Grant Awarded for Career Pathways

4/10/19

The Greater Twin Cities United Way recently announced support with a grant of $340,000 for a Career Academies Pathways Project. Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Jackson County Central School District, Windom Area School District and Worthington District #518 in conjunction with the Southwest Initiative Foundation have collaborated to expand educational opportunities for high school students. 

The partnership focuses on high school students participating in a college class while still in high school in high demand career paths such as Healthcare, Manufacturing, Information Technology and Education. For many students, this opportunity helps them determine interests and career paths, as well as, allowing students to receive college credits.

Dr. Kayla Westra, Minnesota West Dean of Institutional Effectiveness & Liberal Arts comments, “Providing students with career pathways while still in high school helps students envision their future. They can learn more about careers and the skills and coursework needed to work in those fields while still in high school, which helps them streamline their post-secondary options.”

Theresa Ireland, Minnesota West K-12 Collaboration Coordinator stated, “I am looking forward to continuing to support the work being done in the three districts, which will benefit not only their communities, but the whole region.”

“In Worthington, we have a number of high quality opportunities for students to begin earning college credit while still in high school. The Career Academies Pathway Project allows us to give more students a solid understanding of what type of career path they would like to pursue.This project is one of the ways we hope to encourage our young people to find a career they are passionate about and stay within the region to make a positive impact”, adds Josh Noble, Worthington High School Principal.  

In 2017-2018 academic year, 120 students in the region were involved in career academy opportunities, the numbers increased to 160 students in 2018-2019. The continuation and expansion of the program with the grant monies will allow for more students to be involved in the pathways.

Powerline Program To Be Offered at Granite Falls

3/27/19

Minnesota West will begin offering our Powerline Technology at the Granite Falls Campus in July 2019. Currently the Powerline Technology program is offered on the Jackson campus; however, Minnesota West is now adding the satellite Powerline Technology option in Granite Falls to expand the program to serve the workforce and region.

Powerline Technology is a one-year 38 credit diploma program that prepares students to become apprentices in powerline construction and maintenance. Students learn basic skills and applications in transmission and distribution. Persons trained in this field, work for power companies installing and maintaining overhead and underground powerlines. They install equipment such as overvoltage and overcurrent protective devices, transformers, capacitors, and regulators. Powerline technicians are employed by investor owned power companies, consumer owned power companies, municipalities, and by electrical contractors.

Bruce Peterson, Academic Dean of Energy Technologies states, “As the power systems in Minnesota continue to evolve, we see the Southwest region of the state becoming a stronger presence in the power generation sector.

The State continues to reduce its’ dependence on traditional fossil fuel generation and build its resources around renewables. Production of electricity in our region is growing to meet the demand of the more densely populated regions. As a result of electricity production in our region, transmission of that electricity will be a critical factor in the changing state power economy. 

Minnesota also has an aging infrastructure in the power grid that needs upgrading and modernization. When you look at how long many of our distribution lines have been providing service to rural areas, you start to gain a sense of the future need for maintenance and replacement needed for many years to come. Society relies on dependable electrical supply. Powerline technicians are the people who will keep that going for years to come.”

For more information about the program or opportunities to enroll, visit www.mnwest.edu or contact us at 800-658-2330.

Minnesota State Day at the Capitol

3/20/19

On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Minnesota State Day at the Capitol was held in St. Paul, Minnesota. As one of 37 Minnesota State institutions,

Minnesota West was represented and helped to celebrate all of our campuses and students!

Minnesota State Day at the Capitol featured student success posters from each of our 37 Minnesota State institutions, along with economic impact banners and Minnesota State Campus displays in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building.

Minnesota State trustees, presidents, students, faculty and staff from across the state joined legislators and other government officials at the Capitol for the day.

Minnesota West Student, Melinda Kassandra Lopez, was selected to represent Minnesota West on a poster to showcase our student talent as well as the educational values of our Minnesota State system. Melinda is a student who strongly represents Minnesota West's mission and purpose.

Melinda's story:
I am Melinda Kassandra Lopez and by the age of four, I knew my passion was centered around the medical field. Minnesota West Community & Technical College has been dedicated to helping me achieve my goals while providing the resources that allow me to start making a difference now.

I started PSEO as a sophomore in high school and recently graduated from the practical nursing program (May 2018) at the age of 17. Currently, I am in my last semester of nursing school before graduating in May 2019 with my associate of science degree in nursing. In June, I will be graduating from high school and taking the registered nursing NCLEX. This will make me the first high school student to graduate as a registered nurse in the state of Minnesota.

On campus, I am currently serving my second term as Student Senate President and am the Phi Theta Kappa Chapter President as a member of the All-USA academic team. I look forward to exploring my passions during my undergraduate years as I strive towards medical school.

This will make me the first nursing student to graduate from Minnesota West with my Associates Degree in Nursing at the same time as my high school diploma.