MATC

Madison
Area
Technical
College

For Alumni and Friends of Madison Area Technical College

SPRING 2004

What’’s inside... Nursing: Taking Care

Alumni Profile:
Robin Roberts
Who Wants to
be a Mathematician?
Calendar of Events
A Day in the Life of a Nurse
New Associate Dean
in Marketing
Hackers Beware!
Newly Minted Alumni
The Clarion Awards
Alumni Response Form
Alliant Energy Donation
Spring Break:
Habitat for Humanity
And more!
of Wisconsin’’s Future
4
nursing for almost 30 years,
because of the variety of chal-
5 lenges I have experienced. I have
worked with newborns, children,
5 adults and elderly people with all
kinds of health problems. I have
6 enjoyed the interaction with peo-
ple as well as the critical think-
ing and problem solving. Every
7 day is a new challenge!
Marilyn Rinehart,
8 associate dean/nursing SF: How many students
MATC’s nursing program trains are enrolled in the program?
8 students for the rewards and
How long is waiting list?
MR: More than 600 students
challenges of nursing. In the
9 program, students learn the
attend each semester in the
Nursing Assistant, Practical
technical and discernment skills
11 necessary to provide nursing
Nursing, Associate Degree
Nursing and Surgical
care to patients of all ages.
14 There is an extremely high
Technologist programs. The
waiting list varies from campus
demand for nurses in south-
to campus and from program to
central Wisconsin, and 98% of
15 MATC nursing graduates find
program. Generally speaking,
students have to wait approxi-
employment in the field.
Sarah Fowles interviewed
mately two to three years from
the time they submit their appli-
Marilyn Rinehart, associate
dean of nursing. cations for Practical Nursing,
Surgical Technologist and
SF: What attracted you Associate Degree Nursing pro-
to nursing? grams. The wait may be longer
MR: I was attracted to in certain programs.
nursing, and have stayed in
continued on page 2 >
Nursing: Taking Care of Wisconsin’s Future… (continued from page 1)

SF: Can you share some student success
stories?
MR: Four graduates are now instructors in
our programs! Another graduate was the out-
standing MATC alumnus in 2002. Many have
gone on for advanced degrees in nursing.
More importantly, every single graduate has
contributed to a better outcome for patients
wherever he or she works. The great health care
we have in the Madison area is a success story
since MATC nursing graduates are in every
health care setting in the district.
SF: What are the biggest challenges in the
nursing field today?
MR: We are facing a huge increase in the
demand for nurses because of the aging popula-
tion. At the same time, nurses are retiring or
leaving the field faster than new graduates are
replacing them. That means that nurses are feel-
ing the stresses of these changes on a daily basis.
SF: How is MATC addressing those
challenges?
MR: MATC will be increasing the number of
students we admit in our Practical Nursing and
Associate Degree Nursing programs. This year
we admitted 40 additional Associate Degree
Nursing program students. We graduated more
than 700 nursing assistants last year, many of
whom will be continuing in practical nursing or
associate degree nursing.

Fast Facts
Largest employer Faculty-to- Length of time to Length of time to Length of time
in Wisconsin: student ratio receive Certified receive a practical to receive an
Health Care at University of Nursing Assistant nursing degree: associate’s
industry Wisconsin – (CNA) certificate: degree in
1 year
Madison nursing:
8 weeks
(nursing
Tuition for a Average salary of 2 years
program only):
bachelor’s degree Average salary of a practical nurse:
in nursing from 1:13 a certified nursing Average salary of
University of $32,621
assistant: a registered nurse
Wisconsin – Faculty to (RN):
Madison:
$22,441 Percent growth in
student ratio at
the number of $47,331
$25,000 MATC (nursing
program only): Percent growth in practical
the number of nursing jobs: Percent growth
Tuition for an 1:10 in the number
(CNA) jobs: 12.7%
associate degree
15.9% of RN jobs:
in nursing from
MATC: 22%
$5,500

2
 Nursing Programs
at MATC Campuses
Truax
Certified Nursing Assistant
Practical Nursing
Associate Degree Nursing

Fort Atkinson
Certified Nursing Assistant
Practical Nursing

Reedsburg
Certified Nursing Assistant
Practical Nursing
SF: What pieces of advice would you give to someone Associate Degree Nursing
interested in a nursing career?
Watertown
MR: Don’t be discouraged by the long waiting list! Certified Nursing Assistant
Begin with the Nursing Assistant Program, since that is Associate Degree Nursing
now a requirement before starting nursing classes in
practical or associate degree nursing. You will gain valu- Portage
able experience and you will qualify for tuition reim- Certified Nursing Assistant
bursement from health care employers. Take the general
studies courses, especially the science courses, before
you start nursing courses. Start reading nursing journals New Full-Time
to get an idea of all the possibilities out there.
Remember that you start with the basic courses, but the Nursing Faculty
opportunities for specialization are endless. Build a good Janet Braun, formerly employed
foundation! by Dane County Public Health
For more information on the program, call Lisa Cappelli, formerly employed
(608) 246-6014. by Hospicecare, Inc.
Julie Christofferson, formerly
employed by Dean Health System
Scholarship Recipients Dana Schardt, formerly employed
by UW-Whitewater Student Health
and Donors Recognized
Judy Stoeckmann, formerly
On April 29, 2004, MATC celebrates its annual a MATC part-time teacher
Scholarship Awards Breakfast, which recognizes
scholarship recipients and donors. During the
2003–2004 school year, MATC awarded 263 scholar-
Retiring Nursing
ships made possible through generous donations from
community members, corporations, foundations, Faculty
MATC faculty and staff, and alumni. If you are inter- Kathy Koegel
ested in providing a scholarship to a deserving student, Helen Kruse
please call Sarah Fowles at (608) 243-4334.

3
 ALUMNI PROFILE

A Knack for Baseball and Building

MATC grad receives Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association Distinguished Alumni Award

through his or her education,” says Bob

Dinndorf, executive director of the MATC
Foundation.
Steve Hauser, MATC’s athletic director, sum-
marized Roberts’ approach to service by saying,
“The great thing about Robin is that he does not
just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He gets
involved and stays involved until the mission is
accomplished. He does so as a leader. He does
not stand in the background, but takes the initia-
tive to be personally involved.”
Roberts received the Wisconsin Technical
College Distinguished Alumni Award in a special
ceremony on April 2, 2004, and also will be rec-
ognized during the MATC Foundation Awards
and Recognition Breakfast on April 29, 2004.
Question: What do the following organizations
have in common?
Robin Roberts Stats
• Dane County Humane Society
• Dane County Credit Union •• Attended MATC: 1973-1975
•• MATC GPA: 3.7
• Plymouth Congregational United Church of
•• Highlights from MATC: pitcher
Christ in Madison for MATC baseball team
• Peace Lutheran Church in Waunakee •• Graduated from MATC’’s
• DeForest Area Public Library Architectural Technician
• Madison YWCA Program: 1975
•• Founded Roberts
Answer: MATC graduate Robin Roberts played Construction
Associates: 1981
a key role in the construction of each organiza-
•• Voted MVP in the
tion’s facilities. He is the founder and owner of Wisconsin Home Talent
Roberts Construction Associates, which special- Baseball League: 1988
izes in church construction. He is also well- •• Roberts Construction has
known for his love of baseball (he played for earned numerous state and
MATC while in school). In 2000, MATC dedi- national awards for the qual-
ity of its work
cated the Robin Roberts Baseball Field.
•• Contributed $142,000 to build
“I believe Robin Roberts is the ideal techni- MATC’’s Robin Roberts
cal college graduate: a person who gets a great Baseball Field: 2000
start and then develops a distinguished lifelong •• Receives Distinguished
career using the knowledge base established Alumni Award: 2004

4
Who Wants to be a Mathematician?
Two lines in space that are not parallel and
don’t intersect are called ________________.
One hundred and twenty Wisconsin high school
students answered this and other math problems to
qualify for the “Who Wants To Be A
Mathematician?” competition on April 16, 2004.
Modeled after the show Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire? 10 finalists compete for a $2,000
prize and can take advantage of three “lifelines”
to help them: 50/50, Ask the Teacher and Ask the
Audience. Organized by MATC Math Instructor
Jeganathan Sriskandarajah and presented by the
American Mathematical Society, this competition
is the first of its kind in Wisconsin.
The 10 finalists are from the following
schools: Baraboo, Edgewood, Fort Atkinson,
Ithaca, James Madison Memorial, LaFollette,
Madison West, Marquette University High
School, McFarland and Rufus King.
Asked why math is so important in high
school, Sriskandarajah said that employers are
looking for employees who can handle math
because it has applications in every field.
Want to know who won? Check www.
matcmadison.edu/is/as/math/mathclub for the
winner’s name.
“Who Wants To Be A Mathematician?” has
received support from the MATC Foundation,
Pleasant Company, Lands’ End, Mead & Hunt,
First Group, Inc., Placon Corporation, Herbert H.
Kohl Charities, Capitol Bank, MacKichan
Software, Wolfram Research Inc., Addison-
Wesley, National Science Foundation, Maplesoft,
Texas Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, the
Mathematical Association of America, the
American Mathematical Society and State Farm
Insurance. Answer: skew lines

MATC UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark Your Calendars

Dust Off Your Driver, Oil Your Baseball Glove — Kick Back with MATC
Monday, May 17, 2004, is the Doug Redsten Golf Classic IX at the
Cherokee Country Club in Madison. Join us for golf, food, fun, prizes and
the chance to win $1 million dollars! Individual registration is $90; corporate
foursomes are $500 each. Several sponsorship packages are available.
To receive a registration form, call Kim Conners at (608) 246-6441 or send
us a completed “Alumni Response” form (page 11).

Friday, July 23, 2004, is the second annual MATC at the Mallards!
MATC will offer deep ticket discounts for the Great Dane Duck Blind to
MATC graduates – save over 50%! The Duck Blind features an-all-you-can-
eat-and-drink feast with great views of the game against the Rochester
Honkers. The Mallards is a college wooden-bat baseball team and is part
of the Northwoods League. To find out more, call Sarah Fowles at (608)
243-4334 or send us a completed “Alumni Response” form (page 11).

5
A Day in the Life of a Nurse
The following day was recorded
by a graduate of MATC’’s Associate Degree
Nursing Program. The nurse opted to remain
anonymous due to the highly confidential
nature of her work.
7:00am: Officially, I start work at 7:30am, but
I usually get here between 7:00 and 7:15. First, I
count the supply of narcotics with the night shift
nurses – I have to make sure none are missing.
7:30am: I attend a staff meeting during which
we listen to a tape-recorded report from the pre-
vious shift that tells us who is going to surgery
and who is coming back from surgery. We usual-
ly have five nurses on the floor and one super-
vising nurse for 18-20 patients.
8:00am: After the staff meeting, I print a
report listing the medications required by patients
for the day, including IV (intravenous) drips and
pills. Then, I check on a patient who had irregu-
lar heart rhythms and received a special IV
“push” (intravenous medications that need to be
pushed through an IV tube) the night before.
I check his vital signs, and then helped him get
cleaned up for the day.
8:15am: I check on a patient who is on
telemetry, which monitors heart rhythms. Then
I have to check the patients cared for by LPNs
(licensed practical nurses) because I am usually
the only RN (registered nurse) on my team. As
an RN, you have to do all “push” medications
and IV drips, including dopamine, dobutamine
and diltizam.
8:45am: I receive a call from the ICU (inten-
sive care unit) informing me that a new patient is
going to be transferred to my floor. I get a room
ready and when the patient arrives, I do a head-
to-toe assessment of the patient. I orient the
patient to his new surroundings and create a
nursing care plan for him.
9:05am: A patient who had just undergone
a heart procedure to receive an assistive cardiac
6
device returns to my floor. I take her vital signs,
check her pulse, assess for pain and check for
drainage around the surgical site every 15 min-
utes for the first hour, every 30 minutes for the
next 2 hours, and then every hour for 4 hours.
9:30am: I do full data assessments on my
other patients.
10:00am: I meet with my manager about
some scheduling changes I requested recently.
10:30am: I tend to my patients’ vital signs
and check my patients’ lab blood values.
10:45am: The other nurses and I supplement,
which means that we replenish patients’ elec-
trolytes with potassium and magnesium as
prescribed by
doctors. These
enzymes are
particularly
helpful for the
cardiac patients
on my floor.
11:00am:
Paperwork,
paperwork. I
check the notes
on all patients.
I enter data on
patients into the
computer —
there are a lot
of forms to
complete.
12pm: I distribute the noon pills and make
sure our patients who can eat are getting food
trays set up and those who can’t eat or drink
have completed their medications.
1:30pm: I take a ten-minute lunch. While at
lunch, I peruse a magazine that graphically dis-
plays new treatments for wounds. I get called
out of lunch because one of my patients needs
an echocardiogram (a test using ultrasound) on
 his leg. The echocardiogram shows that a main
artery in his leg is clogged, which means imme-
diate surgery. I call an escort to take the patient
to surgery.
1:45pm: I check on all my patients again. And
then I “chart,” which means that I track patients’
medications, doctors’ notes, dietary information,
social work notes and nursing care on the com-
puter. I also make addendums to the notes and
charts of the LPNs on my team.
2:30pm: I leave the floor to visit a new lab in
the hospital.
3:15pm: I tape a report of all my patients,
sharing the pertinent information that needs to
be passed on to the next nurse.
3:45pm: The last task is the same as the first
— to count narcotics. This time I count them
with a nurse from the evening shift. I usually
work late — there is so much work to get done
that I rarely leave by 4. I work 45 hours per
week without picking up overtime.

New Associate Dean in Marketing

Brings a Wealth of Business Experience
In Spring of Prior to that position, she was vice president
2004, MATC of marketing at First Federal Savings Bank in
brought Diane La Crosse for six years. Formerly, she held the
Walleser on positions of senior account executive at Stephan
board as associ- and Brady Advertising in Madison and public
ate dean of affairs manager at G. Heileman Brewing
marketing in the Company in La Crosse.
Business and Walleser is very active in the La Crosse
Applied Arts Rotary Club and the Wisconsin Marketing
Division. Education Association. She started her academic
Walleser comes career at a technical college, earning an associate
Diane Walleser, to MATC with degree in finance from Western Wisconsin
associate dean/marketing a wealth of Technical College. She then earned a B.S. in
business, marketing and education experience. business from Viterbo University in La Crosse
She taught marketing for three years at Western and an M.B.A. from the University of
Wisconsin Technical College in La Crosse. Wisconsin–La Crosse.

7
Hackers Beware! New MATC Program
to Train Computer Security Professionals
The National Science Foundation
(NSF) has awarded Madison Area
Technical (MATC) a four-year grant
to develop new curriculum and
offer classes in cyber security to
help develop and educate informa-
tion technology security profession-
als. MATC represents Wisconsin as
one of seven colleges in a five-state
region (Illinois, Ohio, Michigan,
Minnesota and Wisconsin) partici-
pating in this $3 million grant,
which will create the first compre-
hensive information technology
security center in the Midwest.
MATC will receive about
$210,000 to develop and offer
classes as part of a new 16-credit
CIS-Information Security
Certificate that will be launched
fall semester 2004. The certificate’s
six courses are designed to be com-
pleted in three semesters and will
provide comprehensive instruction
to networking students and pro-
fessionals who want to expand their
skills in computer security.
The salaries for IT security
professionals range from $38,000
to $145,000, depending upon quali-
fications and experience. To be
admitted into MATC’s new CIS-
Information Security Certificate,
individuals must be in at least the
second year of MATC’s CIS-
Network Specialist Program, have
earned a CCNA (Cisco Certified
Network Associate) or have at least
two years of practical experience in
the networking field.
MATC’s other
Computer and
Information Systems
programs and
certificates:
•• CIS CISCO® Certified
Network Professional
Certificate
•• CIS Computer Systems
Administration Specialist
•• CIS Microsoft Certified
Systems Administrator
(MCSA) Certificate
•• CIS Microsoft Visual
Studio.Net© Certificate
•• CIS Network Specialist
•• CIS Oracle® Database
Administrative Associate
Certificate
•• CIS Oracle® Internet Java
Developer Certificate
•• CIS Programmer/Analyst
•• CIS Web Analyst/
Programmer
•• CIS Web Programming

1,323 Newly Minted Alumni

MATC graduated 1,323 students at its mid-year
commencement ceremony on December 19, 2003.
The ceremony was held at the Alliant Energy Center
in Madison. Randolph resident Rachel Braaksma,
who earned an associate of arts degree from
MATC’s Liberal Arts Transfer Program, presented
the graduate address. Other speakers included
MATC District Board Chair John Ashley and
MATC Acting President Dr. Rose Ann Findlen.
The programs graduating the most students were:
Liberal Arts Transfer (arts and sciences), Business,
Computer Information Systems, Nursing, Law
Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Technician.

8
 SPECIAL RECOGNITION

MATC Student Journalists: We’’re in the Big League

Nathan J. Comp, copy editor of The Clarion,
MATC’s student newspaper, can add the
following student awards to his resume:
• First place in Investigative Reporting,
Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA)
• First place in Feature Writing, WNA
• First place in News Writing, WNA
• First place in News Writing, Associated
Collegiate Press
• First place in Feature Writing, Associated
Collegiate Press
• Third place “Reporter of the Year,”
Associated Collegiate Press
“I am drawn to stories that other college
papers don’t cover. A statistic I read somewhere
— that there are more suicides per year than
homicides — made me curious about the commu-
nity impact of suicide,” says Comp in response to
a question about the inspiration for an article on
suicide. His work has caught the eye of local
Sharing Time
papers. In 2003, he was asked to be a correspon-
dent by Madison’s daily newspaper, The Capital Making a Difference
Times. He covers the Middleton beat and writes
HospiceCare Inc. is seeking volunteers to help out at
an average of two articles per week.
Nathan has attended MATC since 1998, taking the HospiceCare Inpatient Unit in Fitchburg and to
at least a semester off most years for traveling, assist patients and their families living at home.
often to Telluride, Colorado, and the surrounding Volunteers are very special members of HospiceCare's
areas. He plans to transfer to the University of patient-care team, providing much-needed comfort and
Wisconsin–Madison in the fall of 2004 to double support to those facing life-limiting illnesses when it's
major in political science and journalism. He
needed most. Numerous opportunities are available.
hopes to become a publisher and write for the
For details, please contact Karen Reilly at 327-7105 or
publications he admires most, particularly The
Atlantic Monthly. karen.reilly@hospicecareinc.com.
Other staffers at The Clarion have received
national recognition for their stellar work.
Clarion graphic designer Thomas Wabush
received first place awards in the “Graphics”
category at the 2002 and 2003 WNA Awards.

continued on page 15 > HospiceCare Inc. • 6395 East Cheryl Parkway • Madison, WI 53711

9
 ALUMNI UPDATE
2000s
Craig Savey ’’03 (Veterinary Technician)
is president elect of the Wisconsin
AlumniUpdate Veterinary Technician Association.
Jackie Wilson ’’03 (Web Analyst/
Programmer) had her first baby on June 5,
2003, three weeks after she graduated. In
January 2004, she started a new job as
business account manager for Internet
Concepts in Sun Prairie.
Rebecca L. Blaschka ’’01 (EMT-Basic)
was featured in the article “Burning Desire:
Madison's Women Firefighters Enjoy
Challenges” in the January 22, 2004,
Capital Times.
Jason R. White ’’01 (Hospitality and
Tourism Management) is engaged to be mar-
ried September 25, 2004, to Sandy Buege.
1990s
Parkis R. Waterbury ’’99 (Liberal
Studies) is a TCR5 Field Lead with the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
in Portage. He is a Vietnam veteran.
He was in the first college transfer class in
the mid-1960s and attended MATC during
three different time periods.
Jennifer M. France ’’96 (Travel Services)
is a FSA Administration Specialist with
Employee Benefit Corporation in
Middleton.
Deb Leidich-Reiml ’’95 (Fire Service
Certification) was featured in the article
“Burning Desire: Madison's Women
Firefighters Enjoy Challenges” in the
January 22, 2004, Capital Times.
Jennifer A. Roman ’’95 (EMT-
Intermediate) was featured in the article
“Burning Desire: Madison's Women
Firefighters Enjoy Challenges” in the
January 22, 2004, Capital Times.
Cassandra L Taylor ’’93 (Dental
Hygiene) just opened Every Thing
Children, a new department at Waunakee
Furniture ETC and Gift Gallery in
Waunakee. She currently owns and oper-
ates America's Mattress in Madison as
well as the Waunakee furniture store.
She and her husband also recently had
a happy baby boy named Cameron.
1980s
Joanne M. Zuelsdorf Santo ‘‘85
(Occupational Therapy Assistant) is work-
10
ing at Celebration Health in Celebration,
Florida, as a hand specialty occupational
therapist. She received her bachelor’s
degree in 1993 from UW-Milwaukee.
She is now married with three daughters:
Zoe, Hunter and Peyton.
Christel S. Holcomb ’’84 (Veterinary
Technician) was married in 1987, has five
kids (his and hers) and is now working for
Tri-State Ambulance as an emergency
medical technician.
Susan A. Dotski ’’82 (Accounting
Assistant) has been working at TDS Internet
Services as an account service representa-
tive for two years. She is currently enrolled
in the Business Software Application
Specialist Program at MATC. She has been
married to her husband, Ed, for almost 10
years. Their family also includes a five-
year-old cat named Petey.
Teri Raffel ’’81 (Veterinary Technician)
has been elected to board of North
American Veterinary Technician
Association.
Debi Offerdahl (took business classes
at MATC in the ‘80s) was featured in
Wisconsin State Journal’s “Daybreak
Section” on January 24, 2004. Debi is
owner of the Ultimate Spa Salon on
Monona Drive in Madison.
1970s
Gary ““Big Dog”” F. Breneman ’’76
(Food Preparation Assistant) has been
MATC’s basketball/baseball team manager
for 29 years; he has also been working at
Country Kitchen for 12 years as a dish-
washer/bus boy.
Robert A. Cleasby ’’76 (Liberal Studies)
and ’79 (Accounting) will celebrate his
25-year anniversary as an employee of
Alliant Energy Company on June 11.
He is a business systems analyst.
Dorothy Johnson ’’74 (Associate Degree
Nursing) lives in Port Charlotte, Florida.
She has received numerous recognitions for
her quilts, photography and gardening.
Douglas J. Felix ’’71 (Surgical
Technician) is a certified medication
assistant at Memorial Medical Center,
Neillsville, WI. His wife, Priscilla, is an
RN at Memorial Medical Center and an
instructor for Chippewa Valley Technical
College, Eau Claire, WI.
Alumni Tear-off Response Form*
Count Me In! I want more information about (check all that apply):
■ The Doug Redsten Golf Classic on May 17, 2004 ■ MATC at the Mallards on July 23, 2004
■ Joining the Alumni Association
Please send information to:
First Name ______________________________ M.I. _______ Last Name ____________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________________________ State_____________ Zip ______________________
Phone __________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________
Years of attendance at MATC _______________________ Year(s) of graduation _________________________________
Which program(s) did you graduate from? __________________________________________________________________
Employer _______________________________________ Title _______________________________________________
Employer Address _____________________________________________________________________________________
City _____________________________ State _______ Zip ______________ Work Phone _____________________

Did you recently start a new job? Get promoted? Achieve a career goal you are proud of? Get married? Have your first
(or second or third, etc.) baby? We would love to publish your special news in Profiles, MATC’’s alumni publication.
Please share any news or comments in the space below.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

* You may also contact us by emailing your information to Sarah Fowles at sfowles@matcmadison.edu

Looking for a new career? Looking to hire

MATC students? MATC can help you!
TechConnect, an exclusive online job listing service
designed to recruit graduates of MATC, is FREE for alumni
who have one- or two-year degrees from MATC. To obtain a
form for access to the listings, call (608) 243-4271 or email
advisingandcareerresources@matcmadison.edu.
If you are an employer, you can use the service to adver-
tise a job to MATC students and alumni by filling out and
submitting a Job Posting Form. Call or email for a form or
download it from the TechConnect Website. On the MATC
Website homepage, under “Community Resources,” click on
Job Posting Service to find TechConnect and the form.
For additional help with your job search, visit Advising and
Career Resources at the Truax campus in Room 159A to peruse
exclusive job listings and career-related videos and books or go
to http://matcmadison.edu/ss/acr/.

11
A Storm of His Own
MATC Senior Network Specialist Tom Fleming has a second life — as a volunteer stormchaser.
Storm volunteers
often verify what
shows up on radar.
Fleming gave an
example: “Radar was
showing a possible
tornado near Bristol
Tom Fleming,
heading towards
senior network specialist Columbus. We had
three volunteer teams
under the possible tornado. No tornado formed,
so the weather office did not issue a tornado
warning.” Sixty percent of all severe weather
observations come from amateur stormchasers
and radio operators.
When asked what called him to storms, he
said “a sense of duty” and recounted the follow-
ing story: “Let me tell you about the Great
Straight Line Wind event of July 4, 1977. There
were winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, and I
was stuck on a campground near Spooner [WI]. I
was 15. Huddled with a group of campers inside
a concrete bathroom, I watched great trees topple
over and campers blowing over. My reaction was
‘Wow.’ The destruction gave me a sense of fear.”
Years later, when a friend of his told him the
local Weather Office needed a volunteer, he
Calling the Class of 1974!
Remember 1974,when…The Fonz made his first
appearance on screen? Mohammed Ali became the
heavyweight champion? Blazing Saddles was
released? The games Connect Four and Slip-n-
Slide were introduced? People Magazine debuted
with Mia Farrow on the cover? Patty Hearst made
front pages everywhere?
The Class of 1974 will celebrate an informal
reunion at this year’s MATC at the Mallards on
12
jumped at the chance. In February of 2004,
Madison’s WKOW Channel 27 featured him
receiving an award for his volunteer work.
He aided in the redesign of the local volunteer
stormchaser operation by introducing accounta-
bility and real-time information, allowing
multiple volunteer stormchaser groups to provide
information to the local weather office without
overloading the radio operators.
The defining moment of his work with the
local weather office, he says, was the Big Flats
(WI) Tornado on August 27, 1994. At 10 pm, the
local weather office noted a radar disturbance
and issued a severe thunderstorm warning with
the possibility of a tornado. Amateur radio opera-
tors on the ground began sending messages
about the storm to the local weather office where
Tom was volunteering. (Weather observations
from the ground are called “ground truth.”)
Twenty minutes after the office noted the distur-
bance, volunteers received a call from a sheriff
who reported that two people were killed due to
the storm. Tom reports that emotions ran high:
“The meteorologists’ deep concern for people
was heartfelt. I watched as a number of them
broke down into tears.” Interested in learning
more? Check out www.skywarn.org.
July 23, 2004 (See page 5 for more information).
This event will be a low-key opportunity to recon-
nect to former classmates, reminisce and show
school spirit. To buy a ticket to MATC at the
Mallards, call Sarah Fowles at (608) 243-4334 and
let her know you are from the Class of ’74. To
speak with a representative from the Class of ’74,
call Marci Moungey at (608) 242-1081.
 CAMPUS NEWS

2003––2004 Retirements MATC Donor Elected

The following faculty and staff retire during to Board of The Capital
the 2003–2004 school year. If you see a former
instructor or favorite staff member in this list, Times
give them a call to wish them a happy retirement!
James Lussier, a MATC 1985 computer pro-
gramming graduate and trustee of the Evjue
Richard Armstrong, Science Instructor
Norma Artman, Optometric Technician Instructor Foundation, was elected to the The Capital
Maria Balderas, Library Technician II Times Company’s Board of Directors. His father,
Susan H. Barr, Library Technician III John H. (Jack) Lussier, was named chairman of
Marilyn Buscemi, Administrative Assistant – the board. The MATC Foundation salutes Jim
Financial Resources and Jack for their leadership in the community
Brian Carney, Diesel Instructor
and unflagging encouragement of MATC’s mis-
Thomas Doyle, Electronics Technician Instructor
LaVonne Gerber, Administrative Assistant III – Health
sion. The Evjue Foundation provided 70 scholar-
Douglas Griesbach, Marketing Instructor ships to MATC students during the 2003-2004
Jean Hammen, Food Service Supervisor school year. The Lussier Family Fund Endowed
Sonja Hansard-Weiner, English Instructor Scholarship through the MATC Foundation pro-
Joann Hayes, Commercial Art Instructor vided 14 scholarships.
Michael Hempel, Animal Lab Technician Instructor
Warren Hillmer, Associate Dean of Marketing
Michael Irwin, English Instructor
Irene Kilcoyne, Marketing Instructor
Kathy Koegel, Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
Helen Kruse, Associate Degree Nursing Instructor
MATC Rolls Out
Susan Loman, History Instructor New Alumni Web Pages
Sherry Masters, Math Instructor
James Mcgonigle, English Instructor Visit www.matcmadison.edu and click the link to
Adam Mekschun, Bookstore Manager “Alumni and Friends.”
Charlene Ohnstad, Business Technology Instructor Join the Alumni Association, contact the MATC
Alan Penn, Social Science Instructor Foundation and check out upcoming MATC events.
Victor Pryzwara, Custodial Worker II
Stuart Schlough, Farm Services Instructor
Donald Schroeder, Automotive Instructor
Lee Schwartz, Auto Body Instructor
Susan Speth, Administrative Assistant II –
Commercial Avenue
Phyllis Townswick, Math Instructor
Kathryn Verage, English Instructor
Calvin Williams, EMT Instructor
Erwin Zweifel, Marketing Instructor

MATC retirees meet once a month at the Truax

campus for coffee and socializing. This year’s
contact is Peggy Jensen, (608) 246-6535.

13
MATC Receives High Tech Equipment
Donation from Alliant Energy
The Alliant Energy Corporation recently donated
a $43,000 Capstone MicroTurbine™ to Madison
Area Technical College. Microturbines are very
low emission heat and power systems capable of
producing both electrical power and heat on low-
pressure gas lines.
Unlike standard engines, microturbines use no
oil or antifreeze and have only one moving part
which results in very low emissions and low
noise. As an alternative energy source, they can
use a variety of fuels including waste gas from
farms, landfills and waste water treatment plants.
Alliant Vice President Kim Zuhlke (right) presents the
Currently, Alliant Energy is using microturbines microturbine to MATC Acting President Rose Findlen
at a dairy farm anaerobic digester in Westgate, (left) and Dr. Joy McMillan (center)
Iowa, and landfills near Antioch, Illinois, and More Generous Support from Alliant Energy
Baraboo, Wisconsin. The company also is using
The Alliant Energy Foundation, which makes
microturbines at the Antioch landfill to provide
financial contributions to the community on behalf
energy to a nearby high school.
of Alliant Energy, has announced a $2,100 grant to
MATC plans to install the microturbine for
the MATC Foundation that will fund three scholar-
use in a noncritical heat and power location such
ships. Alliant Energy Scholarship recipients must
as the college’s swimming pool to supplement
be students in one of the following programs:
energy needs. In addition, the equipment will be
Accounting, Administrative Assistant, Computer
used to train students in unit operation and
and Information Systems, Automotive Technology,
repair. Because the technology used in microtur-
Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technician, or
bines is fairly new, there is a need for trained
Electronics.
service providers.

Meeting MATC Alumni Everywhere

One Sunday, Barber/
Cosmetology Program
Director John Fahey was
attending services at St. Maria
Goretti Parish in Madison.
During the sermon, Father
John Poster mentioned his
time at Madison Area
Father John Poster,
Automotive Technology Technical College. It turns
Program graduate, 1969 out, Father Poster is a ’69
graduate of the Automotive Technology Program.
He says he still looks back on that time fondly.
“The other guys in the program were great, and the
teachers were knowledgeable, open to questions and
friendly. Any teacher gives you something. Of course,
things didn’t always work out — I didn’t always get
the car put back together as much as I would have
liked — but I learned to tackle things I might not oth-
erwise tackle and go beyond myself.”

14
Students Take the Road Less Traveled:
As Alternative Spring Break Volunteers
In March, eight MATC students decided to forgo
traditional spring break vacation plans to volunteer
and help build houses for those who could not nor-
mally afford to buy their own home. The group
volunteered through the MATC Volunteer Center’s
first Alternative Spring Break Program. Alternative
Spring Breaks offer students the opportunity to use
their spring vacation time to participate in a volun-
teer service learning project.
The students organized the trip to Kent
County in Michigan where students preframed
a Habitat for Humanity project house.
“It felt nice to be doing something that I
knew would really make a difference,” says
Liberal Arts Transfer student Andrea Sprinkle. “I
think a lot of people would much rather be doing
volunteer work over spring break. I’d definitely
do something like this again, but perhaps in a lit-
tle warmer climate.”
Another participant, Katherine O’Neill, also a
college transfer student, has done a lot of volun-
teer work but says she learned new skills build-
ing a house. “An opportunity like this allows you
to help others, but it also gives you something—
lets you see things from the point of view of
people who might not be as fortunate. It definite-
ly gives you a new perspective.”
Students paid a nominal fee for insurance, mate-
rials and program costs, MATC provided trans-
portation and some food, and Habitat for Humanity
provided safety and skills training. The students
divided into teams to coordinate transportation
details, housing and work site responsibilities.
“Our Alternative Spring Break was designed
to provide students with a worthwhile, week long
experience that would be more than community
service and a valuable learning experience,” says
Shawna Carter, MATC Volunteer Center
coordinator.
“We prepared the students ahead of time for
the experience, connected them with a meaning-
ful service activity for the week with Habitat,
and included some reflection activities into the
week so that the learning could be processed by
the students."
Habitat for Humanity has been offering
Alternative Spring Break opportunities since
1989. MATC’s Volunteer Center hopes to add
more opportunities in the future.
Clarion Awards… (continued from page 9)
Former Clarion staffer Cindi Grantin received
a third place award for her advertisement
“Mellow” in the “House Ad” category at the
Associated Collegiate Press National College
Media Awards in 2003.
The Clarion competed against the best in col-
lege and university publications to win second
place in the “Best of Show” category at the 2003
National College Publications Workshop in
Washington, D.C. and third place in the “General
Excellence” category at the 2003 WNA Awards.
The Clarion is a student-run, student-pro-
duced newspaper. It presents an independent per-
spective on issues affecting MATC students.

15

Want more information?
See the MATC Foundation web
pages on the MATC Website. Go
to www.matcmadison.edu and
under “Community Resources,”
click on “Alumni and Friends.”
Or call the Alumni and Foundation
Office at (608) 246-6441.
Writer and Alumni
Association Coordinator:
Sarah Fowles, (608) 243-4334,
sfowles@matcmadison.edu
Graphic Design:
Meri Annin, Amy Kittleson
Contributing Writers/Editors:
Robert Dinndorf, Robin Gee,
Janet Kelly
Resource Development – 12244
Alumni Office
3550 Anderson Street
Madison, WI 53704-2599
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
$4,000 Left To Go!
In the Fall 2003, the MATC
Foundation Board announced
a $40,000 Scholarship
Matching Challenge. At press
$40,000
time, the Foundation had raised
nearly $36,000 towards this
$30,000
match. You can help us help our
students! If you have not made a
gift to the Foundation before, or
$20,000
if you would like to increase
your contribution to the
Foundation, now is a great time. $10,000
Your gift to the Forward Fund
or other scholarship funds will
translate directly into more $0
scholarship awards during the
2004–2005 school year. Use
the enclosed envelope to make
your gift.
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Madison, WI
Permit No. 1389