Distinguished Alumni award 2003
2003 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Terry Rydberg
1990 Graphics
Waukesha Technical College, Graphics Instructor
Terry came to WWTC as a nontraditional student...a wife and mother. She entered the Graphics program with the energy and enthusiasm that soon typified her entire time here. After graduation, she worked for a time at Ovation Marketing but when the opportunity arose, she eagerly returned to WWTC as a Graphics instructor.
During her time here, she invigorated her program and the learning experience of her students, all the while being very vocal about absolutely "loving her job." She demanded the best from her students, yet always went the extra mile to help them in every way, earning their trust and respect. Among many other innovative ideas she implemented at WWTC, Terry established the highly successful Portfolio Review, giving students the opportunity to present their work to area employers, with over 300 guests and employers attending regularly. While working and raising a family, she earned her Bachelors and then her Masters Degrees. In 2002, she received an "offer she couldn't refuse" from Waukesha Technical College to serve as its lead instructor in their Graphics program...it was their gain and WWTC's loss!
Keith Steenlage
1991 Diesel and Heavy Equipment Program
John Deere & Company, Attorney
A native of Galesville, Keith is not a typical Diesel program graduate, in that he is now an attorney! He is also a wonderful example of what can be accomplished with determination and hard work. Life as a young man was not easy, and he was unable to graduate from high school... yet Keith knew that education was the key to a better future. So, at 19 years of age, he walked into WWTC's Diesel Shop one day and said he wanted to go to school. All he knew at that time was that he was "good with my hands, and liked mechanics" but had no idea if he could even get through the program. Two years later, he graduated with honors, increased self-confidence, and a clear vision for his future.
He worked his way through UW-La Crosse, graduating with honors and a Constitutional Law Degree, then packed up his ancient little pickup and headed east, to Rutgers School of Law, where he again graduated with honors and was immediately hired by a prestigious law firm in New Jersey. Today, Keith is John Deere's In-house Counsel for Product Liability. He gives credit to the diesel training he received at WWTC for his success thus far, and recently returned to campus to talk to Diesel Program students, encouraging them to "think outside the box" when considering their future.
