A beautiful spring season brings with it a lot of awesome new students. We’re excited to give this month’s Fresh Face Award to Amelia Olson!

Amelia is an outgoing, friendly student who has found her niche in our IT-Network Specialist program. Back when her husband was living in Houston,Texas, he had his own business fixing computer hardware. Soon her husband moved up to Wisconsin, where they got married, and after working with him on a couple of computers, Amelia was hooked! She is excited to become his partner in business.

Being from Bloomer, coming to CVTC made sense for Amelia. Her sister had graduated from the Early Childhood Education program. She admitted that she was nervous to start; she knew that she wasn’t a traditional student coming back at 31 years old, and she’s also the only female in most of her classes. However, she is already feeling a new level of determination that she didn’t have when she tried right after high school and thinks that it definitely has contributed to her success so far!

Amelia has acquired a lot of new hobbies lately, and we all need a break from thinking about classes sometimes. One of her favorites is cross-stitch. She thinks of it as not only a creative activity, but also a therapeutic one. She also started to pick up playing piano again after six years of lessons when she was a teenager. She previously wasn’t able to afford lessons, but after striking up a house-cleaning deal with a piano teacher, she’s well on her way to actively making music again!

Amelia has received a lot of support in her new pursuits so far. While she has been able to tailor her schedule enabling her to be in class when her kids are in school, her husband has done a great job helping out when schedules don’t quite workout the way she would like. She also wants to thank her sister for being so supportive. Amelia is honored that she was nominated for this award!

Congratulations Amelia! We’re excited to be a part of the rest of your educational journey.

You’ve heard the word before: FERPA. Even if you’ve never heard the term itself, it’s probably come into play sometime during your education. So, what exactly does this mysterious acronym mean for our students? We’re glad you asked! It’s time to have some fun with FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and give you a better idea of why it’s so important.

A Privacy Act? What does that have to do with me?

Great question! From the moment a student enrolls in courses at CVTC, he/she is covered by FERPA. All students, regardless of age, who are attending or have ever attended a postsecondary institution are protected by FERPA. Whether the student is 17 and taking college courses in high school or a non-traditional student returning to school after 20 years, FERPA applies. Students are covered by FERPA from the time they start classes for the rest of their lives. While this might seem extreme, FERPA is put in place to ensure student information remains confidential, even after graduation. CVTC makes a point to protect the information students provide to us.

What kind of information is covered under FERPA?

Everything! Well, almost. Directory information includes name, program, classes enrolled (past/present), degrees received, address, email, phone number, participation in recognized activities, and dates of enrollment. Directory information can be released to three populations of partners upon request: partner universities, partner employers, and military recruiters. All of these requests go through the Records and Registration office for approval. Anyone not affiliated with one of these three groups would be exempt from obtaining directory information unless otherwise authorized. This includes questions from parents, spouses, family members, etc. Everything from a student’s address to his/her registration status is kept strictly confidential to any non-authorized individuals. Students are also able to prevent anyone (including the three partners mentioned above) from getting their information by making their account confidential. Doing this is as easy as stopping into Student Central.

How do I allow someone to have access to my records?

This is a question we get all the time in Student Central – especially from parents! If students would like to allow a third party to have access to their records, all they have to do is complete a record release form. This form can be completed in Student Central and requires a student signature. The student will create what is called a FERPA PIN, which will be added to his/her account after the form is signed and submitted. Anyone who calls or comes into Student Central and provides the correct PIN will have access to the records specified on the form.

Note: Students can specify which records they want to be released to those providing the PIN. For example, if they only want information related to their tuition balance released to a third party, they can indicate this when completing the record release form. This means all other information, including grades, academic standing, directory information, etc. will remain confidential, even when the PIN is provided.

Does FERPA apply to email as well?

Yes. Any emails that do not come from a CVTC student email will be treated as coming from an unauthorized user. We recommend students use their student email to contact us whenever possible. Even if we can see your email is [email protected], we will not be able to release account specific information to you. With internet hacking at an all-time high, we want to ensure the online privacy of our students as much as possible.

Why is FERPA such a big deal?

It’s a huge deal! We know our students are busy and at times ask parents, spouses, or even friends to call on their behalf; however, without providing a FERPA PIN, we have no way of confirming the caller’s relation to the student. We take pride in ensuring the safety of our students and staff to the best of our ability. CVTC is dedicated to protecting student information as much as possible. While it may at times seem inconvenient, FERPA is in the best interest of our students and is put in place to ensure confidentiality remains a priority at CVTC.

Featuring Samantha Pitts 

Written by Kelley Lai

I made up my mind on what I wanted to do, and I did it!

Before CVTC, I attended both Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota and UW-Eau Claire. During my time at UW-Eau Claire, I was told I wouldn’t get into the nursing program. I decided I wanted to do nursing no matter what. I made up my mind on what I wanted to do, and I did it! I applied to CVTC, got on the waiting list, and started the nursing program.

If you put the time in, they will give the time back.    

There were so many instructors that stood out and made an impact during my time at CVTC. Ron Keys was my instructor for chemistry and biochemistry--he was phenomenal! He always put in the extra work and helped me understand topics that I was struggling with. Cheryl Garner is the reason I’m now on the cardiac floor. I had her during the last semester of my nursing clinical. She taught us how important it is to know your patient's heart. Kim Ernstmeyer was also very helpful; I received a lot of help from her outside of class. All my instructors were really helpful throughout the program. They were excellent and cared about each student individually. If you put the time in, they will give the time back. They were the reason I am successful! 

I never comprehended a 9 to 5 job.

My inspirations are my family. My grandmother was a nurse for 52 years, my grandfather was a police officer, my mom is a police officer and my dad is a firefighter/paramedic. My parents always worked odd hours, we never had Christmas on Christmas, and weekends were when we could get off. I never comprehended a 9 to 5 job--I always wanted to help people. I have so many role models that dedicated their life to helping people, and that is what I wanted to do with mine!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

If I could go back in time to give my younger self advice, I would say just keep going, and it will all work out. There were times during nursing school where I felt like giving up because it was tough. I’m glad I didn’t. Also, don’t forget to ask questions! That is the best way to learn. 

Little victories and big wins!

My pinning ceremony was really a highlight for me and a proud moment during my educational career. There were little victories too, like my first IV, passing medicine, and my CNA test. Every little victory felt like I was moving in the right direction in my nursing career. 

Fly on the wall.

If I could have any super power, I would love to be able to read people’s mind or be a fly on the wall. I’m very nosy and always want to know about who, what, and why! 

July’s Super Student award is going to Danielle Grey!

Danielle is finishing up the Executive Assistant program this fall. She’ll have attended CVTC for about four years when she graduates with her Associate’s degree. She originally started out in the Liberal Arts program, but switched paths after her first year. In addition to being a stellar student, Danielle has also been working in the Student Central Scanning Center for the past three years. She makes sure that all Student Services documents are scanned into the correct student’s file so that staff has quick access and are able to help students more efficiently!

Danielle considers her most rewarding college experience to be her opportunity to work on campus. She thinks it has been amazing to see both what goes on as a student in the classroom and what goes on behind the scenes as an employee. She has gotten both valuable work experience and a deeper understanding of how an institution functions from dual perspectives.

Danielle grew up in a blended family, meaning that she had a combination of step, half, and other siblings. As the oldest of six children, her siblings are one of her biggest motivators in life. Just like she has been able to look up to her instructors here, she wants to ensure that she can be a good role model for her siblings. She wants to make sure that her siblings feel comfortable looking up to her and asking for advice.

Above: Danielle’s puppy, Bella

Because she is a family-oriented person, Danielle is hoping to find a career where she feels a strong team presence. She would like to settle down in a local Eau Claire office where she won’t feel like just a number in a crowd. She remembers an internship that she did for Queen of the Castle Magazine, where her boss and coworkers really made her feel like part of the team and worked to help her grow in her career and as a person.

Fun facts about Danielle:

Hated milk when she was younger, so she puts juice in her cereal

Enjoys crocheting, gym, and babysitting in her spare time

Loves pizza

Would love to meet Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey) from Grey’s Anatomy

Wants to be a mother to a biological, adopted, or foster child someday

Danielle’s Advice to Other Students:

“If there is one piece of advice that I would give to anyone going to school, it is DO NOT GIVE UP! Though times may get hard and it feels like things are not worth it at that moment, push through. Things will get better. Reach out to a classmate, teacher, or friend. What you are doing now will be more than worth it in the future.”

Featuring Kyle Hammon

Tell us about yourself.

In December of 2015, I graduated from the Business Management program at CVTC. I’m currently completing my Bachelor's degree in Management online at UW-Stout. Besides attending classes, I work full-time as an Assistant Store Manager at Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Baraboo, and work about 50 hours a week. If everything goes as planned, I will graduate by May of 2018. 

What were your experiences at CVTC?

All my experiences at CVTC were positive. I worked at Culver’s part-time and was promoted to Assistant Manager. Since then, I have been interested in Business Management and took classes part-time at CVTC. I held many on-campus positions. I was a tutor and a Supplemental Instruction Leader, as well as being involved in Student Government and New Student Orientation. 

What were the challenges you faced as a student?

I never really experienced any challenges at CVTC The instructors here were really helpful and motivating compared to where I am right now. CVTC’s instructors are students’ biggest cheerleaders! 

What were the highlights of your student career at CVTC?

I made great connections with the people here at CVTC; for example, Pang Garcia and many others in Academic Services. I also made connections with instructors and students from other programs.

Any advice for current students?

Definitely try to get involved on campus. Before I attended CVTC I was very shy, but after getting involved on campus, I became more sociable. I did a lot of volunteer work in the community. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help or for an opportunity. The worst thing anyone can say is “no”. It doesn’t hurt to ask; you might be surprised by the response you get. 

Keep your eye on the goal. Everyone here at CVTC is here for a reason. If you don’t have one, you might want to do some soul-searching. Find a reason and set a goal! Keep trying; even when faced with failure, you will succeed eventually. 

Coffee or tea?

Tea.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?

I have never really experienced other cultures outside of the United States. I would love to visit a place where I can experience culture shock -- probably somewhere like Korea. 

If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and why?

I would love to be able to read minds. I’m interested in other people. It would be interesting to know what they are thinking. There are some people out there that are hard to read,and you can never tell what they are thinking. 

Thank you Kyle for letting us know what you’re up to! It’s always exciting to see alumni going out and moving up!

It’s finally time for our April Fresh Face Award! We are thrilled to give this month’s award to Steffanie Meier!

Steffanie just started the Medical Assistant program this semester and is rocking it. The Medical Assistant program felt like a good entrance into the medical field for Steffanie because, she eventually wants to assist with surgery. It’s a shorter program, so she felt more comfortable starting with a short-term goal and working her way up, as she hasn’t been back to school in nearly seven years.

A lot of different factors in Steffanie’s life served as motivation to come back to school. Her mom had realized that Steffanie didn’t seem totally happy with where she was in life and encouraged her to pursue further education. The mix of this push, combined with her interests in health and the human body, made the Medical Assistant program an easy choice!

So far, Steffanie has loved going to class. She says that her instructors have been very down to earth and really understand the students they work with. She was initially worried that the classes would be overwhelming, but she feels like she has done very well so far. Her favorite class is Medical Terminology due to the vast amounts she is learning about the medical field as a whole.

Steffanie’s world at home tends to revolve around her kids. She loves taking them to Chaos Waterpark and, quite frankly, loves going herself. In addition to her kids, she has nine pets to take care of. The list includes a rescued pit-bull, two geckos, four fish, a cat, and a snake. It certainly sounds like an exciting household to be a part of! 

Steffanie wants to thank her family and Pang, one of our Student Central General Advisors, for making this transition much easier than she initially expected. Especially since starting school, she wants to thank her boyfriend, as he has really stepped up in helping her take care of her kids, which has made it easier to make the transition. She’s excited to keep moving forward and we’re excited to watch her continue to flourish! Be sure to say hi to Steffanie when you see her around the halls.

We’re lucky to have a fabulous Fresh Face for the month of March! Check out Lakesha Johnson’s story!

We’re extremely excited to give this month’s Fresh Face Award to Lakesha Johnson! Lakesha is a very outgoing, hardworking student that started in the Business Management program this spring semester. She is very interested in working in real estate once she gets her degree, as she has the “gift for gab” and loves working around other people. Lakesha’s daughter encouraged her to come back to school while she was applying to college herself so she could keep busy, meet new people, and improve her life in the process. Already having met so many cool people in the first few months has helped Lakesha, both personally and academically!

Coming from Kenosha, Lakesha moved to Eau Claire after her sister’s graduation from the Nursing program at CVTC. Seeing as her daughter is also a student at CVTC, Lakesha has a lot of support from family in the area. She said that Pang Garcia, one of our Student Central Advisors, has been extremely helpful in pursuing her goals as well.

Lakesha loves to watch sports and cook. When her daughter was little, she would search everywhere for interesting recipes, as she loved to have good, quality food but didn’t want to go out to eat all the time. Since then, her journey for exciting foods has led to a passion for cooking. Some of her favorite foods are baked mac and cheese, different types of lasagna, and collard greens. She also really enjoys baking cakes due to the challenge, and let’s be real, cake is amazing!

So far, Lakesha feels like her classes have been a breeze. She loves taking in all the new information in her courses and discussing it with her classmates. She admits that she was scared at first, but was pleasantly surprised when she found out how much her interests in the subjects helped her succeed. She is so happy to have a lot of support from both her family and staff here at CVTC, who pushed her to get started on this academic journey.

We’re glad to have such a bright, fun student like Lakesha at CVTC, and we’re excited to see her future success. Be sure to say “hi” if you see her around the halls!

The moment you’ve been waiting all month for... our February Fresh Face Award! Check out Shad Nowak’s story!

We’re excited to give this month’s Fresh Face Award to Shad! He just started his Technical Studies - Journey worker degree while he’s on the waiting list for Electrical Power Distribution. CVTC was a natural choice, as Shad grew up in the Chippewa Valley and now has a 7 year-old daughter of his own.

After watching the History Channel show Power & Ice, Shad’s interest in doing this exciting, important work combined with getting to work outside became extremely evident. He has worked as a warehouse mason for the last 2-3 years and is excited to find another area where he still gets to do more physically-active work. Sounds like he enjoys the weather here more than a lot of us!

When he has free time, Shad really enjoys aviation photography. This consists of driving around to different regional and national airports and taking photos of the planes in action. One of his favorite opportunities was going up with one of the Blue Angels’ cargo planes. For those of you that don’t already know, the Blue Angels are the United States Navy’s flight demonstration squad. They are very well known nationally, so getting to go up in the sky with them is a huge deal!

Since he hasn’t attended school since 2005, Shad is looking forward to getting back into the routine and meeting a lot of new people with similar interests.There are a lot of things to learn and work to do, but he’s excited for the challenge! However, I doubt the social aspect will give him any difficulty based on our interview. He’s a very friendly extroverted guy! If anything, he’s most worried about the looks he might get as a proud Vikings fan.

He wants everyone to know that “It’s never too late to start getting back to school”, even if you’re asking yourself, “Since when do they put letters and numbers together [in math]?”. Let’s be honest, that’s a question we all have.

We can’t wait to see Shad take off and “fly” into a new future! Be sure to say “hi” if you see him around the halls!