Western Technical College Student Blog

Are you ready for some football?!

westerntcblog — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:26:02 +0000

Sorry I have not been able to blog for some time now. I had my son on March 23^rd. I was hoping to come back some time ago, but had complications post delivery that has kept me home bound. However, I cannot complain too much, because it has allowed me to stay home longer with my little guy. I wouldn’t trade it for anything! It has been a lot of work keeping up with homework, but my teachers have been pretty amazing about the whole thing. They have been flexible and understanding about everything. I guess being in the teaching field, they know and understand how cool kids are and how important it is to spend what time you can with them. Who would have thought I could take 5 classes and have a child all in one semester? Part of the reason is the way some of my classes are structured. My Marketing Management class is pretty much one big project. It is a lot like the show, The Apprentice. We are in groups of three and are working on promoting a local company. My class’ company is Courtesy Corporation. They are the local franchise owners of over 38 McDonalds. The groups are all unaware of what the other is planning. We are all specifically working on creating awareness of their Ronald McDonald House Charities and its Cookies for Kids campaign, but in different ways. My group has chosen to work with the La Crosse Spartans to get the word out. We will be at Friday’s game, April 30^th, at 7:30pm-La Crosse Center. Come hear about a local family that this great organization, the Ronald Mc Donald House, has been able to help.

The Crossroads Now…and Later…

westerntcblog — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:06:18 +0000

I was walking over from the Café to the Business Building and someone almost hit me in the crosswalk. I am getting so annoyed with drivers not slowing down and ignoring the signs. I do not feel that the signs do much good. It would be nice if they had a skywalk from the two buildings, but that is highly unlikely. However, there are plans in the making. Western plans to put in bump outs at the Sixth and Seventh Street crosswalks to slow down this traffic. They will narrow the street by a few feet on either side at the crosswalk. Often times the materials for these bump outs are different from that of the street. This allows them to stand out. The city’s Board of Public Works has approved an initial design. Western’s vice president of finance and operations said they hope to have them in by next fall. Hopefully this will help resolve the drivers’ problem of not seeing the signs. If they have a problem with stopping for students, then take a different route.

In Memory Scholarship

westerntcblog — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:06:07 +0000

A scholarship has been started in memory of Craig Meyers. It is the Supervisory Management class that has started it all. As many of you know, Meyers was a Criminal Justice major. So, why the Supervisory Management? I asked Gerald Parlow, a Management student that helped start the scholarship, this question. He said Todd Bernett, Meyers cousin, is in the Supervisory Management classes. This is a close group that shares in interest and grief. As to be expected, Todd had a hard time with the death of his cousin. The death affected them all. The group started the scholarship to help another student out, no matter the program, as long as it was in Craig Meyers’ memory. It will be up to his parents to decide which course the scholarship will be for. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

Administrative Center: Karla Koch – Rm. A106
Jaime Fortier – Third Floor
Academic Resource Center: Ann Kelly – Rm. R100
Automotive Technology Center: Karen Larson – Rm. ATC104
Business Education Center: Karen Kaiser – Rm. B104
Lori Olson – Rm. B202E
Campus Shop: Dawn Konze
Center for Childhood Education: Kim Herman – Rm. CCE127
Coleman Center: Kimberly Hanson – Rm. C227
Nicki McCallson – Rm. C110
Cathy Welch – Rm. C114
Health Science Center: Shari Borreson/Kathy Gregerson – Rm. H4058
Michelle Hansen – Rm. H0024
Kumm Center: Paula Zastrow – K211
Dave Bates – K-301
Lunda Center: Kelly Kass
Physical Plant: Julie Dahl – P114
Public Safety Training Center: Louise Jones (Sparta)
Technics Center: Nancy Boero – Rm. T234
Welcome Center: Jackie Newman – Rm. R164E

Check (payable to Western Technical College Foundation) or cash donations will be accepted through March 12. Donations after that time can be sent to Western Technical College Foundation Office, 400 Seventh St. N, La Crosse WI 54601.

Thank you to everyone that has already donated and I hope many more will step up and help out!

What Is In A Remodel?

westerntcblog — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:45:44 +0000

Have you been by the Café Lately? Notice any changes? It might be annoying seeing all the seating get taken away, but when all is said and done, it will be worth it. They are working on phase one of two for the Kumm Center Student Union. When asking students in my marketing classes what they thought of the remodel, the common consensus was, “What is it?” Well… let me tell you! Right now, where that big white box is, will be the new book store and student life. This is the phase one. This portion should be completed by Fall of 2010. Phase two is supposed to be finished by Fall of 2011. This portion includes several things. This is the meat and potatoes of the whole project. Where the current seating of the café is, there will be a new multi-function seating section. This is running right off of the food court. (Mostly where the food court is now, only better!) Then, there will be main seating that will have a door out to the Cleary courtyard. (Located roughly where the bookstore is now.) This portion will also have the Bistro on the end (the opposite side of where it is now). Then, the culinary is going to be moved upstairs. Right now they are in the basement and working with limited resources. They will be adding a lot of what should be necessities already when learning how culinary. They will have new proper venting and gas. Right now they are cooking on electric heat, not the most practical. When asking Deb Klug, the Foods Program Head and Instructor of the Food Production Specialist and Culinary Management Programs, she says, “It is exciting seeing things begin to materialize after looking at blueprints and renderings. The new foods lab will be state of the art and should enable us to grow our department and enhance the present curriculum with the technological advances in the food service industry.”

I hope that helps everyone better understand what your Kumm Center will soon look like. If there is anything else you would like to know, I will do my best as to letting you know. Any input would be great!

Found

westerntcblog — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:42:47 +0000

Now that they have found Craig’s body I just wanted to say how this is a sad loss for the family. I know there are no words that can make this time a little easier, but I am truely sorry for your loss. I would also like to tell the girlfriend my prayers are with you as well. I have heard nothing but good things about Craig and Western lost a good student today.

Missing Student

westerntcblog — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:46:33 +0000

I would just like to say a few words on the recent missing Western student, Craig Meyers. I just want the family and friends of Meyers to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Also, thank you to everyone that has shown up to in the efforts to trying to find him. If anyone does know anything Please call the La Crosse PD with any information: 785-5962. Let’s all join efforts and try to find him. Here is the link the facebook page if you would like to join: http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=craig+meyers&o=69&c1=2#!/group.php?gid=349918914337&ref=ss ( If you have a problem getting the link to open type in: Craig Meyers Search) Also, La Crosse Tribune has recent updates.

Valentine’s Day

westerntcblog — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:01:49 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14^th is the Day of Love. But do you know why? Well, there is a not a definite answer. Many of you have probably heard of St. Valentine. One legend says that he was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. There was an Emperor named Claudius II. He outlawed marriages for young men because he saw that single men made better soldiers that those that had a wife and family. Valentine found this unjust and he performed marriages for the lovers in secret. When Claudius found out what was happening, he was ordered to be put to death. Another legend says that Valentine was killed after helping Christians escape Roman prisons where they were beaten and tortured.

There is another myth that Valentine sent a ‘valentine’ greeting while in prison to a young girl, the jailor’s daughter. It is said that he signed it ‘From your Valentine.’ No matter which story is true, he had a flair for romance.

Now that we have the who, what about the day? Why February 14^th? Some think it is because it is that day that Valentine’s death or day of burial. Some claim that it is the day that Christian church uses to ‘Christianize’ the celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival (a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture). It was also the official start of spring in ancient Rome and was viewed as a time for perfection.

No matter which story is true, to the current day lovers, it is about flowers (that are way overpriced in my opinion), cards, chocolate, and stuffed animals. Hope everyone is enjoying a good Sunday with their significant other.

http://www.history.com/content/valentine

Super Bowl

westerntcblog — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:10:26 +0000

Did everyone watch the super bowl game? Most importantly did anyone watch the commercials?! I wasn’t able to see too many of them, but I am interested in hearing what you guys thought. I went back and watched a few of them however. Even though they did not come out ahead on any of the top ratings I looked at, I still love the Budweiser commercial with the horse and cow. To me those are just a tradition. I also read that this year, the commercials cost about 3 million for a 30 second spot. I guess that’s the price to pay because the commercials reach about 90 million viewers. Feel free to comment on which team you were going for as well. I personally was going to the Saint’s, but mostly because they had never been to the Super Bowl.

Baby Update: 35 weeks and 3 days down! Only about 32 days left! Anyone want to take a guess as to what day they think I will go?!

Tax Return Time!

westerntcblog — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 03:46:58 +0000

The tax season has arrived! Tax season has a lot of meaning for me and my family. My dad owns his own company, Hayden CPA, out of West Salem. The joys of owning your business is being able to take off when you want right? Well, when it comes to owning a business where a large amount of your clients come see you only one time a year in the span of a four months, you are a little restricted. During tax season my dad gets up before the sun (literally), comes home for lunch and dinner (about one hour or so), and goes back to the office until maybe eight or nine. Needless to say he starts a count down at the beginning of the year for April 15^th. Well, if you were not born into a tax family, there is help for you! Western’s accounting and finance students volunteer to help assist those who have basic tax return needs. It is mainly for those who have low and limited income. If this is something that interests you, they will be available on Mondays between February 8^th and April 5^th from 4:45-8:00pm. You can go to room 114 in the Business Ed Center. They also E-file so you can get your money back fast! If you would like more information regarding the tax assistance, call 608.785.9168.

Also, if you have not yet received your tax return, you should get it by this week. All tax returns have to be sent out by January 31^st. Do not quote me on this, but I believe it is a law that they have to have them post mark by that date. Western has already sent out their forms for your tuition statements. Plus, did you know that you can get credit for renting?! Make sure you have your landlord give you a renter’s certificate. If they say they do not have one, you can print one out from this site: http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/2009/09i-017.pdf. (Note: This is for WI only.)

Hope everyone is enjoying their semesters so far!

Coming soon: Inside story to the remodel! What is coming and how the students feel about it.

Welcome Back!

westerntcblog — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 01:11:09 +0000

I hope that everyone enjoyed their time away, for school is back in full swing. The first week has come to an official end. This will be a busy semester for me though. I am taking 5 classes, working 25 hours a weeks at Kwik Trip Bakery, working 10 hours a week for the internship, joined WMMA, as well has having a baby! But, these were all choices that I made. However, we don’t always get to play a part in how things are run. So, here is your chance to say otherwise. If there is something you don’t like about your program, or services provided at Western, you have a chance to voice your opinion. On Tuesday, January 26^thfrom 3:30-5 pm at the Lunda Center, there is a student input session. There will be small group discussions where the information collected will be used to support Western’s upcoming applications for grant funding and continuous quality improvement efforts. PLUS… you will get the chance to win a PC! Also, what college student doesn’t like getting free food? There will be light snacks provided. This is your chance to put your money where your mouth is.