses
We extend deepest sympathies to the families and friends of two students who died recently. Samantha Bangert, a Culinary Arts major and Waterford resident, was killed in an automobile accident in early December. Richard Borkin, a lieutenant with the Thiensville Fire Department who was attending a firefighter training class, died during a routine class training exercise. Please keep the families of Samantha and Lt. Borkin in your thoughts.

The college community and many current and former students also mourn the Dec. 13 passing of Donna Beckstrom, History Department instructor who taught American Indian Studies and women's history classes.  Donna was an inspiring teacher and an enduring and positive influence on her students and colleagues. We extend heartfelt condolences to her family.

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New Nurses Proudly Celebrate
I was pleased to join the nursing faculty and staff, graduating students and their families at the twice-a-year pinning ceremony on Dec. 16 in Cooley Theater. This traditional event celebrates and recognizes the completion of our new graduates' academic work in the associate degree Nursing and technical diploma Practical Nursing programs.

Photo: Health Occupations Dean Dessie Levy (center) offers warm congratulations to Jennifer and Jeremiah Brady at the pinning ceremony. The husband-and-wife dynamic nursing duo will both receive their Registered Nursing degrees this week.

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A Priceless Gift for You: Less Holiday Stress
Ready or not, the holiday season has arrived. It's the greatest time of year for some, but others dread this hectic time and the daily stresses it brings. Family problems do not take a vacation, no matter the time of year. Will there be enough money? Will there be family arguments? Who should be invited, or taken off the list? To sum it up ... STRESS!
To help reduce the stress and tension, some tips:

• Everything does not need to be perfect. Set reasonable expectations and plan ahead as much as possible. Be flexible.
• Find some quiet time for yourself. Relax and allow yourself to examine the issues at hand. This can foster better emotional control.
• Moderation at the food table(s) will help avoid guilty feelings later.
• Delegate tasks, and remember: It doesn't need to be perfect.
• Know your spending limit. The thought is what counts, not the price.
• Keep, or put, exercise into your daily routine.
• Confide your concerns to someone close to you. It can be helpful to simply talk about your things that are upsetting you.

Stress can lead to illness. Do what you can to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Ask for help, and take it if it's offered. Enjoy being with family and friends who make you feel good. Avoid people who are "stress triggers." Happy Holidays!

-Anne Sheridan, Wellness Coordinator, RN, BSN

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Anne Sheridan