March 3, 2014 at 4:34 p.m.
Nicolet College students show off community projects at event in Madison
Nicolet College students show off community projects at event in Madison
"Our students possess not only the technical skills to help employers compete and expand, they also consistently demonstrate the leadership skills needed to succeed in the workplace and in the community," said Morna Roy, president of the technical college system.
The annual student showcase was held last month in the capitol rotunda where more than 60 students from each of Wisconsin's 16 tech colleges had displays highlighting various community projects. Representing Nicolet Area Technical College were seven students and their instructors. Business management students had a display about their involvement in helping to promote the first annual Rhinelander MS Walk last year. Graphic design students targeted the focus groups they held at Rhinelander High School to promote art appreciation. Culinary arts students highlighted an employee appreciation dinner they hosted for Ripco Credit Union and had an additional treat for visitors to their booth - truffles.
"It was cool to see all the different things students across the state are doing and things we can perhaps bring back to Nicolet," said Christin Van Kauwenberg, a co-curricular engagement coach at Nicolet who focuses on the area of student life (activities outside the classroom setting).
Since coming on board last August, Van Kauwenberg said it has been her goal to find more ways for Nicolet students to get involved in the community through what they're learning in the classroom.
"With student life, we're trying to do more to bring things back to what's going on in the classroom and get students out into the community, not just organizing events (i.e. concerts, other social gatherings). Students can usually find those types of opportunities on their own," Van Kauwenberg said.
Service learning projects outside the classroom are a good opportunity for students to execute a real world application of their skills, she said.
"Then they can put it on their resume for when they're applying for jobs," Van Kauwenberg said. "It's a service learning opportunity, but it also gives something back to the community."
Last month's showcase was the perfect opportunity to brainstorm ideas for service learning projects Nicolet students can get involved in, she said. For example, Madison Area Technical College students highlighted science outreach they were doing for area elementary students.
"I was enamored by the science outreach in Madison. It was motivating," Van Kauwenberg said. "There are probably a lot of little steps we can start taking to get something like that."
She said she has had preliminary discussions with others about starting a similar science outreach program at Nicolet and it was good to see an already established program that can be used as a reference point.
A second component to the showcase was the annual legislative seminar for Wisconsin Student Government, the advocacy group for students across all 16 tech colleges. Though the legislative seminar occurs annually, it has only coincided with the student showcase in recent years. The seminar runs three days and includes a Wisconsin Student Government regular business meeting (one of five that are held throughout the year), as well as time for students to meet with technical college system officials and state legislators. Nicolet College had two attendees representing its student government.
"What it's designed to do is expose students to government in a way that's more than just casting a ballot and get them civically involved," Van Kauwenberg said.
Ryan Raschke has been involved in Nicolet's student government since the fall, but last month's seminar was his first time experiencing the larger tech college system student government.
"I was surprised and proud to see so many other students in the system wanting to get involved in learning about government on the state level and willing to speak up for the tech college system," Raschke said.
Approximately 80 students system-wide participated in the legislative seminar. After arriving in Madison on a Sunday night and attending the Wisconsin Student Government business meeting, students had a slew of activities Monday and Tuesday. They spoke with tech college system officials and prepared for one-on-one meetings with either legislators or their staff members.
Raschke said he and his fellow Nicolet student government representative were focusing on AB177 which they oppose. A portion of that bill takes authority away from the boards of individual technical college districts and puts most of the control at the state level.
"It's certainly an issue that's important to the technical college system and me because I've found Nicolet is the best way for me to work toward my bachelor's degree," said Raschke, who intends on studying soil sciences at a four-year institution after he leaves Nicolet. "If technical colleges are threatened, that's something I don't agree with. Nicolet is a wonderful steppingstone for my future and I want to see it stay strong for others with a similar dream."
Indications are that the bill won't gain much traction but legislation can always come back to the forefront.
"So the reason to be there was to talk to legislators and share the stories of students - what the tech college system has done for us - in case this comes back," Raschke said. "It's great to see ways we can be more involved than just casting a ballot."
With the student showcase occurring at the same time, Raschke said it was a good opportunity for state legislators to get a sense of the importance of the tech college system.
"They were able to not only talk with (the students participating in the legislative seminar) but see all these other students showing off great projects and what the tech college system has done for them," Raschke said.
Kyle Rogers may be reached at [email protected].
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