PTC welcomes Alison Holland to the president's office

Pine Technical College welcomes Alison Holland, Executive Assistant to President Robert Musgrove. Holland will begin work at PTC on Monday, July 6. This East Central Minnesota native most recently served as an administrative assistant at Mora High School. Prior to shifting her career into education, Holland cultivated her skills at The Rake Magazine, The Sportsman’s Guide, and Dance USA.

"I and the members of the hiring committee were very impressed with Holland's set of skills, attitude and qualifications," Musgrove said. "I look forward to introducing her to the rest our PTC family next week," Musgrove added.

Holland is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Dance. She is set to complete her M.A.L.S., Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, from Hamline University later this year. Holland said she is eager to utilize her talents in communication, records management, special event coordination and organizational administration at Pine Technical College.

"I’m proud to bring my experience and education to the 'team' at Pine Technical College," Holland said. "I look forward to assisting President Musgrove and making a positive impact on this important institution in our community," Holland added.

"Worm Wigwam" debuts in biology classroom

A new Worm Wigwam was installed in biology instructor Alexis Grinde's biology classroom/lab the week of June 8. The wigwam holds thousands of worms and is used to demonstrate the value and efficiency of composting.

"The Wigwam was purchased with biology money and serves to demonstrate chemical processes and nutrient cycling," Grinde said. "Plus, as an added benefit, the Ever Green Club is able to point to this as a premier example of composting," Grinde added.

In its mere two weeks in residence at Pine Technical College, the Wigwam already has composted more than 120 pounds of garbage and leftovers from the Student Lounge cafeteria. The worms eat about 30 pounds of food per day, such as fruit rinds. The Wigwam is an economical, odorless, vermicomposting system powered by worms.

In the diagram above (from www.wormwigwam.com), bedding and material are alternately layered by adding new layers on top. The worms continuously rise to feed on fresh layers, leaving a rich mixture of castings humus, worm cocoons, microorganisms and organic material in varying stages of decomposition behind. The end result -- the nutrient-rich vermicompost -- may eventually be reused as a form of garden fertilizer.

On top of bringing educational and environmental benefits, the Wigwam brings PTC financial benefits since the College pays less for waste removal services due to the work of the worms.

New furniture, more outlets in Student Lounge

Thanks to the Student Senate, the student lounge is equipped with more electrical outlets and is furnished with new, plush seating and endtables.

The seats come in shades of burgundy, blue, gray and gold and are arranged in the front lobby and throughout the lounge near the big-screen TV and in other locations.

With the additional electrical outlets and seating, the busy lounge will be even more busy this summer semester and fall. Many thanks to the Student Senate!

Alum donates valuable firearms to gunsmithing program

Pine Technical College alumnus and four-time World Champion Skeet Shooter Ed Schultz donated five firearms valued at more than $2,500 to the gunsmithing department. The firearms will be used by current gunsmithing students at various school-sponsored sporting events and Shooter's Association events.

"I learned so much from the gunsmithing courses I took at Pine Technical College, and it's nice I'm able to give back to the program in this way," Schultz said. "The firearms I donated are out of production, which makes them prime candidates for study and repair," Schultz added.

The gunsmithing department at Pine Technical College offers a certificate program, an advanced gunsmithing diploma program and beyond that, a prototyping diploma. All students, as part of the curriculum, build their own custom rifle. Additionally, students are trained in diverse areas such as woodworking, machining, manufacturing and business.

Gunsmithing student Christian Kolling wins scholarship

Pine Technical College and East Central Energy have partnered again in 2009 to offer a $1,000 scholarship to a PTC student. ECE has offered the scholarship program to students in its service area since 1988, and PTC students have consistently won the scholarship year after year.

This year’s recipient, Christian Kolling, is a student enrolled in the Pine Technical College gunsmithing program.

"This scholarship is really going to help me out. I am very happy to receive it," Kolling said. "I am thankful to ECE for the scholarship and Pine Technical College for the opportunity to pursue my diploma in gunsmithing," Kolling added.

ECE will be awarding a total of $60,000 in scholarships this year, and to date, the cooperative has awarded scholarships totaling near $500,000.

"These scholarships are available as the result of Capital Credits, which have remained unclaimed after several attempts to locate past members of the cooperative," said Jennifer Veeser, ECE Communications and Marketing Manager. "ECE is excited to be able to use this money for something as valuable as education," Veeser added.

Kolling and other scholarship winners must meet certain requirements, and winners are selected based on several criteria including prior academic achievement, community service and involvement and financial need. Additionally, the winners must be ECE members or a son or daughter of an ECE member.

Kolling and his family reside in Pine City and are active in the community. A member of the Pine Technical College Shooter’s Association and the association’s Director of Advertising, Kolling also coaches his daughter’s junior high school basketball team at Pine City Schools.

Pine Technical College is proud to partner with ECE to bring this welcome scholarship to so many PTC students over the years. East Central Energy www.eastcentralenergy.com is a member-owned electric cooperative that serves more than 57,000 homes, farms and businesses in east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. ECE provides electricity, high-speed Internet and long distance services, as well as community and business development and environmental services.

2009 graduation ceremony recognizes graduates, Teacher of the Year and Presidents' Awards

The 2009 Pine Technical College graduation ceremony was held at Pine City High School on Friday May 15, 2009 in front of a full house.

The ceremony began with Glenna Reierson on the piano playing the processional march. Nancy Mach, Dean of Student Affairs, gave opening remarks, followed by Mr. Jeff Ruth, Chapter President, Minnesota State College Faculty and Mr. Sean Dunaway, Pine Technical College Student Senate President with a welcome address.

Two prestigious awards are given each year -- the Teacher of the Year and the President's Award. For 2009, the award for the Pine Technical College Teacher of the Year went to Julie Shores, computer sciences and accounting instructor, and the President's Award, given to students who continuously earn a 4.0 grade-point-average during their entire academic career at Pine Technical College, went to two graduates, Jami Marquardt and Jamie Ruiz; both were awarded practical nursing diplomas.

The commencement address was given by Mr. Tony Thomann of Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, who inspired graduates and guests with quotes from Yoda of Star Wars and other short stories relevant to trying hard, doing good and living well. Thomann's address was well-received; the audience applauded and many whistled in agreement with his comments.

The presentation of the graduates' certificates, diplomas and degrees was more personal in 2009. Faculty members presented each graduate within their programs with his or her scroll. Following the ceremony, graduates and their guests gathered in the Pine Technical College student lounge for a reception with cake, fruit and punch.

All Pine Technical College faculty and staff members wish the class of '09 success and happiness. "Congratulations!"

Staff and faculty members honored at Fifth Annual Ribfest

Pine Technical College President Dr. Robert Musgrove hosted the Fifth Annual Ribfest Thurs. May 14, 2009 in the gunsmithing lab.

“This is a casual event just for all our faculty and staff members that work so hard,” Dr. Musgrove said. “The Ribfest is held at the end of the school year to honor all their hard work carried out throughout the year,” Musgrove added.

Musgrove, from the Lone Star State, served up Texas-style smoked ribs with his own secret seasoning. To add to the event, faculty and staff members brought many of their own specialty dishes. Some of the dishes included homemade rhubarb cake from Dean of Student Affairs Nancy Mach’s kitchen, guacamole from CIO/Technology Director Ken Ries, and grilled burgers by Gunsmithing Program Advisor and Instructor Dave Defenbaugh, just to name a few.

More than 75 staff and faculty gathered for the annual event to enjoy the ribs, each other’s company and the wrap of another school year.