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Madison College's regional campuses are a place to learn and build community connections.
That’s what motivated the mother and daughter team of Nora and Samantha Hernandez to head back to college to earn their Basic Early Childhood Educator Technical Diploma.
Samantha is a childcare provider at the local YMCA looking to uplevel her skills. Nora is a highly skilled educator at Watertown Family Connections. Both were eager to pursue continuing education opportunities at Madison College-Watertown.
“I want to support my community, but I also want to support my daughter,” said Nora, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education in Mexico but hadn’t seen the inside of a classroom for at least 15 years.
The two took advantage of the opportunity thanks to the partnership of Madison College-Watertown and Greater Watertown Community Health Foundation, aimed at addressing the local child care shortage. The scholarship that Nora and Samantha received is available to others who live or work in Dodge or Jefferson County.
Samantha says the classes taught her how to excel as an educator and create strong, positive relationships with students and their parents.
“I can see how I’ve really grown and made progress with the early childhood educator diploma classes,” she says. “It made me return to my foundations of not just being a teacher but providing a stepping stone for kids to succeed.”
Nora’s goals were threefold: to connect with Samantha, the community, and Madison College.
“Even with my education and experience, my brain never stops learning,” Nora says. “My goals were to motivate my daughter to learn, to find better connections with my community, and to better service my clients. It’s never too late to pursue education.”
Madison College Regional Campuses Are Creating Positive Changes in the Community
Workforce Ready
Madison College's Portage Campus welcomed the first of three Mini Manufacturing World sessions on Oct. 30 with 50 Portage High School sophomores.
This dynamic initiative collaborates with the Manufacturing Alliance of Sauk, Columbia, and Marquette counties and the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. The event emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world applications, inviting students to explore manufacturing career paths.
Madison College-Portage was honored as the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin's 2024 Champion in Action for its invaluable contributions to showcase opportunities for students in the manufacturing industry.
“The goal is to overcome stereotypes about working in manufacturing, explore the career and education path for each area, and create a better understanding of regional employment opportunities,” says Shawna Marquardt, Madison College Dean of Regional Campuses.
The Mini-Manufacturing World is so successful it will expand to the Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells, and Sauk Prairie School Districts.
In another partnership with the Workforce Development Board, Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce and CESA 2, the Madison College-Fort Atkinson campus offers GuideEd opportunities to high school students. Students learn about career options through local manufacturing sites and workshops.
Madison College recently offered emergency medical technician (EMT) training to participants from four rural EMS/Fire Departments in Portage, Baraboo, Poynette and Rio, thanks to a $58K FAST Forward grant awarded to the Portage Fire Department. Participants completed their training in September, leaving with new skills to protect and serve city and village residents.
Elevating People’s Lives
The Employment Support Program is a beacon of hope, helping participants overcome barriers to employment and inspiring them to embrace the journey toward independent living. Madison College-Reedsburg partners with VARC and DRS to help these participants learn valuable employment skills.
Two recent participants assisted with clerical operations at the Reedsburg Campus with the help of adaptive voice-to-text software. The three-month program helped the workers increase their office and customer communication skills.
“We aim to help participants overcome barriers to employment and strive to help them fulfill independent lifestyles,” says Madison College Reedsburg Campus Manager Linda Spencer.
Others are finding ways to transform their lives at Madison College regional campuses through a partnership with People Helping People-Sauk County, Sauk County Drug Court, Holtz Construction, and Workforce Development Board.
Participants in the Sauk County Drug Court program gain confidence and learn new skills with short training opportunities. The aim is to help individuals avoid the justice-involved system cycle by offering opportunities for growth, connections and personal awareness.
Community Connections
Last year, Madison College regional campuses hosted over 220 community events, providing integral programming, facility space and connection for local communities and businesses.
In a new partnership with the Fort Atkinson School District, the Fort Atkinson’s campus will welcome the Crossroads Alternative Education Program, providing learning space for high school students who thrive outside the general high school environment.
Another successful collaboration is Watertown’s tractor safety course specifically tailored for 12-15-year-olds. The course, sponsored by the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lake Mills and Mid-State Farm Equipment of Watertown, was so popular it sold out.
“Our goal is to offer more classes to help young people be safe in this important Wisconsin industry,” said Chelsey Bauer, Madison Area Technical College-Watertown campus operations manager.
Madison College's regional campuses were recently honored by The Rural Community College Alliance for innovative and accessible education services for rural Wisconsin learners. The award recognized the Career Discovery Youth Camps, which allow 7-12th graders to explore potential careers in nursing, aviation, EMS, welding, metal fabrication, and more.
These regional campuses provide access to education and skills for family-sustaining jobs, collaboration with employers to meet workforce needs, and services to rural residents, making Madison College a vital neighbor that enhances our communities.
