http://www.westerntc.eduThis the Western News Release RSS Feed. This feed shows news releases affecting Western Technical College and its population.http://www.westerntc.eduhttp://www.westerntc.edu/images/logoRSS.gifWestern Technical College offers a Supervisory Management program that allows students to customize classes to fit work schedules. Information about the program will be presented as a free video conference on Tuesday, June 4, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Western’s locations in La Crosse, Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Tomah, and Viroqua. The La Crosse session will be held in Room 205 of the Coleman Center, 304 6th St. N. The Supervisory Management program is designed for current and aspiring supervisors to enhance interpersonal and management skills while strengthening knowledge of diversity, legal issues, and team building. There are three optional formats for completing the program: online, face-to-face, or blended ITV. Students can choose to take their entire degree in an online format with instructors from business and industry. The face-to-face format utilizes accelerated learning techniques that enable students to meet one evening per week for their core courses. The blended option combines online with the face-to-face format via Interactive Television (ITV). For details, contact Brad Dobbs at dobbsb@westerntc.edu or 608.789.6228. For information about additional programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1470Three Wood Tech students from Western Technical College recently excelled at the Wisconsin SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Wisconsin Dells. Cody Krueger, of La Crosse, took gold in the Carpentry competition. The project was judged based on a written test, building a floor system, wall assembly, rafter layout and stair stringer layout. As a gold medalist, Krueger will compete at the National SkillsUSA conference in Kansas City, Mo. on June 24-28. Other notable finishes include Brandon Geier, of Cashton, who took silver in the Carpentry competition, and Dan Noble, of West Salem, who took bronze in the Cabinetmaking competition. Wisconsin SkillsUSA prepares America's high performance workers currently enrolled in technical and technology education programs. Tomorrow's workers participate in team work, citizenship, leadership and character development activities. Over forty industry sponsored competitive events are featured at the state conference. SkillsUSA emphasizes total quality of work: high ethical standards, superior work skills, lifelong education, pride, and dignity of work. For more information, visit www.skillsusa-wi.org Western’s Wood Tech program is a one-year technical diploma program that covers both carpentry and cabinetmaking. For more information about programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1469Western Technical College students, Alexis Marsh of Hixton, Wis. and Sara Bashaw of La Crescent, Minn., recently took first place in the Wisconsin Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Student HR Games at UW-Oshkosh. The duo beat out 18 other university and technical college teams in a Jeopardy-style competition of human resource-related categories. Each team, comprised of two or three members, competed in multiple rounds, progressing to the semi-finals and ultimately the final rounds. Western’s team beat Chippewa Valley Technical College in the final round to win the championship and $400 for their student SHRM chapter. “We are so proud of Alexis and Sara,” said Sue Horne, faculty advisor for Western’s SHRM chapter. “This is a testament to technical education as both finalists were technical colleges despite the multiple universities represented.” To learn more about Western Technical College programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1468Today’s automated manufacturing involves a variety of circuits and devices operated through programmable logic controllers. Western Technical College’s Business and Industry Services division is offering a 19-week, high-intensity training that introduces these controllers along with basic electrical concepts. The Industrial Electronic Skills Institute begins Tuesday, May 21, and runs Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Sept. 25, from 8:00 a.m.-Noon on Western’s La Crosse campus. The training is partially funded by the United States Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant program, which provides 53 percent of the total cost. The remainder of the cost will be covered by the participants. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 14. For more information, or to register, contact Britt Pagor at 608.785.9225 or pagorb@westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1467This year, over 400 students in the Goal Oriented Adult Learning (GOAL) program at Western Technical College will be honored at a graduation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lunda Center on the La Crosse Campus. Participating graduates will include those from the following programs of instruction: High School Equivalency Diploma, General Educational Development, Adult High School, and Alternative High School. The graduation ceremony will feature four student speakers: Jared Schaefer of Sparta, Sara Cronick of Tomah, Peter Camacho of Black River Falls, and Melanie Godfrey of Sparta. Western offers GOAL programs in nine locations throughout the college’s district. Additional services offered through Western’s Instructional Support Services Division include English Language Learners classes (ELL), Developmental Courses prior to post-secondary training, COMPASS Test Preparation, Basic Skills/Review, and High School Credit courses. For more information about GOAL courses or to learn about additional programs and services at Western Technical College, call 608.785.9200 or visit the Web site at westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1466Western Technical College is hosting free information sessions for those who are interested in finding out more about two business programs. The Accounting session will be held on Wednesday, May 8, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., via video conference at Western’s locations in Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Tomah, and Viroqua. The Supervisory Management session will be Thursday, May 9, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in Room 204 of the Coleman Center in La Crosse, as well as at Western’s locations in Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Sparta, Tomah, and Viroqua. Participants will discover the skills required for each career as well as the flexible format options available at Western. For more information on either program, call 608.374.7700. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1465On Tuesday, April 30, Wisconsin’s technical colleges and high schools will celebrate “Dual Credit Day” to recognize more than 20 years of innovative collaboration. Dual credit allows students to simultaneously earn high school and college credits with a single course or sequence of courses. Over the past five years alone, participation in dual credit has doubled, with more than 21,000 high school students across the state currently taking advantage of opportunities through partnerships developed with their local technical colleges. Last year, Western Technical College had dual credit agreements with 18 area high schools, saving students over $210,000. “Dual credit means a lot to me because I will be ahead of my peers in background knowledge, credits and I will save money,” said Gunnar Horstman, a sophomore at Bangor High School. On Tuesday, Wisconsin Technical College System president Morna K. Foy and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers are visiting Lomira High School, site of the first dual credit or “career prep” program. The leaders will tour the school’s technology lab and read the Governor’s Dual Credit Day proclamation. “These partnerships not only ensure that the students know what to expect in college,” Foy said, “but the college credits they earn can also mean cost savings and an accelerated career path.” “We need every child to graduate from high school prepared for success in college or career,” said Evers. “Dual credit programs allow kids to earn college credit at their high schools with no cost to their families, all while gaining valuable skills that serve local communities and businesses well.” With an estimated 65 percent of available jobs over the next 10 years requiring skills provided by technical education, the state’s economy depends on students being college and career ready upon high school graduation. To learn more about programs or services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1464On Friday, May 10, Western Technical College will hold a commencement ceremony at the La Crosse Center, located in downtown La Crosse, honoring 1,456 graduates from throughout Western’s district. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., at the La Crosse Center. Of the graduates, 660 will receive associate’s degrees and 290 will receive technical diplomas. There will be 407 graduating from the Certified Nursing Assistant program, and 97 will receive other certificates. Two others will graduate with the Associate of Science – Liberal Arts transfer degree. Speakers for the evening will include Western President Lee Rasch and the 2013 student ambassador, Adam Kruse, a second-year Associate of Science – Liberal Arts degree student. Keynote speaker will be Mary Jo Klos, a 1980 Nursing graduate who was recently named the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus by Western’s Alumni Association. Klos recently retired as vice president of Clinical Operations at Gundersen Lutheran Health System. To learn more about Western Technical College programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1463Western Technical College’s Business Division is hosting a student showcase event on Tuesday, May 7, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., in the Lunda Center, 319 7th St. N., La Crosse. The showcase will highlight student success through presentations, portfolio/career review, student projects and demonstrations, display boards, and resume booklet review. From 4:30-5:30 p.m., students will be available to present their work. From 5:30-6:30 p.m., graduating business students will meet with employers for an evening of discovery and networking. Over 160 students from Western’s various business programs will be participating in the showcase. In addition, more than 15 area employers will be in attendance. The purpose of the showcase is to introduce employers to potential employees, to introduce future students to Western’s business programs, to provide an avenue for family and friends of the students to observe the students’ work, and to give the general public an opportunity to view the quality of work of Western’s business students. For more information, contact Mai Sheng Lee at leem@westerntc.edu or 608.785.9168. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1462Graduating students in the Western Technical College Graphic Design and Visual Communications programs will be hosting the annual Portfolio Review Show on Monday, May 6, from 4:00-6:45 p.m. at the Lunda Center, 319 7th St. N., La Crosse. Graduates will be showing their best work in print, web, audio and video. Tours will be given of the Creative Center in the Graphics Education Center. Potential employers, students, and the general public are invited to stop in anytime during this free event. Refreshments will be served. For more information about the Portfolio Review, visit www.westerntc.edu/graphicdesign or www.westerntc.edu/visualcommunications. For details on other programs and services at Western call 608.785.9200. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1461Western Technical College’s Alumni Association awarded this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award to Mary Jo Klos, of Bangor, Wis. Klos will be the keynote speaker at Western’s commencement on Friday, May 10, and a special reception will be held in her honor prior to the ceremony. Klos is a 1980 Nursing graduate. The majority of her career was spent at Gundersen Lutheran. Beginning in 1980, Klos was a coronary care unit staff nurse, then charge nurse, and became clinical manager of the coronary critical care unit in 1996. She became the behavioral health administrative director in 1998. In 2002, she transitioned to the role of vice president of Clinical Operations and retired from that position in 2012. Additionally, she and her husband owned Bangor Lanes in Bangor, for more than 30 years. Throughout her career, Klos has embraced education. She received her LPN degree in 1970 at St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester, MN before earning her RN at Western. She also earned her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate from Western in 1996. She holds a bachelor's degree in organizational management and a master's degree in Servant Leadership from Viterbo University. Additionally, she was a master's degree candidate at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She also has earned many certificates, including ethical leadership from Viterbo and healthcare management from UW-La Crosse. “A Western education has been the starting point for so many successful alumni,” said Sally Emerson, alumni relations coordinator at Western. “Mary Jo is a great representative of those alumni who have taken advantage of their education to better their communities, profession, and families. They are wonderful role models for both our alumni and our students.” Klos has also maintained a strong relationship with Western throughout her career. She was a part-time EMT instructor and served on the Emergency Medical Service program's advisory committee. She was also a member of the Western Technical College Alumni Board and is its past president. Western’s Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes dedicated service to the community or nation, leadership, personal growth and achievement, professional achievement, and contributions to the Western district. For more information on Western’s Alumni Association or to submit a nomination for the Distinguished Alumni Award, call 608.789.6083. To learn more about Western programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit our website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1460Adam Kruse, of La Crosse, has been selected as the 2013-14 Western Technical College Student Ambassador, an official spokesperson for Western and the Wisconsin Technical College System. As Student Ambassador, Kruse will have opportunities to speak to potential students, community leaders, community groups, and others, and will spotlight the important role of technical and occupational education to the economy and society. In addition, he will represent Western at the state level by working with other student ambassadors throughout the WTCS. Kruse is a second-year Associate of Science – Liberal Arts degree student, who is involved in several extracurricular activities on campus. He is very active in the college’s honor society, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), including serving as chapter president for three years and as the current regional officer for the Minn-Wi-Kota. He was recently honored at the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention in San Jose with an individual award for Distinguished Regional Officer. “Adam is enthusiastic and passionate about Western and the two-year experience,” said Linda Duffy, advisor for PTK who nominated Kruse for the honor. “Additionally, he is academically successful and engaged in campus activities, which makes him a great example for other students.” While attending Western, Kruse is also employed at the Chileda Institute, where he works with students who have autism and other behavioral disorders. He originally enrolled in the Developmental Disabilities Support Specialist program at Western to get further in his career, but he quickly realized that he wanted more. He says the ASLA program will allow him to transfer to a four-year university for communications and political science. “I have already been promoted to a manager position, and I know this wouldn’t have happened without the experiences I’ve gained at Western,” said Kruse. “I’m excited about this next opportunity and I’m honored to be able to share my story with others.” To learn more about Western Technical College programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1459In honor of Earth Week April 22-27, Western Technical College will host several events at its La Crosse Campus. All events are free and open to the public. Monday, April 22 – Energy Day Celebration • A special screening of the film “Switch: the Most Important Issue of our Time” will take place from 1:00-3:30 p.m. in the Lunda Center, 319 7th St. N. The film is embraced by both the environmental groups and the energy industry for providing a balanced and pragmatic solution for our energy future. • Following the film, a panel of local businesses and organization will share what they are doing to become more energy efficient. Panel members will include: Mike Pieper, Western Technical College Vice President of Finance and Operations; Tom Thompson, Gundersen Lutheran Sustainability Coordinator; and alternative fuels experts from Kwik Trip. Tuesday, April 23 – Waste Minimization & Recycling Day • Vice President of Finance and Operations Mike Pieper and Building and Systems Technology student Ben Heyer will take the annual Dumpster Dive, from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in the courtyard between the Academic Resource Center and the Applied Technology Center. Their mission will be to sift through a college dumpster in search of recyclables to show how much “trash” should actually be placed in recycling containers. Wednesday, April 24 – Green Commuting Day • Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Green Commuter Challenge by traveling to campus by carpool, bus, bike, or foot. There will be a Bicycle Commuting 101 discussion, from Noon-1:00 p.m. in the Union Market, covering the rules of the road and safety tips. • Free bike inspections and tune-ups will be provided from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Cleary Courtyard, courtesy of Bikes Limited. Thursday, April 25 – Taste the Difference • A water taste-test will be held in the Student Union from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sample Western’s drinking fountain water and bottled water to see if you can taste a difference, and find out if you’re unnecessarily spending money and resources on bottled water. • Lunch specials featuring produce from local farms will be available in the Kumm Center Union Market. Friday, April 26 – Tree Campus USA Awareness Day • As a member of the Tree Campus USA program, Western is encouraging individuals or groups to take a nature walk, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and try to identify the trees and plants around campus. Throughout the week, Western’s Tobacco-Free Workgroup will canvas the campus cleaning up cigarette butts and other waste. For more information about these events or about other sustainability efforts at Western, visit www.westerntc.edu/green. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1457According to CareerBuilder.com, one of the seven hottest associate’s degree job prospect areas is accounting. Western Technical College is hosting a free information session for those who are interested in finding out more about this popular field. The session will be held simultaneously at Western’s locations in Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Tomah, and Viroqua on Wednesday, April 17, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Participants will find out about the skills required to be an accountant as well as program options at Western. Students can choose to earn an accounting degree with a traditional day program, or one night a week – a popular option for working adults. For more information, contact Jenny Parker at 608.374.7700 or parkerj@westerntc.edu. For the complete article on the CareerBuilder.com study, visit http://on-msn.com/TCQBZQ. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1458Western Technical College will be hosting the spring session of Camp W-Kid’s College on Saturday, April 20, from 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Western’s La Crosse Campus. Twice each year (fall and spring), the college hosts Camp W, a youth enrichment program designed for area children in grades 4-6. Western faculty and staff volunteer their time and talents to give area children the opportunity to explore special interests in a unique educational setting. Courses can include everything from virtual surgery to woodworking, basketball to taking pictures, or just clowning around. And while some of the classes correlate to academic programs offered at the college, some are designed just for fun. Students can choose up to three classes to attend throughout the morning. Cost is $24 for three classes. To register, complete a Camp W form online at www.westerntc.edu/campw. Payment can also be completed online. Classes fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. For more information on Camp W, please contact Jaime Fortier at 608.785.9261. To learn more about other Western Technical College programs and services, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1456Local K-12 educators will have the opportunity to tour Western Technical College and four other technical colleges during the week of June 17-21. Registration begins today for a statewide collaborative offering graduate credit for increasing awareness of Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) programs and services. Teachers, counselors and administrators participating in the week-long “Tours of Excellence” visit a different technical college each day for hands-on learning about the programs and services available to students, as well as the 21st century career options that await WTCS graduates. Tour participants complete an action plan for disseminating what they’ve learned, and will earn three graduate credits from Marian University in Fond du Lac. The tours are planned on a regional basis to allow for broad participation with local partners, with north, central and south sections. Space is limited to 30 individuals per section. “Past participants have told us they have a new appreciation for the hands-on and real life training available at our technical colleges,” said Dave Fish, Western Technical College student recruitment and admissions advisor, who is coordinating the event at Western. “The fact that they earn three graduate credits for participating is a bonus.” Additional information and on-line registration is available at: www.fvtc.edu/wtcstour. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1455The Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District will hold a public hearing and meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, in Room 408 of the Western Administrative Center located at 111 North Seventh Street in La Crosse. The purpose of the hearing/meeting is to review the applications submitted for consideration for openings of one Employer member, one Employee member, and one Additional member to the Board of the Western Technical College District. The following persons have submitted applications and must be present at the meeting on April 4 and be interviewed to qualify for appointment to the Board: Lynn E. Erickson (incumbent), Mauston (Juneau County), Terrance C. Erickson, La Crosse (La Crosse County), Joseph C. Gittens, Holmen (La Crosse County), Daniel P. Hanson (incumbent), Onalaska (La Crosse County), Angela L. Lawrence, Viroqua (Vernon County), Rudolph (Pete) W. Peterson, Tomah (Monroe County), Joan E. Sosalla, Independence (Trempealeau County), and Dennis L. Treu (incumbent), Sparta (Monroe County). No names other than the above will be accepted from the floor at the time of the Board Appointment Committee meeting. On April 4 the Board Appointment Committee will appoint three of the above-named persons to fill open positions in the Employee, the Employer, and the Additional categories. Each of the appointments will be for a for three-year term (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016) on the Board of the Western Technical College District. The Board Appointment Committee will also approve a Plan of Representation that gives equal consideration to the general population distribution and the distribution of women and minorities within the District. The Plan will be the basis upon which the appointments to the District Board shall be determined. To learn more about Western programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the Western website at www.westerntc.edu http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1454Western Technical College’s Student Nursing Association is sponsoring a blood drive on Thursday, March 28. The Blood Center of Wisconsin will be taking blood donations from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in room 210 of Western’s Applied Technology Center, 325 8th St. N., La Crosse. The event is open to the public. To make an appointment, contact SNA president Lauren at nastachowskil@students.westerntc.edu or go online to www.bcw.edu/westerntech. Walk-ins are also welcome. To learn more about programs or services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1453Western Technical College offers a Supervisory Management program that allows students to customize classes to fit work schedules. Information about the program will be presented as a free video conference on Thursday, March 21, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Western’s locations in La Crosse, Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Sparta, Tomah, and Viroqua. The La Crosse session will be held in Room 204 of the Coleman Center, 304 6th St. N. The Supervisory Management program is designed for current and aspiring supervisors to enhance interpersonal and management skills while strengthening knowledge of diversity, legal issues, and team building. There are three optional formats for completing the program: online, face-to-face, or blended ITV. Students can choose to take their entire degree in an online format with instructors from business and industry. The face-to-face format utilizes accelerated learning techniques that enable students to meet one evening per week for their core courses. The blended option combines online with the face-to-face format via Interactive Television (ITV). For details, contact Brandee Ortery at orteryb@westerntc.edu or at 608.374.7700 option 6. For information about additional programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1452As part of a class project, students in the Accounting program at Western Technical College will be holding an original product sale Monday, March 4 and Thursday, March 7. The sale will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Student Union of the Kumm Center, 400 6th St. N., La Crosse. Each year, students in the Management Accounting course are divided into teams and asked to develop their own business by applying the skills they have learned in class. The students are then asked to implement their business and record their success. The sale of merchandise is one of the final stages of the project, but is critical to determining the overall success of the team. This year, the products for sale include, powdered laundry soap, wristlet key fobs, bodywash fingerpaints, chalk message boards, beverage coasters, bottle lamps, and decorative magnets. The event is open to the public. For more information about the products, contact Spring Decker at deckers@students.westerntc.edu. To learn more about programs or services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1451Western Technical College’s student-run restaurant is open for business. The Union Bistro, located on the first floor of the Kumm Center, 400 6th St. N., La Crosse, is open to the public on Thursdays from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. throughout the spring semester. The eatery is run by Culinary Management and Food Production Specialist students and gives them an opportunity to experience the different aspects of operating a restaurant. The students learn everything from running the cash register to preparing and serving the meals. The entrees change at the mid-semester point, but will include a sandwich, soup, salad, pasta, seafood, and chicken option. Desserts are also available. Restaurant reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling Deb Klug at 608.785.9215 or e-mailing klugd@westerntc.edu. In addition to the restaurant, the students also take part in running a bakery. Bakery items will be sold in the Union Bakery, Fridays from 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (unless sold out earlier). The bakery is also open to the public. To learn more about Western’s Culinary Management and Food Production Specialist programs or additional programs and services, please call 608.785.9200 or visit www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1450Traces, an all-female quintet, will perform at Western Technical College on Monday, Feb. 11, from 12:25-1:20 p.m. in the Kumm Center Student Union, 400 6th St. N., La Crosse. Sponsored by Western’s Student Government, the event is free and open to the public. From New York, Traces performs nationally and internationally and was the first all-female group to win the Harmony Sweepstakes A Capella Competition in New York and Boston. Their wide range of musical influences includes gospel, contemporary Christian, pop, R&B, alternative, jazz, blues, rock, spirituals, Caribbean and African. For more information about programs and services at Western Technical College, call 608.785.9200 or visit www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1448Two Western Technical College instructors have been selected as 2013 Faculty Scholars for Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society of Two-year Colleges. Amery Bodelson, English instructor, and Dan Rooney, Communication Skills and Technical Communication instructor, were selected out of a pool of 3,000 Phi Theta Kappa chapter advisors and regional coordinators. They are two of only 25 – and the only two from Wisconsin – to serve as Faculty Scholars. Selection is based on applications, knowledge of the current Honors Study Topic, "The Culture of Competition," and demonstrated excellence in teaching. Bodelson, of La Crosse, has served as an advisor to Western’s Beta Nu Chi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa for the past two years. Rooney, a resident of Onalaska, has served as an advisor since the charter was granted in 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year he has been chosen as a Faculty Scholar. As Scholars, the two instructors will attend the upcoming Faculty Scholar Conference in Jackson, Miss., and will serve as seminar leaders at the International Honors Institute in June. During this conference the Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Scholars will lead groups of 15-20 honor students in seminar discussions of the issues presented throughout the week. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 135,000 students inducted annually. For more information on Phi Theta Kappa, visit www.ptk.org. For details on programs and services at Western Technical College, call 608.785.9200 or visit www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1449Western Technical College offers a Supervisory Management program that allows students to customize classes to fit work schedules. Information about the program will be presented as a free video conference on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Western’s locations in La Crosse, Black River Falls, Independence, Mauston, Sparta, Tomah, and Viroqua. The La Crosse session will be held in Room 204 of the Coleman Center, 304 6th St. N. The Supervisory Management program is designed for current and aspiring supervisors to enhance interpersonal and management skills while strengthening knowledge of diversity, legal issues, and team building. There are three optional formats for completing the program: online, face-to-face, or blended ITV. Students can choose to take their entire degree in an online format with instructors from business and industry. The face-to-face format utilizes accelerated learning techniques that enable students to meet one evening per week for their core courses. The blended option combines online with the face-to-face format via Interactive Television (ITV). For details, contact Brandee Ortery at orteryb@westerntc.edu or at 608.374.7700 option 6. For information about additional programs and services at Western, call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu.http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1447All Western Technical College locations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day federal holiday. The public is asked to plan accordingly for any business at the college. For information about programs and services, visit www.westerntc.edu or call 608.785.9200. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1446