Gunsmithing students aim high at Range Day

Photo above: President Musgrove is about to take aim.

Pine Technical College gunsmithing students and Shooters Association members hosted and sponsored Range Day this afternoon at the Grantsburg, Wisc. Rod and Gun Club. The annual event was open to all students, students' families, prospective students, and staff and faculty members. More than 50 attended the event and participated in trap and skeet shooting, plus enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, prepared by Shooters Association members.

"Range Day" is the event where anyone in the PTC community -- whether they're students or parents or donors or alumni or admissions staff -- can experience first-hand and up front firearms and shooting and learn to shoot if they don't already know how!" says Doug Pieper, PTC gunsmithing instructor. "Plus, it's just fun to get together outdoors over hamburgers and hot dogs and have a casual, fun event with our excellent students," Pieper adds.

Photo above: Gunsmithing students prepare the burgers.

Photo above: Dean of Student Affairs Nancy Mach takes her best shot with gunsmithing student Torfi Arnarson assisting.

Career in a Special Education Program

In the last few years the requirement for qualified educators has boomed rapidly. In fact, with the rise in education standards and the number of educational institutes and schools, the education industry expects to look for more qualified educators in the coming years. Today, we cannot deny the fact that education is an extremely rewarding career field but currently it demands more qualified teachers to educate children at the elementary school or college level.

Looking at the present scenario, educators or teachers require special skills that can be nurtured through intensive training. Addressing to meet this demand, special education degrees have increased its popularity in recent years. So, if you are already involved in this teaching profession and wish to advance your career in the education leadership, a special teaching degree is a necessity.

Today where teaching is considered as a highly noble profession, attaining a degree in special education can enhance your teaching career.

A special education program can even help you learn special skills including understanding diversity, teaching reading literacy, counseling and special education. During this course, you will receive training and educational information that educates you how to translate the knowledge to the students. Once you complete this special teaching program, you will be able to make decisions and take a stand on political issues that affect education and learning.

Another good thing about this degree program is that it gives teachers more opportunities in private schools and universities. This special education course provides you with one of the most convenient ways to gain higher income and greater career opportunities in the field of education.

Today, in fact many of the employed teaching professionals looking to advance their career to leadership roles like principal or dean are considering attaining a degree in special education.

There are lots of institutions and schools that offer degree programs in special teaching. They can vary from student behavior management, institutionalized learning methods, student-teacher supervision, specific areas and solutions for effective child education and more.

The acquisition on an online degree in special education can aid you in acquiring better career opportunities and going for well-paying jobs. But before enrolling in a college or university, make sure that it is accredited. If you can, try to get feedback from individuals who have completed the program.

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, "Oh my!"

Pine Technical College will offer two sessions of Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® manufacturing summer camp this year for high school students who have completed grades 9 – 11. Designed to help inspire the next generation of inventors, engineers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers, the camp is a technical, hands-on experience to introduce students to 21st century manufacturing technology and basic entrepreneurial skills. Two week-long sessions will be offered in June – one June 7 through June 11, and one June 14 through June 18. The first (June 7) session is open to both boys and girls. The second (June 14) session will have priority registration for girls only through May 21; boys will be accepted on a space-available basis after this date.

"Participants use technology to create a product from start to finish, providing them practical experience to build their confidence and set a foundation if they choose a career in one of the trades," said Dr. Robert Musgrove, Pine Technical College President. "There is an ever-increasing demand for highly skilled professionals who can design, program and operate technology, and this camp allows students to learn about these opportunities."

Meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday at Pine Technical College, participants will explore entrepreneurship, computer aided design (CAD), computer numerical control (CNC) programming and machining, automation, robotics and more, while emphasizing product creation, problem solving and team building. Visits to area manufacturers will provide an up-close look at products being made as well as career advice and inspiration from the entrepreneurs who run the companies.

For parents/guardians interested in having their child participate in the local camp, the registration fee is $50, which includes daily lunch, a camp T-shirt, instruction and materials, and transportation for all field trips to local manufacturers. One college credit will be awarded for successful completion of the camp. Scholarships are available for those with demonstrated need to help cover the registration fee and transportation to and from the camp. Because of the hands-on nature of the program, space is limited. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The priority application deadline is May 21, 2010.

Online Education Degree Programs

With an online education degree program you can earn an education degree that can be helpful in your teaching career to become a teacher, principal, education advocate or professor. These online programs are generally catered to suit the needs for people who have hectic personal activities. It's flexible property focuses on you and your needs by giving you the opportunity to earn a degree without having to step into crowded lecture halls or traveling between work and school.

There are basically three types of online degree programs - bachelor, master and doctoral. A Bachelor-level program provides you a platform to become teachers at elementary or secondary level of education. Master students that take up online education degree programs can actually come from career changers who have the desire to obtain teaching certificates as part of their graduate job.

Some are actually looking forward to qualify for administrative positions or teaching jobs at community colleges.

Doctoral students may also choose these programs to increase their opportunities in becoming education professors and engaging in research related with education. Today, teaching needs an excellent certification to be qualified as an educator. You have to practice caution by researching and checking with your state's rules and regulations regarding the appropriate requirements before you enroll yourself in any of the available online programs. There may be a requirement for you to take additional tests or to complete a local student teaching hours before you are allowed to become a classroom teacher.

Earning an education degree through online program has its own benefits such as you are allowed to juggle between work and studying at your own pace and most importantly the students are able to make a wider connection from all across the globe thereby increasing the access to experienced professors with a wide variety of education experience.

In your quest of finding the best online programs that offer you an education degree course, bear in mind that accreditation is a vital element.

Certificates that are fully accredited have the best opportunity to land you a job offer. Now that you have known this, make a thorough research on the list of online college or university profiles to find the best accredited and recognized program that is in line with your schedule, finance, and learning methods.

Don't miss Information and Financial Aid Night, May 5

Out of work? Want to re-train? Need to upgrade your skills? Want to change careers or start a career? Attend this valuable event full of information, and get the facts about going to college. Meet instructors and advisors, get career counseling and tour the campus!

Representatives from the Employment and Training Center, Central Minnesota Jobs and Training, Adult Basic Education and more also will be on hand to round out this information-packed night! Get ALL your questions about financial aid and enrollment at one stop!

What: Information and Financial Aid Night!
Who: Open to the public
When: May 5, 2010
Where: PTC campus in the Student Lounge area.
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information, call 320-629-5100 or e-mail: information@pinetech.edu. See you there!

Exhibit showcases original artwork by student Angela Filler

On display now through July, 2010 in the Pine Art Gallery are original works of art created by PTC student and Pine Citian Angela Filler. A native of Pine City, and a self-described "one-man band" in art, Filler has been performing and creating artistic works since childhood. Her first public work of art, a mural, appeared at the Rock Creek Motor Shop and was designed to promote a new meat and cheese shop at the truck stop. Since then, Filler’s varied and diverse works in paint, sketch, realistic renditions, comic book drawings and photography have been featured at the state fair, many art festivals and many local coffee shops and restaurants.

"I enjoy many forms of art and creating art, and I'm proud my work is on display at PTC," Filler says. "I enjoy painting, but I prefer to sketch with graphite pencil, and my own favorites typically feature wildlife," Filler adds.

Filler holds a degree in graphic design from Brown College, but her creativity doesn’t stop with the visual arts — an accomplished writer, actress and musical performer, Filler is pursuing additional degrees in business administration and accounting from PTC and puts all her skills and talents to work in her design studio and coffee shop — Wildlife in a Mug — a business she owns and operates.

The Pine Art Gallery features works of original art created by established and/or emerging artists from the Pine Area, embracing the talent and creativity of Pine Technical College students and the larger Pine community. The exhibit changes seasonally, and many kinds of artworks are showcased, including paintings, photography, pottery, sculptures, sketches, wood carvings and more. If you are an artist from the Pine Area and wish to exhibit your works in the Pine Art Gallery, see the Pine Technical College Marketing Director in Student Affairs.

Images at top: Examples of wildlife artwork by Angela Filler on display in the "Pine Art Gallery" on campus at PTC.


Above: PTC student Angela Filler

Online Nursing Programs Provide Exceptional Education

Increased popularity of online education, in combination with current and predicted nursing shortages across the country, has led to the development of new online nursing programs, including online master's programs for nurses.

One program, the online Master of Science in Nursing at Benedictine University, was recently accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an independent agency that works to improve the nation's health care system. CCNE accredits institutions that commit to "quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing." The accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and valid for up to five years.

BU's M.S.N. program has existed for over 25 years, and the online program was developed for the modern-day Registered Nurse to continue his or her education with the BU mission of "scholarship, diversity and service" in mind.

The health care field is evolving rapidly due to government reform and the availability of new technology, so BU designed its online program to include the type of education that nurses will benefit most from in the upcoming years. The online courses include instruction on current trends like caring for a growing senior population and patients who have chemical addictions.

The curriculum of the Benedictine M.S.N. involves eight core courses and four electives chosen by students to create a unique course of study. Nurses have the option to focus their electives toward one specific track, or to take courses in several different areas of interest.

By allowing students to personalize a significant portion of their studies, the program accommodates a broad range of students while still meeting nationally accepted standards of nursing education.

M.S.N. programs give nurses the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for working in leadership positions. Lisa Envoy, Ed.D., program coordinator, said that working with and teaching other nurses is a "gift" for BU's nursing faculty. She values how she "can make a difference for others."

Senator Al Franken visits and tours PTC

Above: Sen. Franken talks with students in CDEV 1340, Planning and Implementing Curriculum.

Senator Al Franken visited and toured Pine Technical College today, a stop the senator made during his full day of touring East Central Minnesota educational institutions to talk to students and educators about innovative programs and schools’ experiences with the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

At PTC, the senator was greeted by President Robert Musgrove and Pine City Mayor Jane Robbins who led the tour, which included a meet-and-greet with college administrators and faculty, a demonstration of equipment and serious games developed by the Johnson Center for Simulation, a tour of the manufacturing lab and demonstration of rapid prototyping, and a tour of the gunsmithing lab. Students in Melissa Felland's early childhood development course, CDEV 1340 -- Planning and Implementing Curriculum, got a chance to talk with the senator when he stopped in for an impromptu chat.

"Minnesota ideas and innovations in education continue to be a model for the rest of the country," said Sen. Franken. "With the upcoming reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, we will expand on the work being done and continue to improve education for all Minnesotans," Franken added.

While in Pine City, Sen. Franken also visited Pine City Elementary where he saw the Response to Intervention (RTI) education model in action -- a model that measures progress at frequent intervals so teachers are able to use data to make regular instructional adjustments, and at Finlayson East Central Senior Secondary School, a high-needs school, Sen. Franken met and talked with the superintendent and acting principal.


Above: Sen. Franken tries his hand at virtual spray-painting in the Johnson Center for Simulation.


Above: PTC Gunsmithing Instructor Dave Defenbaugh shows off the gunsmithing technology lab to Sen. Franken.

PTC's Ever Green Club to host "Health and Environmental Week"

April is Earth Month! In recognition of Earth Month, PTC and the Ever Green Club have developed a lineup of fun and educational earth-friendly and health-themed events. All events are free and open to the public. Join PTC students, staff and faculty members in all of the week's events:

Tues. April 20, 6 p.m. -- Public showing of FOOD, INC.
Food, Inc. is an Academy Award-nominated documentary that exposes America's industrialized food system and its effect on our environment, health, economy and workers' rights.

Wed. April 21, 12 noon to 3 p.m. -- Health and Environmental Fair
Learn about current health and environmental issues from the PTC nursing and biology students and Ever Green Club members. Topics and presentations include Blood Pressure, Cancer, Chemicals and Pesticides, Composting, Diabetes, Recycling, and Water Quality.

Thurs. April 22, 6 p.m. -- Food, Farming and Healthy Living
Owners and operators of local Duskwind Farm, Chuck and Jennifer Peterson, discuss the farming experience and benefits of "eating local." Also, Kelly Appeldorn, Nutrition Education Assistant with Pine County's UMN Nutrition Education Program, will discuss the nutritional aspects of real and whole foods.

Sat. April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Clean-Up Day
Bring your unused electronics, household items, tires, scrap metal and more to the PTC 8th Ave. entrance parking lot. All items except hazardous waste, such as paint cans and oil, will be collected and properly disposed.

For more information, contact the Ever Green Club by e-mail: Ever_Green_Club@pinetech.edu.

Poetry Reading to feature famed writer Ed Micus

Pine Technical College liberal arts faculty members are planning the Annual Poetry Reading for Tues. April 13. The event begins at 7 p.m. in room 20, the auditorium, and features famed writer Ed Micus as the headline act. PTC students and the public are encouraged to attend and welcome to participate in the Open Mic portion of the event.

"We're looking forward to hearing our students' original poetry, and of course, we're delighted to have Ed Micus this year," PTC liberal arts faculty member Stacey Foster says. "This is a chance for our students and the community to express themselves artistically onstage and with a live audience -- we're very proud of putting together this event," Foster adds.

The event's feature act, Ed Micus, is an alumnus of Minnesota State University, Mankato, and on top of publishing a book of short stories, Landing Zones, and a book of poems, The Infirmary, many of his works have appeared in The North American Review, Poetry, The New York Quarterly and others. Additionally, Micus has won several awards in writing, including an Emerging Voices Award from The Loft, as well as a Loft McKnight Award in Poetry.

The Annual Poetry Reading is a free event, and refreshments will be served. For more information, e-mail Stacey Foster, fosters@pinetech.edu.

A hero among us: ECD student Ashley Nolen

PTC is especially proud of one student, Ashley Nolen, who saved a boy from busy traffic just a few days ago. Having just left PTC for the day, Nolen was driving south on Hwy. 61 and noticed a small boy running in and out of traffic.

"I saw him from a distance but didn't realize it was a little boy until I got closer," Nolen says. "I grabbed him and took him up a nearby driveway, where I assumed he lived, and a woman came running across the yard. I asked if the boy was hers, and she said 'Yes,' and thanked me. She was so happy nothing happened to her son and that I brought him home," Nolen explains.

Nolen says it looked like the boy was chasing after a dog, and as a student going into the Early Childhood Development program, she says she just couldn't ignore the situation.

"I just love children, and I know at that age, they haven't developed the ability to judge situations like that, and I just had to step in," Nolen says. "Although I haven't started the child development classes yet -- I'm taking Intro to Psych [sic] and Critical Thinking [sic] now -- I can't wait to jump into the CDEV lineup this fall," Nolen adds.