Gateway advocates
for students, communities

It’s never easy to ask our community for support.

It is important that we do so, especially when emerging needs exist to which we are asked to respond. We appreciate your taking the time to consider our proposal and voting your conscience on April 2. Your voices have given us clarity as we plan for Gateway’s future and the futures of our communities.

We are using your input to prioritize our ability to respond to what the communities and employers have told us is necessary for workforce development. Be assured that we will continue to be strong advocates for our students and prepare them for the careers of today and tomorrow.

Gateway has met the needs of our students, communities and area industries for more than a century, providing the educational training to family-sustaining jobs, better businesses and a better way of life. We will continue to do so now and in the future.

We remain your technical college.

Governor Walker lauds
iMET Center training

Governor Scott Walker spoke on the importance of skilled workers in Wisconsin and the ability of colleges such as Gateway to train them, during an April 11 address at the colleges’ SC Johnson Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center in Sturtevant.

Walker, speaking to an audience comprised mostly of business and educational leaders, said the center represented a great example of integrated manufacturing technology, needed training and the public-private partnership that contributes to its success.

“What better spot to be at than the SC Johnson iMET Center to talk about integrated manufacturing and engineering technology?” said Walker. “Not only in terms of what it means for Racine, Kenosha and Southeastern Wisconsin, but what it means for the entire state.”

Walker told the audience that manufacturing was alive and well in Wisconsin – noting it makes up about 20 percent of the state’s economy – and the need for qualified workers continues to play an important role for workers and employers. He pointed to the iMET Center as a hub for needed training in the area of advanced manufacturing and technology.

There, he said, you will find workers seeking to obtain the skills training needed for this industry, and employers seeking those workers – and willing to engage with the college to make it a success.

“The center really represents a true P3 – public-private partnership – where you have employers who are hungry for advanced manufacturing workers and engineers … and those employees hungry to gain those skills,” he said.

Gateway to host Annual
Earth Day celebration

Gateway Technical College on April 20 will once again host its popular community Celebrate Earth Day 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Kenosha, Racine and Elkhorn campuses, featuring environmental and “green” related activities, informational booths, children’s crafts, entertainment and more.

At the event, the public and communities served by the college can engage in hands-on demonstrations, family-friendly activities, vendors and informational opportunities that will show them how they can positively impact the environment.

Visitors at each of the three campuses will receive a reusable grocery bag, courtesy of event sponsor, Snap-on Incorporated, as well as a variety of other “green” focused items. The event is free and open to the public.

Gateway hosts regional
SkillsUSA competition

Students from Southeastern Wisconsin were able to take part in a SkillsUSA competition hosted by Gateway Technical College, including students from high schools in the Gateway district.

SkillsUSA competitions were held at three Gateway locations. The automotive competition was held at the Horizon Center for Transportation Technology, the welding and precision machining competition at the Racine Campus and skill and leadership competitions held at the SC Johnson iMET Center, Sturtevant.

SkillsUSA is a nationwide career and technical education student organization serving more than 300,000 high school, college and postsecondary students – and their instructors – in technical, skilled and service occupation instructional programs. Through partnerships between education and industry, it “works to ensure America has a skilled workforce,” according to its mission statement.

Gateway students hone
skills, learn culture

Gateway Technical College students worked with students at the college’s sister school in Germany recently, honing their skills while gaining a broader view of the many opportunities they may have in their future career.

The students visited Kafmannishe Schulen Haunau in Hanua, Germany, as part of an ongoing exchange program which allows students to learn another culture while also working on a career-related project. Students this time worked on international Accounting principles, an ever-increasing skill needed in today’s global market.

Moroccan officials tour
Gateway, facilities

Officials from the Moroccan college of Ecole Superieure de Technologie visited Gateway to learn how officials here have implemented the college’s Automotive Technology program in an effort to replicate it at their own college.

The trip by officials from the Oujda, Morocco, college included touring Gateway facilities and meeting and interacting with college administrators, instructors, economic development partners, community members and advisory board members from the Automotive Technology program and energy-related courses. They were provided with an in-depth look at how Gateway has become a regional training center for Automotive Technology instructors and trainers through their involvement in the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), so they can successfully implement a similar program in Morocco.

Gateway students even conducted some of the tours of the facility provided equipment demonstrations, showing visitors the automotive technology skills they’ve gained through the program.

Gateway students serve
soup, help homeless

Gateway Technical College Culinary Arts students helped serve soup to support the homeless March 4 at Empty Bowls held in the Masonic Center.

More than 20 students brought serving and cooking equipment to the event and used the skills they developed in their Gateway Culinary Arts courses at the communitywide event.

The role Gateway students serve in the event is to take the soups donated by area businesses and restaurants, cooking them to bring them up to proper serving temperature. They then work with the front line servers to ensure the soup is hot and supplies meet the demand of customers at that particular time.

“I think the biggest thing the students gain is real-world experience,” says Culinary Arts instructor Steve Villalobos, “the experience of being in a crowded kitchen and learning how to work within that environment."

Diners purchase a handmade bowl for $15 which they use to dine on the soup. The event is intended to bring awareness for hunger and homeless in the community, in addition to raising money for area community assistance programs.

Interior Design student
places at state event

Gateway Technical College student Megan Schultz (Kenosha) took first place in Residential Design, First Year, and third place in the Textiles, First Year Exam category, at the Wisconsin Technical College System Interior Design Competition held in February.

Students competed in two knowledge areas:

• a test of historical furniture and textiles
• on-the-spot design scenario in one of three skill areas – residential design, commercial design or kitchen design

Each participant was given a project scenario along with several finish samples to choose from and three hours to create a plan and presentation board. Design solutions were then judged by industry professionals.

Students take honors at state,
on to nationals

Six Gateway Technical College students captured first-place honors at the state leadership conference of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) and have qualified to compete at the national BPA event in May.

Gateway students took first place in the following categories, competing against students from 11 other Wisconsin technical colleges:

• Presentation Management Team: Elizabeth Klinzing (Elkhorn), Holly Anderson (Waterford), Magan Lawrence (Elkhorn)
• Interviewing Skills: Elizabeth Klinzing
• Web Design Team: Kasey Knudson (Reedsburg), Kelly Kendra (Genoa City), Nicole Rugen (Delavan)

Rugen also placed second in Graphic Design Promotion and third in Advanced Interview Skills, while Lawrence also placed second in Interviewing Skills.

 “The experience students gain from a competition like this is priceless,” says adviser Tina Page. “It builds confidence, self-esteem, the ability to work with others as a team and they gain skills they can use once they enter their career. Competing and placing well at BPA competitions is something they can put on their resume.”

Pollution prevention for
youth program offered

Parents and children looking for an enriching and fun activity during the traditional school spring break participated in the “What’s Your Pollution IQ?” program put on by Gateway Technical College for students grades 5 through 7.

The free program provided children the opportunity to explore environmental issues, specifically focused on pollution and the steps they can take to reduce pollution. The programs, held at Gateway’s Center for Sustainable Living on the Kenosha Campus as well as the Burlington Center, included hands-on activities and a video presentation.

“The Center for Sustainable Living at Gateway is pleased to offer the first of many programs for area youth to learn about sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said center manager James Gray.

Groups seeking to engage in similar programs are encouraged to contact Gray at grayj@gtc.edu.