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’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. Menus for Western Corner Bistro were produced by Menu Design students and selected by a team of well-known area chefs. 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 Margaret Ninneman at 608.785.4706 or e-mailing ninnemanm@westerntc.edu. In addition to the restaurant, the students also take part in running a bakery. Bakery items are 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=1379The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Technical College System are using February’s observance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month in Wisconsin to highlight the wide range of opportunities available to youth in the state who wish to explore their career options, and the benefit of those programs to Wisconsin industry and communities. During CTE Month, State Superintendent Tony Evers plans to visit some outstanding career and technical programs in PK-12 schools and technical colleges. The two agencies are also providing an extensive list of outreach and publicity materials to help schools and others convey the career and technical education message to students, their parents, businesses, and the public. During CTE Month, the state superintendent, along with Ernst & Young and Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, will name the state’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year. “Students need a wide range of rigorous, authentic career development experiences throughout their PK-12 education,” Evers said. “These will help them learn skills as well as chart their future course, which is an essential part of graduating ready for further education or the workforce.” Career and technical education provides multiple pathways for students to become college and career ready, even while still in high school. Partnerships between and among PK-12 schools, local businesses, and technical colleges are often an important component of CTE. These partnerships have been used to provide innovative instruction on state of the art equipment, put students’ creativity to work for local industry, create pools of local talent in communities, and make learning more relevant and engaging to students. Additionally, many educators in recent years have reinvented CTE, formerly known as vocational education, into a field that rigorously explores real-world applications of academic concepts. “Western Technical College has forged strong local partnerships with business and industry, as well as beneficial collaborations with area public school districts to build strong career pathways,” added Lee Rasch, Western president. “For these partnerships to be successful, we need to make sure we connect high school students with the wide range of career options available to them through career and technical education.” State Superintendent Evers has strengthened support to increase and enhance opportunities for career and technical education in high school. The agency has offered schools simplified methods for verifying whether students may receive science, math, or English language arts credits for the increasing number of CTE courses involving rigorous learning in those areas. Evers and the department are also encouraging schools to adopt the sort of programs which allow students to take courses from postsecondary institutions while in high school, often receiving technical college and high school credits simultaneously. More than 90,000 Wisconsin high school students are currently taking career and technical education courses in fields like manufacturing, agriculture, business, family and consumer science, health occupations, marketing, technology and engineering. In western Wisconsin alone there are 4,330 high school junior and seniors in CTE courses. The Wisconsin CTE Month webpage, www.dpi.wi.gov/cte/ctemonth.html, will be continually updated to include public address announcements, videos, success stories, and more. More information about Career and Technical Education Month is also available at that location. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1378Senate Joint Resolution 52 (SJR 52) honoring Western Technical College on its centennial anniversary has been scheduled for a vote in the State Senate at 11:00am on Tuesday, January 24th. This joint resolution was introduced by Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) along with many other regional legislators to commemorate the history and importance of Western Technical College in our state. “I am proud that our state will be officially recognizing the wonderful staff, faculty, students, and alumni that have helped to ensure the success of Western Technical College over the past 100 years,” said Shilling. “Western Technical College continues to be one of Wisconsin’s most highly respected educational institutions, and in these difficult economic times, has once again demonstrated it’s value to our communities, workers, and businesses. I know that the outstanding leadership at Western Technical College, strong community support, and growing demand for quality higher educational experiences will continue to drive Western’s success over the next 100 years.” Western Technical College President Lee Rasch, Vice President Mike Pieper, and members of the Western District Board were in attendance. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1377Western Technical College’s Professional Development division is offering two sessions of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) 8-hour Refresher. The first will be on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., on the La Crosse campus. The second session will be held at the Comfort Inn in Black River Falls on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. This training complies with MSHA regulation 30 CFR Part 46.8 and provides the annual refresher training required of miners, and other persons who engage in work or are associated as workers or independent contractors with sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, colloidal clay, colloidal phosphate, surface limestone, and other types of surface and/or subsurface mines. For details on this and other seminars, visit www.westerntc.edu/pd. To register, contact the Professional Development division at 608.789.6100 or e-mail pd@westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1376Western Technical College will have adjusted business hours on Friday, Jan. 13, to allow college employees to attend staff meetings prior to the start of the spring semester. On Jan. 13, the La Crosse Campus and all regional locations will open at 11:00 a.m. The public is asked to plan accordingly for any business at the college that day. Spring classes at Western begin Monday, Jan. 16. For more information about programs and services, visit www.westerntc.edu or call 608.785.9200. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1375Western Technical College will be offering a new Medical Administrative Professional associate’s degree this spring semester, which starts Jan. 16. After two years of market studies and gathering input from focus groups made up of local business and industry partners, the curriculum has been established and students are being accepted into the program. “Our business partners have been instrumental in developing this new program,” said Gary Brown, dean of Western’s Business division. “We used their input to ensure that these graduates will be ready to meet the needs of local employers.” The Medical Administrative Professional program prepares students to understand, function in, and supervise the business-related tasks of a medical office. Career opportunities exist in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, rehabilitation/nursing care facilities. Embedded in the 66-credit program is a technical diploma entitled Health Office Professional (33 credits) and a certificate entitled Health Office Assistant (12 credits). More information about the program can be found at www.westerntc.edu/programs under Health-Behind the Scenes. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1374The Western Technical College Foundation recently selected two new members for three-year terms on the Foundation Board of Directors. New members are: Angie Lawrence, of Viroqua, an active community volunteer. Lawrence serves as the secretary for the Viroqua Area Foundation, vice president of the Viroqua School Board, and a member of the Jewish Women’s League, Hospice Advisory Board, and the Library Advisory Board. Jeff Wieser, of La Crescent, president of Wieser Brothers General Contractor, Inc. Wieser has several professional affiliations, including the Associated Builders and Contractors, the US Green Building Council, and the Crucifixion Church Council. In addition, he has also participated with community groups such as, the 7 Rivers Region Alliance, Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater La Crosse United Way, La Crosse Area Development Corporation, and La Crescent Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Western’s Wood Tech program. The Western Foundation exists to support the activities of Western Technical College. To learn more about the Foundation or additional programs and services at Western, please call 608.785.9200 or visit the website at www.westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1373For the past several weeks, Western Technical College Automotive and Diesel Skills USA Club students collected non-perishable food items for WAFER. The 90 students gathered over 1,100 items and recently delivered the donation to WAFER, thanks to transportation provided by United Auto Supply. “We receive such great support from our community partners, and feel it’s our duty to pay it forward to other community organizations,” said Phil Solberg, Automotive program instructor at Western. “We heard about the shortages at the food pantries and hoped that we could make a difference.” For more information about additional 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=1372Western Technical College has been awarded a five-year Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant through the U.S. Department of Education totaling $2 million for strengthening student success and faculty development. Title III’s Strengthening Institutions Program is designed to strengthen the capacity of eligible higher education institutions to deliver academic quality. Western’s approved grant activity, The Pathway to 2020, addresses key goals and challenges the college faces as it develops its Vision 2020 — the college goal of inclusive student culture, programming, readiness to offer cutting edge curriculum, and uniform, effective systems and processes. According to Karen Gleason, Western’s Title III project director, “The objectives of the activity build a comprehensive system to increase the number of innovative and creative teaching methods used, and ultimately increase the success rate of students.” Key initiatives within Western’s project include: • Funding the design and opening of a fully-resourced Teaching and Learning Center, which will house aligned professional development activities and encourage new and veteran faculty to use innovative teaching and learning methods. • Developing a Faculty Institute for new faculty to prepare them to be part of a collaborative space in the classroom. • Creating a data system that better aligns student need with available support services, including innovative teaching methods. • Growing endowment funds to create a Faculty Innovation Fund, to provide an easily accessible, permanent pool of money to fund release time for faculty who want to pursue special projects, lead a grant activity, or create a new classroom methodology. “This funding allows Western to improve and expand faculty development to enhance the college as an adaptable, learner-centered institution,” said Western President Lee Rasch. “This is an essential piece of the college’s vision for the future, and we’re pleased that the Department of Education recognizes the potential impact this will have.” For details on the Title III SIP grant, visit www.ed.gov. For more information about 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=1371A popular military magazine has named Western Technical College one of the nation's top 10 two-year colleges for veterans. The Military Times ranked Western 7th on the list, which examines participating schools' financial assistance, academic flexibility, campus culture, and other support services. Western is the only two-year college in Wisconsin to make the list. “We started back in the spring by polling more than 500 student veterans on what they consider the most important school services for vets,” reads the Military Times website. “Results of the student survey informed our college survey and ultimately these rankings, particularly our emphasis on academic accreditation, central veterans' offices and staff knowledgeable on veterans' issues.” “Western takes great pride in providing a quality education to those men and women who serve our country,” said Denise Vujnovich, vice president of Student Services. “We offer a variety of services to ensure veterans have a smooth transition into college. Our Veterans Services Office is a great resource – not only for educational benefits, but for many other benefits offered for veterans in our community.” More than 1,400 veteran students are currently enrolled at Western, up from 800 in 2009. The college anticipates that number to continue to increase as more soldiers return from active duty. The Military Times publishes several military focused newsweeklies – Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times and Navy Times. The publications are available worldwide at military bases. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1370All Western Technical College campuses and regional locations will be closed for the holiday season from Friday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 2. College business and administrative offices, including counseling and registration, will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 3. Spring semester courses begin on Monday, Jan. 16. For more information on Western’s 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=1369"Take the Student Activity Fee Survey, Win Prizes" From Dec. 5th to Feb 1st, go to: http://westernstudents.org/activityfeesurvey.html to take our 5 minute survey and help Western Student Government decide how to spend YOUR MONEY. Every student who responds to the survey will be entered in a drawing to win one of these six prizes: A general parking pass for spring semester A $50 gift card to the Campus Shop A used PC from the Business Center Two $15 gift cards to the Wellness Center A free massage from Absolutely Theraputic Two coffee mugs and a $10 gift certificate from Union Market Every year, all students pay an activity fee calculated at 5.5% of their tuition costs. This money is used to support activities for the student body like athletics, campus events, the Wellness Center, and others. In order to better determine where this money should be spent, the Student Activity Fee Survey is conducted every two years by Western Student Government. Please help Student Government find the best possible way to spend this money by trading a quick 5 minutes of your time for a chance to win great prizes! http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1367Western Technical College Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician program students conducted a Toys for Tots Drive with the goal of exceeding last year’s $900 toy donation. They succeeded, gathering more than $1,400 worth of diesel-themed children’s toys. Cindy Kreibich, Toys for Tots barrel co-chair, visited the Diesel Training Center today to thank the students and pick up the toys. “With just this generous donation, the Jaycees Toys for Tots program will be able to give toys to more than 50 different kids this Christmas season,” said Kreibich. In addition to the toy donations, the diesel students are bringing in canned goods for WAFER and recently raised over $1,100 to benefit an instructor’s 11-year-old daughter who is battling cancer. “Our community supports Western and the Diesel program in so many ways,” said instructor Casey Eglinton. “It’s only right that we support our community in return.” For more information about additional 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=1368Western Technical College alternative high school students are collecting donations of personal hygiene items for Coulee Council on Addictions and non-perishable food for the Salvation Army Food Pantry, as part of a class service learning project. Collection barrels will be available now through Friday, Dec. 9 in various locations on Western’s La Crosse campus. These locations include: Instructional Support Services lobby, first floor of the Academic Resource Center, 400 7th St. N. Library, second floor of Academic Resource Center, 400 7th St. N. Human Resources Department, first floor of the Administrative Center, 111 7th St. N. For details on the project or to have donated items picked up, contact Sherry at 608.789.6022 or olsons@westerntc.edu. For information on Western Technical College programs and services, visit www.westerntc.edu or call 608.785.9200. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1366Western Technical College offers a Supervisory Management program that allows students to customize classes to fit work schedules. Information about the program will be presented on Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., and again on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., both in room 102 of the Business Education Center, 405 8th St. N., La Crosse. The public is invited to stop by any time during the two-hour sessions. The Supervisory Management program is designed for people interested in acquiring or improving supervisory and leadership skills with a business emphasis. Students in this degree program are given tools to engage in the challenges facing today’s workplace through leadership, quality, and safety. In addition, this program develops soft skills such as strong work ethic, positive attitude, effective communications, time management, problem solving, teamwork, valuing diversity, self-confidence, professionalism, stress management, flexibility, and adaptability. 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 on the Supervisory Management program, contact Josh Gamer at gamerj@westerntc.edu or 608.789.6117. 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=1365For saving enough energy in 15 months to effectively plant more than 30,538 trees, Western Technical College was recently presented with The Award for Energy Stewardship from Energy Education. The award recognizes the college’s efforts to implement an organizational behavior-based energy conservation and management program. The program is administered through Energy Education, a national energy conservation company. “Western Technical College President Lee Rasch, the board members, and administration are demonstrating wise fiscal and environmental stewardship by implementing this unique organizational behavior-based energy conservation program,” said Dr. William S. Spears, Chairman and Founder of Energy Education. “Using human resources to reduce energy use saves natural and financial resources for the organization and the community.” The program delivers an environmental benefit from reduced carbon footprint. Energy not used prevents the emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. According to EPA/EGrid figures, in the first 15 months of the program, Western Technical College saved 11,219 MMBTU, the equivalent of 1,213 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions being prevented, 214 cars removed from the road, or 30,538 pine trees grown for 10 years. “This energy program is an excellent vehicle to assist our personnel in practicing good stewardship of our resources. The willing participation of virtually every staff person — faculty, administrators, food service, maintenance and custodial people — adds to our success,” said Rasch. Western’s Energy Education Specialist, Shannon Havlik, receives training from Energy Education energy specialists to implement conservation procedures in all of the system’s facilities. She conducts energy audits to ensure that students and faculty are comfortable during class times and scheduled activities, and that energy is used only as necessary. She works to motivate everyone in the organization to use energy wisely, keep classrooms comfortable, and practice smart energy strategies. Energy Education’s Transformational Energy Management® process trains client personnel to implement behavioral and organizational change that substantially reduces energy consumption without the purchase of new equipment. The program is funded solely and rapidly by the savings it generates, allowing clients to redirect saved energy dollars to other priorities. For more information about Western Technical College and its sustainability practices: www.westerntc.edu/green http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1364Tara Johnson, Chairperson of the Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District, has announced a vacancy on the Western Technical College District Board. She will accept applications from District residents for consideration to fill the vacant position of an Additional Member on the Board of the Western Technical College District. Application materials will be available beginning Friday, Dec. 2, and must be returned by 4:00 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 16. The Board Appointment Committee will appoint one person to the Western District Board at a public hearing and meeting scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. The term of the appointment, in accordance with the Plan of Representation, will commence upon confirmation by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and expire June 30, 2014. The Plan of Representation states that the District Board must be organized to represent employees, employers, and the general population at-large throughout the district; giving equal consideration to male, female, and minority representation. Preliminary tallies from the 2010 Census show that the Western Technical College District’s minority population has grown to 7.84%. It is likely that the Appointment Committee will require the appointment of a candidate who also represents our Hispanic, Black, American Indian, Asian, or other minority populations. The Western Technical College District encompasses 11 Counties in Wisconsin. Currently the District Board has three representatives from La Crosse County and one each from Monroe, Juneau, Trempealeau, and Jackson Counties. The following chart shows the representation of population in Western’s District. All District Board members must be residents of the Western Technical College District. The Western District Board is responsible for the administration of vocational, technical, and adult education programs and services in the District as authorized by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) Board according to state legislature. Appointments are subject to confirmation by the WTCS Board. Applicants must submit at least two letters of reference supporting their nomination to the District Board, and they must attend a Public Hearing and meeting of the District Board Appointment Committee and be interviewed. Application materials are available at the office of Tara Johnson, Chairperson, Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District beginning Dec. 2. For application materials, please call 608.785.9563. Completed applications must be submitted to the Chairperson of the Board Appointment Committee no sooner than Friday, Dec. 2, and no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. Address all materials and inquiries concerning applications to: Ms. Tara Johnson, Chairperson Board Appointment Committee of the Western Technical College District La Crosse County Administrative Center, Room 3260 400 4th Street North La Crosse, WI 54601 The Western District Board currently holds its regular meetings during the afternoon of the third Tuesday of each month at the District offices in La Crosse. The District Board annually sets the regular meeting time and date at its July organizational meeting. Special Board meetings are held as needed at the District offices in La Crosse. District Board members serve without compensation, but receive reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in performing official duties. District Board members are required to abide by the State of Wisconsin Code of Ethics and must file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1363Western Technical College will be able to give extra guidance to dislocated workers transitioning into healthcare programs, thanks to money from a recent federal grant. The three-year $12.69 million grant was awarded to a consortium of seven colleges in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, including Western and two other Wisconsin Technical Colleges. Western’s $2.1 million share of the “Bridges2Healthcare” grant will be used to create pathways and bridges for student success as they enter the healthcare field. The college hopes that redesigned student services and developmental education made possible by the funds will lead to better retention and achievement rates. Some of Western’s specific goals include expanding classroom access within several healthcare career paths, designing a new instructional model for Anatomy and Physiology, and providing more intensive advising, tutoring, and intervention efforts. By September 2014, Western plans to increase the number of certificate and degree holders in areas of Personal Care Workers, Nursing Assistants, Central Service Technicians, Surgical Technologists, Human Service Associates, and Medication Aides. “These new initiatives wouldn’t be possible without this grant,” said Lee Rasch, Western president. “The funds will allow the college to provide needed training that will open doors into good paying careers in healthcare. Ultimately our entire region will benefit.” “We will be working closely with our collaborative partners to make the new training and curriculum accessible to dislocated adult workers in the region,” added Sandra Schultz, Western’s Bridges2Healthcare project coordinator. “We look forward to working with local healthcare employers to ensure our graduates have what the local job market needs.” The grant is funded through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, a program created in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The Bridges2Healthcare project is part of a $500 million national effort announced by the U.S. Department of Labor, together with the U.S. Department of Education, to support community colleges with job training and workforce development for dislocated workers who are changing careers. This is the first installment in a $2 billion, four-year investment. More than 200 community colleges applied for the grants, and 49 were chosen to receive the money so far. For more information about additional 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=1362Mathews Manufacturing employees enrolled in a Supervisory Management course through Western Technical College are holding a food drive to benefit Couleecap. Donation boxes have been set up around Sparta since Nov. 1, but they are making a final push for donations on Wednesday, Nov. 16. Anyone interested in donating non-perishable food items that day can bring them directly to Mathews Manufacturing, 919 River Road in Sparta, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The food drive is part of a class community service project. The students were able to choose the event and the beneficiary. Couleecap serves people and communities in Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon counties. The organization’s main purpose is to provide the tools and resources that empower low-income people to meet their needs, develop self-confidence and reach self-sufficiency. Couleecap strengthens communities by identifying resources, developing opportunities, and advocating for local adults, youth, and families. For more information, visit www.couleecap.org. For more information about additional 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=1361Western Technical College’s Kumm Center addition recently became the second new building/addition on the La Crosse campus to achieve certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The addition houses the Cavalier Campus Shop bookstore, Student Life offices, and Student Government meeting space. Completed in August 2010, the new area is now officially recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as meeting the silver-level standards in environmental design and sustainability. “This space benefited from an integrated design process that emphasized sustainability in planning, construction, and operations, and we are very pleased to be recognized with LEED silver certification,” said Mike Pieper, vice president of finance and operations. “Western’s green building and renovation program is one part of the college’s broader commitment to sustainability.” Some of the LEED features include: tinted windows; energy efficient lighting and controls; energy efficient HVAC systems and controls; materials and products that are durable, non-toxic, high in recycled content and easily recycled; and superior indoor air quality. The second phase of the Kumm Center remodel, the Student Union and Union Market food court, is currently being evaluated for LEED Silver status. For more information about LEED certification, visit the U.S. Green Building Council website at www.usgbc.org. To learn about other Western Technical College sustainability efforts visit www.westerntc.edu/green. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1360Western Technical College will host a special ceremony to honor veterans on Thursday, Nov. 10. Honoring Our Veterans – Past, Present, and Future will take place in the Kumm Center Student Union, from 12:25-1:20. It is free and open to the public. A color guard will begin and end the program, which features guest speakers highlighting past, present, and future sacrifices of veterans and their families and what it means to be a veteran today. The event is co-sponsored by Western’s Vets for Vets Club and Campus Events Committee. They chose to hold it the day before Veterans Day to maximize student participation and avoid conflict with other community events. For more information about additional 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=1359Western Technical College is encouraging students to share their educational experiences in the statewide Futuremakers’ Video Competition. The competition rewards students who creatively demonstrate how they combine their passion with their education to launch a successful future. The short video entries demonstrate how Western is helping them make their futures. Now through February 29, students from any of the 16 Wisconsin technical colleges can submit their videos. Judges at the colleges will consider creativity, originality of presentation, effectiveness of communicating the Futuremaker experience, and weighted voting from viewers. Each college will forward one video to the state level for the semifinals. A different panel of judges at the state level will evaluate the semi-finalists. In April 2012, one of three technical college students will be awarded the Futuremakers’ Video Competition top prize of $2,000. Second and third place prizes of $1,500 and $1,000 will also be awarded. Western has a history of award-winning entries. Last year, Jimi Shaw, Western Visual Communications student, took second place honors, and the previous year, Western’s Franklin Romero won first place. For more information about the video competition, visit http://www.wearefuturemakers.com/videocompetition. The Wisconsin Technical College System has 16 technical college districts throughout Wisconsin, offering more than 300 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized training and technical assistance to Wisconsin’s business and industry community. More than half of all adults in Wisconsin have accessed the technical colleges for education and training. Find more about educational programs at www.witechcolleges.org. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1358Western Technical College is conducting two focus groups to get community feedback on future program offerings at Western in Mauston. As part of the college’s Vision 2020 plan, Western is exploring a focus for each Regional Location. For Mauston, there is interest in the manufacturing field as well as the hospitality and customer service fields. The focus groups will provide an opportunity for the public to discuss the current and future career and training needs in these areas. Both discussions will be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Western in Mauston, 1000 College Ave. The manufacturing focus group will be from 8:00-10:00 a.m., and the hospitality and customer service focus group will be from 1:00-3:00 p.m. For more information or to register for the event, contact Steve Bissen at 608.343.5566 or bissens@westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1357Western Technical College is conducting a focus group on food producers and organic farming to get community feedback on future program offerings at Western in Viroqua. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 17, from 8:00-10:00 a.m., at the Viroqua campus, 220 South Main St. As part of the college’s Vision 2020 plan, Western is exploring a focus for each Regional Location. For Viroqua, there is an interest in food producers and organic farming as the emphasis. The focus group will provide an opportunity for the public to discuss the current and future career and training needs in these areas. For more information or to register for the event, contact Steve Bissen at 608.343.5566 or bissens@westerntc.edu. http://www.westerntc.edu/news/releasedetail.asp?rel_id=1356Hana Carl, Western Technical College student and Fennimore High School graduate, was recently named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIII All-region Team, which consists of junior college teams in Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Carl was also voted Western’s team MVP for 2011. “As a freshman and one of two starting setters, she exhibited great leadership qualities on and off the court,” said Coach Jake Kujak. “She did an excellent job managing our offense and was herself a very consistent and reliable player on both the offense and defense. I believe we were a better team for her outstanding team-first play, her leadership by her example, and her ability to play at a consistently high level.” Carl finished the season as the leader in assists with 184. She was also second on the team in kills with 73 on 164 attempts, only 4 behind the leader and a ratio of .445. Sixteen blocks, 49 digs, and 22 aces round out her stats for 55 games played. Western advanced to the NJCAA Region XIII regional, where they were defeated by Ridgewater Community College in semi-final action. Ridgewater, currently ranked #1 in the country, advances to the NJCAA National Tournament after defeating Rochester Community College in the finals of the regional tournament. For more information about 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=1355