Lucas Zahn had no clear-cut career choice when he enteredLakeView Technology Academy - but wanted one. He quick-ly reached his goal as he began taking Gateway courses at the

high school academy, though, opening his mind and giving him theskills to a career filled with potential.

Engineering was - and is - his future, and he points to those first fewGateway courses he took as the catalyst to cement his career goals.

“I wanted to see what career fields were outthere for me. I liked computers, electronics andengineering and went to LakeView TechnologyAcademy to expand my horizons. I was able totry out Gateway courses in each of these areas -and realized, for sure, that I wanted to be in elec-trical engineering,” says Lucas.

Gateway offers dual-credit courses at the acad-emy through Kenosha Unified School District,which means students there take college courses

that apply toward their high school diploma and a Gateway degree.Once his goals were set and he took more courses in the Electrical

Engineering Technology program, Lucas says the practical hands-ontraining, experience with a diversity of students in the classroom andtraining to strengthen his “soft skills” gave him the foundation forsuccess in his current job as an electrical engineer at a worldwidehydraulics design and manufacturing company based in Milwaukee.

“Gateway made me more outspoken, more confident in my abili-ties,” says Lucas. “There were many classes where students wereolder than myself, who had already had life and work experiences.That helped me out a great deal.

“Having the knowledge through the training, and being confident toexpress it, helped me when I interviewed for my job. I was able to talkabout those topics that are important in the interview process - prior toGateway, I wouldn't have done that. Gateway gave me confidence.”

Lucas graduated from Gateway in 2011 with Electrical Engineer-

ing Technology and Biomedical Engineering associate degrees.Gateway's transfer agreement with Milwaukee School of Engi-

neering also allowed Lucas to enroll at the four-year college as ajunior, saving him time and money toward his four-year degree -nearly $70,000, he estimates. He graduated with honors at MSOE,earning his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering technology.

Gateway's training helped him succeed at MSOE as well as at hiscurrent job, says Lucas. Every day, he uses skills he gained while atGateway. He adds that specific training he received at Gateway alsohelped him secure an internship - which turned into his full-time job.

Gateway served graduate beginning in high school

Lucas Zahn received a great kickstart to his engineering career throughGateway Technical College's partnerships with high schools as well asfour-year colleges - resulting in a four-year education for half the cost.

Lucas earned 23 Gateway credits while still a high school student atLakeView Technology Academy of Kenosha Unified School District.ThoseGateway credits he earned for free, transferring them to the college andtoward his Electrical Engineering associate degree, as well as applyingthem toward his high school diploma.

After earning his Gateway degree, he transferred to Milwaukee Schoolof Engineering and entered as a junior, made possible through a transferagreement between the two colleges. He saved an estimated $70,000through the different programs.

“I earned a degree at MSOE for half the price because of Gateway andthe transfer agreements,” says Lucas.“Gateway also gave me that firm foun-dation for my career by providing me with knowledge and realistic trainingto know what I could expect from the electrical engineering career.

“Gateway was a big help and has been beneficial to my career and life.”

?Interesting question, but the answer is: You

can “Gateway” in a number of ways.You can Gateway if you're a parent seeking an

affordable option for your recent high school grad-uate to explore. You can Gateway if you're still inhigh school, seeking an indication of the pathwayto your future career. Just ask Lucas Zahn.

You can Gateway if you still plan to earn afour-year degree, but want credit for all thatyou've earned and paid for your first two years.Just ask Lucas Zahn.

You can Gateway if you've found yourselflaid off and needing skills to get back in theworkforce - you need to get back into it quick-ly, but in a career-sustaining industry. Just askCyrene Olson.

You can Gateway if you would like thatadded training to keep your job and skill seteven more valuable to employers. Just askShanta Harris.

You can Gateway if you've been in a career foryears - and haven't seen the inside of a classroom

for just as many - but want to make sure yourtraining and skills are completely up-to-date todo the best job possible. Just ask Mike Dunning.

You can Gateway if you need to work throughcollege, are a parent, but need a little help anddirection to stay in college and be successful.Just ask Viola Howell.

No matter how you Gateway, the result isalways the same - enrolling at Gateway Techni-cal College will result in the skills to help youfind a new job or give you greater relevance and

value in your current job.Even though the wheels of the economic

engine have begun to turn more strongly lately,the need for the skills provided at Gatewayremain as important today as yesterday. Theresimply is no better way to increase the odds ofremaining at a job and career than to stay cur-rent with your training and education.

There are many ways to Gateway. We inviteyou to chart your path to Gateway - and yourfuture.

“The assistance helped me tofocus on my classes and my pro-gram – I’ve grown professionallyand academically.” – Viola Howell

PAGE 3

High school studentscan earn credit

There are five different ways to earn dual credit,which appeal to high school students - as well as theirparents, seeking to find a more inexpensive, yet quality,way to gain skills and earn a college degree.

High school studentscan earn free collegecredit while still in highschool. There are manydifferent ways to earnhigh school and Gatewaycredit for courses takenwhile a student is a highschool junior or senior.

Transcripted Credit- Earn high school creditsand college credits at thesame time. Gateway'scourses are taught byteachers at the highschool, using the sametextbooks and materials asGateway's. This gives stu-dents an early start on their

program of choice - while saving dollars. Popular pro-grams for high-schoolers to take courses in include Mar-keting, Information Technology, Automotive Technology.

Advanced Standing - Advanced Standing coursesare high school courses that align 80 percent with aGateway course, credit is awarded when students enrollat Gateway after high school.

Youth Options - High school juniors and seniorsgain hands-on training at Gateway campuses in collegecourses. Youth Options courses are offered only forthose courses the high school does not offer. Earn highschool and college credit.

Distance Learning - Virtual college courses allowstudents to experience free courses without leaving highschool. Video and online tools are used to deliver cours-es using a school's VANGuard classroom, taught byGateway faculty.

Youth Apprenticeship - Many students who'vecompleted a State of Wisconsin-recognized youthapprenticeship can apply the education they've earnedtoward a Gateway program.

Cost avoidance for high-schoolers taking transcripted credits

High school student enrolls in Gateway transcript-ed credits for Information Technology and earns 16credits.

Wisconsin Technical College System percredit cost: $122.16 credits earned, student costs avoided:$1,952

Student graduates high school and enrolls at Gate-way to finish their IT program.They earn the remain-ing 51 credits for associate degree. 51 credits earnedcost $6,222

Total cost for credits earned: $6,222Costs avoided for associate degree: $1,952

Student graduates Gateway and enrolls at UW-Sys-tem college to earn a four-year degree in program.They transfer to four-year college as junior, and haveonly two years left to complete degree, because oftransfer agreement between colleges.

Cost amount for first two years at UWSystem college: $19,764Cost at Gateway: $6,222Costs avoided through Gateway: $13,542

Gateway provided training – and insight for engineer

HOW DO YOU

GATEWAY

Lucas Zahn says his Gateway degree helped

him decide upon his futurecareer, prepared him well

for that career - and savedhim about $70,000 intuition along the way.

By the numbers

1,559: Students earningtranscripted credit661: Student Involved inYouth Options116: Individual coursestaught districtwide44: High school teacherscertified to teach Gatewaycourses32: Students earningadvanced standing16: High schools involved

For morewww.gtc.edu/collegeconnection/

For moreFor more infor-mation, go towww.gtc.edu/eet, orwww.gtc.edu/good-news/eet

LUCAS ZAHNENGINEERING

Page 1

SHANTAHARRIS CNC Page 2

MIKE DUNNINGINFORMATIONTECHNOLOGYPage 4

CYRENE OLSONGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONSPage 4

VIOLAHOWELL

NURSINGPage 3

“My Gateway degree gave me theconfidence, and ability to do my

job even better.” – Mike DunningPAGE 4

Shanta Harris, Racine, called Gateway'scomputer numerical control machine bootcamp training a life-changing experience,providing him with the opportunities to gainskills and leadership to a new and growingcareer field and ability to forge his ownfuture.

“I have something now I know I will havethe rest of my life - I have the skills to a newcareer,” Shanta said a week prior to complet-ing the camp. “I'm about to be married, go tochurch, provide for my kids. I'm about to livethe American dream.”

What does Shanta think a year later? He'sliving the dream. He's landed a job at aKenosha manufacturer as a CNC operator,has taken additional Gateway courses andworked as a lab assistant in the boot campprogram, helping students learn and encour-aging them to succeed.

“I love my job,” says Shanta. “This is anindustry where technology changes everyyear, and you never stop learning. I like that.”

Shanta initially sought to upgrade his payand career possibilities from his former facto-ry job when he spoke to some of his friendsabout the CNC boot camp program. “They alltold me it changed their life for the better,” hesays. “I wanted to be a part of that. And it hasbeen that for me - this program has been apositive influence on my life.”

Gateway and the Racine County WorkforceEconomic Development Corporation offerthe innovative boot camps in a number of in-demand careers, including welding fabrica-tion, CNC, industrial maintenance and certi-fied nursing assistant. They assist dislocatedand underemployed workers by putting them

through a rigorous program which trainsthem to enter a number of industries. Theycan also apply Gateway credits earned duringthe camp toward an associate degree or tech-nical diploma.

Recently, the boot camps have includedcertified nursing assistant training as well as ahigh school CNC operator boot camp. It fea-tures area high school seniors, who will takecourses beginning in July, work an internship

in Spring 2014. Students will have the skillsto enter the industry upon graduation, or con-tinue on with Gateway courses in the CNCone-year degree program.

“I took this because I thought it would becool to work with metal and it offers a greatcareer opportunity,” said high-schoolerAndrew Christian, of Racine. “It feels goodto know you are set with your career.”

Gateway putsyou back to

work, makes youmore valuable tonew employers

At Gateway Technical College, we put peopleback to work, increase their skills in their current

job and allow area busi-nesses to grow and thrive.

Our associate degreeand technical diplomaprograms meet theneeds of high schoolstudents to currentlyemployed workers.

Many connectionswith area high schoolsallow students to envi-sion their future careerand begin to prepare forit. Transcripted Creditand Youth Options, toname a couple, allowstudents in the Gatewaydistrict to earn Gatewaycredits while still in highschool. More than 2,200students participated inthese two programs inthe 2012-13 school year.

The skills they gainwill help them entertheir careers more quick-ly - and save themselves,and their parents, money.

We meet the needs ofthose who've graduated

high school and seek direction and trainingfor that first career - or those who've graduat-ed high school more than just a couple yearsago and are returning to the classroom firsttime. For many, they've been in the classroombefore – we have a sizeable number of stu-dents enrolled who have earned a bachelor’sdegree who've turned to us for pragmatic,hands-on training that will land them a job.

More than eight in 10 Gateway graduateshave gained employment within six months ofgraduating from the college, earning an averagehourly wage of $16.69, a recent survey indicates.

Even if you've returned to work, Gatewaystill offers training for your career to make youeven more valuable to your new employer.

Our programs offer real-world training, deliv-ered by industry-savvy instructors. We haveseveral which fall in the skills gap category, too.The skills gap, a concern to area employers, is asituation where manufacturers are seekingskilled workers, at a time of unemployment.This provides an open job marketplace for stu-dents who gain the skills being sought by manu-facturers. At Gateway, we offer training forthese hot careers in information technology,computer numerical control machine operators,welding and industrial maintenance technician.

In addition to degree and diploma programs,Gateway's boot camps help dislocated andunderemployed workers, as well as preparehigh-schoolers, by putting them through a rigor-ous program which trains them to be welders,CNC operators, and industrial maintenancetechnicians - key skilled worker areas of need.The innovative, flexible program was developedwith the Racine County Workforce Develop-ment Center.

Companies also partner with Gateway toensure future workers receive realistic trainingand on equipment used in the industry today.Snap-on has been a strong partner for us overthe years in this regard, and, most recently, weheld a ribbon-cutting for an energy lab on ourKenosha Campus fueled by collaboration withTrane and other area companies.

We're here to put people back to work ormake current workers even more valuable totheir employers.

Bryan AlbrechtPresident, Ed.D.,Gateway TechnicalCollege

Even if you’vereturned towork, Gatewaystill offers training for yourcareer to makeyou even morevaluable to youremployer.

From startups toexisting businesses,

WEDD meets needs of area

Brian Buchman started Buchman Insurancein April 2012 and, a year later, sought trainingthat would help him operate his business moreefficiently.

Buchman participated in a GrowthWheelTM

seminar delivered by Therese Sellner, execu-tive director of strategic initiatives for Gate-way Technical College's Workforce and Eco-nomic Development Division. The programhas helped him better see the potential of hisbusiness by realizing his successes - as well aspinpointing those areas which he can addressin the future to even greater success.

“It made me look at the business and forcedme to step out and do those things I am not thatcomfortable with - but need to do because I amthe only one here at the business,” he says. “Irealized some of those components I need tohave to be successful.”

The owner of the Waterford business saysthe opportunity to engage in the GrowthWheel

process is something that many businessesshould consider using, especially entrepreneursand newer business owners. He's worked withKate Walker, Gateway’s director of BusinessServices, who has “helped me to come out ofmy shell.”

“I absolutely see the benefit for a new busi-ness. Being on my own and this being my firstyear, this has helped me greatly. I feel moreshould take advantage of this service. It showsyou what you're doing well, opens your eyes tothose areas you can improve on and you areworking with someone who knows what youare facing and how to help. They work face-to-face with you.”

WEDD offers many services to area entre-preneurs and business owners.

GrowthWheel* is a decision-making tooloffered to start-up and growth companies aswell as students and non-profit and communityorganizations. Gateway's certified advisors usea structured approach to help clients focus andmake business decisions which lead to actionand help them to track their progress. Partici-pants leave with action steps and a renewedsense of focus and organizational priorities.

Gateway's Industrial Design Fab Labserves as a regional hub where businesses,entrepreneurs and Gateway students canaccess a variety of equipment and resourcestaking them from concept, to prototype, to fin-

ished product all in one place. The Fab Labwill help develop a talent pipeline where ideaswill be brought to life and will develop newregional employment opportunities. The FabLab encourages students in kindergartenthrough 12th grade to explore technical andSTEM careers through camps and programsand encourages entrepreneurial ideas.

This fall the WEDD will offer a patentworkshop series, a rapid innovation andgrowth seminar and Fab Lab orientation ses-sions for students, businesses and entrepre-neurs. Gateway students also are invited to jointhe new Enactus Club that is scheduled to beginthis fall. This club has an entrepreneurial focus.

The WEDD division provides access toresources and facilitation such as video confer-encing, and partnerships such as Eiger Labs forlarge scale rapid prototyping, the WisconsinBusiness Incubation Association, SCORE andthe Wisconsin Economic Development Corpo-ration as well as local Economic Developmentorganizations.

* GrowthWheel funding was made possible underaward 06-79-05547 from the Economic DevelopmentAdministration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Thestatements, findings, conclusions and recommendationsare those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflectthe views of the Economic Development Administrationor the U.S. Department of Commerce."

Gateway's Workforce and Economic Development Division's Fab Lab provides entrepreneurs with the resources to take an idea fromconcept to prototype, made possible by computerized CNC machinery in Tarnowski Hall.

Gateway services help area businesses succeed

Energy labs opened to provideleading-edge HVAC training

Gateway Technical College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for six energy systems labswhich bring cutting-edge training technolo-gy. These labs will equip Gateway graduates

with the skills needed toenter an expanding jobmarket for well-versedtechnicians with sustain-able energy system skills.

The college also hosteda 100th anniversary cele-bration for Trane Corpo-ration, a leading globalprovider of indoor com-

fort systems and solutions and a brand ofIngersoll Rand. Trane is a key partner in thedevelopment of the labs and the curriculumtaught there.

The labs include equipment in buildingautomation, refrigeration, renewable energysystems and geoexchange technology.

Program graduates who've trained in thelabs have the ability to run HVAC systemsand equipment that make buildings andequipment “greener” using leading-edgetechnology. They are also prepared for spe-cific green collar careers in wind and solar.

“This is significant for the college,” saidGateway President Bryan Albrecht. “We seeemployers in these job markets calling fortechnicians with skills that go beyondHVAC. Employers are looking for skills inoperating those systems in a sustainablemanner.”

A new Gateway session will provide assis-tance to any student considering their futurecollege and work career.

Get Ready is for those considering theircareer and educational options, but whowould like some guidance as to the first stepthey should take.

Get Set is for those who know they want toattend Gateway and know what program theywish to apply to - but would like some assis-tance in the admissions steps at Gateway.

The Get Ready workshops are intended foranyone considering Gateway as their collegeof choice. These workshops will provide an

overview of Gateway, its program offerings,college admissions process and paymentoptions, including steps to apply for financialaid. This program would be for those consid-ering Gateway but looking to learn moreabout the college and how to get started.

The Get Set workshops provide partici-pants with the guidance to complete theirGateway admissions paperwork, financialaid application and placement assessment.Staff members will be on hand to provideguidance to those who participate.

These sessions are for those who alreadyknow the program in which they would like

to apply, but are seeking guidance on how tocomplete the admissions steps and apply forfinancial aid. Participants also will completetheir placement assessment - a key compo-nent to being admitted to a program andbeing able to register for courses.

Gateway workshop helps students begin education and career

Boot camps help unemployed gain skills to new career, new life

For more n Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asJ9i_hDlVY

Shanta Harristurned to aninnovativeGatewayprogram togain the skillsfor a solidcareer.

Registration is required, and can bedone by contacting the Student Ser-vices Contact Center at (800) 247-7122, at sscontactcenter@gtc.edu or atany campus student services center.

I'm about to live the Americandream.”

– Shanta Harris

For moreFor more infor-mation, go towww.gtc.edu/eet, orwww.gtc.edu/good-news/eet

IN BRIEF

Gateway's new mascot took flightover the summer

Gateway Board of Trustee members approved a newmascot for the college, the Red Hawks.

The new mascot is the first for Gateway in memory andwill be used to symbolize the college to its communities andthrough its students who take part in academic and career-related competitions throughout the state and nation.

The Red Hawk, called Rudy, is patterned after the red-tailed hawks seen at each of Gateway's three main campus-es, in Kenosha, Racine and Elkhorn.

“Red-tailed hawks are noted for soaring high above thelandscape, symbolic of the dedication and commitmentGateway students have in their pursuit of academic excel-lence,” says Gateway President Bryan Albrecht.

Rudy the Red Hawk gear and related items will be rolledout during the Fall 2013 semester.

Gateway swears in board membersBethany Ormseth, Kenosha; William Duncan, Walworth;

and Sheila Webber, Burlington, were sworn in as the newestmembers of the Gateway Technical College Board of

Trustees.All three

are newmembers tothe board.They wereappoin tedto three-year termsto run from2013-16.

The threewere select-

ed by an appointment committeemade up of chairpersons - or theirdesignees - of the Kenosha Coun-ty, Racine County, and WalworthCounty boards of supervisors.

Board members also selectedtheir leadership team for the com-ing year. Ram Bhatia was selectedas chairperson of the board, GaryOlsen as vice chairperson, PamelaZenner-Richards as secretary andNeville Simpson as treasurer.

Gateway recognized on national certifiedmanufacturing worker talent list

Manufacturing Institute officials have announced thatGateway Technical College is a charter member of the M-List, which recognizes schools that prepare workersto the level of industry standards in advanced manufac-turing.

Gateway is the only charter member in Wisconsin toreceive this honor.

The institute says colleges on the list “have arrangedtheir coursework around industry standards, and they makesure students earn credentials that are in the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System.”

“With such a trusted standard, it takes the guesswork outof hiring welders, machinists, production workers andother key positions that make manufacturing hum,” theinstitute concluded.

The M-List represents national institutions recognized as“Manufacturers Endorsed.” These institutions includecommunity colleges, technical schools, high schools, four-year colleges and universities that deliver high-qualitymanufacturing training programs. The measure of qualityis set by the manufacturing industry.

The Manufacturing Institute is a Washington, DC-basedorganization dedicated to improving and expanding manu-facturing in the United States. It is affiliated with theNational Association of Manufacturers.

Need a job? Need an upgrade on your cur-rent job? Come to Gateway Technical College.

More than eight in 10 Gateway graduateshave gained employment within six monthsof graduating from the college, earning anaverage hourly wage of $16.69, a recent sur-vey indicates.

A total of 1,887 Gateway associate degreeand technical diploma graduates responded

to the 2012 Graduate Followup survey and97 percent said they were satisfied withtheir Gateway training. A total of 85 percenthad jobs within six months of graduationand 57 percent in a program-related field.About 20 percent indicated they were notemployed because they were students con-tinuing their educational training.

Three in four of those Gateway graduates

entering the workforce did so in the three-county college district of Racine, Kenoshaand Walworth counties. A total of 37 percentsaid they chose to attend Gateway to pre-pare for getting a job, 27 percent said theywanted to prepare for continuing education,22 percent were seeking a career change and8 percent wanted to upgrade their currentjob skills.

Viola Howell was struggling to continue her Gateway educa-tion, finding ways to raise her children, maintain a full-time joband keep up her grades.

She sought help at Gateway - and found it. Assisted by theHealth Profession Opportunity Program, Viola graduated inSpring 2013 from the college's Nursing program - but actuallyentered the health care field before graduating. The skills shegained at Gateway provided her the framework to help her passthe state nursing board exam by July - on her first try - as well asenter the health care field prior to graduation.

Viola has a bright future as a registered nurse ahead of her.“I was struggling, but was able to find success after joining the

program,” says Viola. “They helped me with my children, mytransportation and with my courses. I was able to reduce the stresson the other things in my life. The assistance helped me to focuson my classes and my program - I've grown professionally andacademically.”

HPOP, which operates on a federal grant, helped Viola in manyways. In addition to helping pay for child care and transportation,it assisted her also to connect with tutoring and focus on hercoursework. It helped connect her with her current job in thehealth care field as well as resumé and other professional net-working skills.

“I wanted to know I could get to class, make sure my children

were OK and that I could access tutoring help if I needed it,” saysViola. “I received all that, and more, at Gateway.”

The HPOP program is one of several available to Gateway stu-dents to help them in their educational journey. It has been metwith great success, with several of the participants findingemployment upon graduation and moving up the career ladder -many times, even prior to graduation, such as with Viola.

Gateway strives to meet the needs of students to ensure theirsuccess, whatever those needs may be, tailoring the programs andservices to do so.

Student resource program helps studentsto finish education, enter workforce

Gateway programs and services helped Viola Howell, right, handle family, money and course tutoring issues. She's entered ahealth career field, has seen advancement and has many more opportunities after passing her nursing exam on the first try.

Bethany Ormseth William Duncan

Sheila Webber

We help you where you're at – through student support programs

Gateway helps students to be successful in their education in anumber of ways. One way is through a number of student supportprograms.Whether it's tutoring, financial assistance or helping youto be successful in the classroom after many years away from it,Gateway is here to help.

www.gtc.edu/support-services

Seeking a job? Seeking to upgrade your skills?

Come to Gateway!

Cyrene Olson was in a good-paying job in aprofession she liked, had worked in for yearsand could see herself doing the rest of her life.

Technology and the soft economy got in theway of that dream, though. She was laid off, butstill wanted to return to the printing industry -and training and technology at Gateway Techni-cal College brought her “back into the game” ata wage level and future that could be even bet-ter than before.

“This will put me back into the job market where Ineed to be,” says Cyrene, who completes her GraphicCommunications associate degree this summer. “I am asingle mother, and I am not a young person any more.I will return to the industry at the same wage level asbefore the jobs started disappearing.

“If I hadn't earned my degree at Gateway, I wouldprobably have had to work a basic job at a much lowersalary. I won't have to worry about that now.”

Cyrene now works as a private contract graphicsdesigner for a national beauty products company,working from her home most days but also going to theMukwonago-based business as needed. “Employersare looking to see that you have education - if not, yourapplication is going to the bottom of the pile,” she says.

Cyrene worked in the printing industry in pre-press,making a good wage. The job market began droppingout on that aspect of the industry in the late 1990s asprinters turned more and more to technology and digi-tal pre-press operations. Cyrene didn't have experienceon the new equipment and, despite hanging on as longas she could, found herself laid off as her job was elim-

inated.“I decided I needed to go to Gate-

way to get the skills I needed to putme back into the game,” says Cyrene.

Cyrene says one of the strengths ofthe program is its industry-savvyinstructors.

“The instructors are so knowledge-able about the industry. They didn't justgo to college and then start teaching.

They've actually been in the industry - and many still aretoday. They are pulling for the students and they do theirbest to help you.”

The need for hands-on training in today's newesttechnology also weighed into Cyrene's decision toattend Gateway. She said the college delivered thosetwo factors strongly.

“This is truly a technical college - they teach youwhat's in the real world,” says Cyrene.

A final benefit to students is the connections fosteredbetween industry and the college, in the classroom andotherwise. Specifically, the annual graphics designshow put on by the college, and attended by area mem-bers of the community and industry officials, helped herto land her current position before she even graduated.

Cyrene will return to Gateway in Fall 2013 to earntwo, specific, certificates she believes will make hereven more marketable in today's world, in Web designas well as social media. “Being able to work with theWeb and social media is so very important - these cer-tificates will complement the degree and training Ialready have,” she says.

Grad uses Gateway to gain skills to return to industry she loves

Her job may have been eliminated because of technology, but that didn't meanCyrene Olson was done with the printing industry. She returned to Gatewayto earn her Graphic Communications degree and has returned “back in thegame” at a salary similar to the one she left.

Full-time equipmenttechnician puts two IT

degrees to workMike Dunning has a good job and in a career

he likes. He wanted to increase his skills,though, to further cement his position at hisemployer - as well as ensure he would possessthe skills to find work elsewhere in case of alayoff during unsure economic times.

He turned to Gateway to obtain both. Mikegained the skills to make him a more proficientcomputer instrument technician at his currentjob as well as keeping up-to-date in the con-

stantly changing infor-mation technologyindustry.

“My Gateway degreegave me the confidenceand ability to do my jobeven better,” says Mike.“I know I can take onthose added responsibil-ities and work on differ-ent processes and equip-ment now, which Iwould not have beenable to do in the past.”

Mike earned twoGateway InformationTechnology degrees, anassociate degree inComputer Support Spe-cialist in 2010, followedby a Network Specialistdegree in 2013. “I thinkin today's world, every-one needs to be a spe-cialist in their career,”

he says. “Gateway helped me to be a specialist.”Mike has worked for his current employer for

25 years and risen through the ranks to his currentposition of being a power plant computer instur-ment technician. For years, he had ponderedincreasing his knowledge of the equipment onwhich he worked. He finally decided to move for-ward, in part, because of the unstable economy.

“I wanted to continue my education and

increase my marketable skills. Even thoughthere's no indication that I will face a layoff, noone really knows what will happen, especiallyin today's economy. I wanted to improve myviability in the workforce.”

Mike completed his first degree, IT-Comput-er Support Specialist, and realized several class-es from the program applied to the IT-NetworkSpecialist degree. He determined he could usethe skills gained from the second degree, too -so he earned that one, as well.

Mike worked his full-time job the entire timehe took classes at Gateway, many times apply-ing the skills he'd learned in the classroomdirectly at the job. He increased his knowledgeand skills of operating systems, setting up andoperating computers and troubleshooting.

Equipment he learned on and processestaught in the Gateway program also becamekeys to being able to apply immediately whathe'd learned, Mike adds. Gateway students aretrained to prepare for and take the exams forindustry IT certifications, which many times arerequired by employers.

“After you take the course, you can take thestandardized test to be industry certified - that'shuge for a lot of the students,” says Mike. “Ialready had a job, and it did help me in my cur-rent position. But for those who were looking toenter the workforce after graduation … it wasabsolutely necessary to be able to get a job atmany companies.”

Gateway instructors are industry-savvy,which ensures that the skills taught are the ones

needed, not only for those seeking to enter theIT industry for the first time, but for incumbentworkers like Mike.

“The instructors all really cared about yoursuccess,” says Mike. “They went out of theirway to work around your schedule, and I wasable to do some of the work online, whichhelped with my job situation.”

One example Mike points to is computers thatoperate with a Linux system. He had little expe-rience with Linux, but was required to learn it aspart of his program, as well as being increasing-ly called to work on that system at his job.“Being able to learn more about it, and experi-ence it with guidance from my instructors, put itin perspective for me - it was very pertinent tothe job I was doing at the time,” he says.

EXPANDING SKILLS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Mike Dunning says Gateway training made him even more valuable to his employer through added skills and familiarity with modern ITequipment and programs.

For more n For more informa-tion, go towww.gtc.edu.good-news/graphic-communications

“After you takethe course, you

can take thestandardizedtest to be

industry certi-fied - that's hugefor a lot of the

students.”– Mike Dunning

For more n For more informa-tion, go towww.gtc.edu.good-news/it, orwww.gtc.edu/it-network-specialist