Newsroom Waukesha County Technical College

Elmbrook Schools --Milwaukee Tool and Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) have been named the recipients of the Elmbrook School District's 2024 Excellence in a Community Partnership award! This award will be presented as part of the Engaged in Excellence Awards celebration on Monday, May 6, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center. WCTC has become a key partner in support of the Elmbrook Promise, the District’s goal to provide access to 30 college credits to every high school student before graduation. At the heart of the partnership lies the Excelerate program, where Elmbrook will celebrate its first graduates to complete a high school diploma and an associate's degree while in high school. Additionally, the growing Dual Enrollment Academy has created opportunities for students to start on a career path, earn certifications and gain industry experience in a supportive high school cohort.

Community College Daily -- The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) was awarded a $5.7 million Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant from the U.S. Labor Department that will be used to advance manufacturing education across the state. Eight colleges within the WTCS -- including Waukesha County Technical College -- will receive a portion of the monies, which will be primarily used to fund the integration of embedded, short-term credentials within advanced manufacturing programs and the development of corresponding open education resources. Western Technical College will coordinate the distribution of the grant money.

OnMilwaukee -- WCTC Culinary Management student Marco Lezameta Jr. is gleaning experience from his father who runs Zenith food truck in Waukesha. From their little, yellow mobile food operation, the father-son duo creates a variety of fusion-style food that takes its inspiration from Peru, Mexico, India and beyond.

WisBusiness.com -- Ascendium is pleased to announce 801 construction and industrial apprentices in the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) have been selected to receive a $2,000 Tools of the Trade scholarship this year. At Waukesha County Technical College, 95 apprentices received the scholarships.

Spectrum News 1-- As a colorectal cancer survivor, Chef Jack Birren, an instructor at Waukesha County Technical College, is an advocate for raising awareness about the disease. As part of his involvement with the Fight CRC organization, he recently visited Washington D.C. to speak to legislators on awareness and funding for research. Birren has been an instructor in WCTC's Culinary Management program for more than 12 years.

Inside Higher Ed -- While falling enrollments have led to some colleges and universities to close or move online over the past two years, a private college in the state is taking a proactive approach toward securing a strong transfer student pipeline.

Daily Dodge -- The City of Watertown recently announced the hiring of Tanya Reynen to the position of fire. Her public service career spans nearly two decades and had served as the deputy chief of training center at Lake County Fire Rescue. She is a graduate of UW Oshkosh and Waukesha County Technical College.

Washington County Daily News -- The annual SkillsUSA Wisconsin Culinary Arts Competition brought together high school students from around the state on Friday morning at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee. The contestants had to prepare two plates with two entrees and soup, all the while being assessed on their knife skills, presentation, technique, and other food safety-related skills.

Waukesha Freeman -- Over 200 Pewaukee seniors recently spent time in the Pewaukee High School Reality Store, a financial education activity designed to teach students how to budget. Over 40 community members, school board members, teachers and school staff -- including instructors from WCTC's Early Childhood Education program -- set up booths representing different payments students may need to make after graduating.

Waukesha Freeman -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha campus will close after the spring 2025 semester, in response to a directive issued by the Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. On Monday, UWM and Waukesha County Technical College jointly announced plans to develop the UWM University Center at WCTC, to ensures that students in Waukesha County can obtain a high-quality associate degree from WCTC at a low cost and then seamlessly continue a four-year degree with UWM.

Spectrum News 1 -- UWM at Waukesha will close its doors in spring 2025, citing financial and enrollment issues. UW-Milwaukee and Waukesha County Technical College jointly announced Monday the development of the UWM University Center at WCTC, and the technical college will continue to support UWM during this time of transition

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will close its Waukesha campus at the end of the spring 2025 semester, due to low enrollment and financial issues. Waukesha County Technical College will develop a UWM University Center for students seeking a four-year degree to get help transferring to UWM.

Waukesha Freeman -- Students from Waukesha learned about personal money management Wednesday at a Reality event held at Waukesha County Technical College.

Waukesha Freeman -- Over 650 middle and high school students from across Waukesha County and the surrounding region gathered at Waukesha County Technical College on Tuesday for the seventh annual Discover Health Care exposition. Held by the Waukesha County Business Alliance, the event gives students the chance to learn about the many diverse career paths available in the health care field.

TMJ4/The Morning Blend -- Waukesha County Technical College Interior Design program students participate in the the NARI Home Show's Interior Design Student Display with the theme of "Grand Millennial Decor" aka "Granny Chic."

Accelerate Magazine -- The Waukesha County Business Alliance featured recent WCTC alumnus and Outstanding Student Award recipient Zach Sheridan in its January issue. Learn the path Sheridan took to secure a job in the trades.

BizTimes/Milwaukee Business Times -- While others may wring their hands, worried about what the technology might mean for their vocation or even the future of mankind as we know it, Waukesha County Technical College President Rich Barnhouse, Ph.D., sees the interwoven advancements as opportunities – technologies that the region he serves must strive to harness before it is too late.

Spectrum News 1 -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reached an agreement guaranteeing admission for regional technical college graduates, the college announced Tuesday. The partnership includes four technical colleges, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), Moraine Park Technical College and Gateway Technical College. Graduates who have their associate's degree will be able to transfer 60 credit toward a bachelor’s degree at UW-Milwaukee.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- Beginning in summer 2024, an associate degree from four technical schools in eastern Wisconsin will guarantee a student's admission to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. UW-Milwaukee announced Tuesday that the transfer agreement will apply to Milwaukee Area Technical College, Waukesha County Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College and Gateway Technical College.

Milwaukee Business Journal -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has formed a new agreement with four southeastern Wisconsin technical colleges to guarantee admissions to students with associates degrees. UWM formed the partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Waukesha County Technical College, Moraine Park Technical College and Gateway Technical College. Students with associates degrees from these four schools will be able to transfer at least 60 credits toward a UWM bachelor's degree. They will no longer have to pay for a formal admission application but rather declare a brief intent form.

Biz Times -- Doubling down on efforts to attract more transfer students, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced Tuesday that it has reached broad transfer agreements with the region’s four technical colleges.

Fox 6 -- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) has reached new agreements with four regional technical colleges that will guarantee admission for their graduates and make transferring credits to UWM simple.

Spectrum News 1 -- A Wisconsin Navy veteran has a new lease on life after spending at least 13 years of his life limited by a painful injury. “I never thought I would be able to stand here for a couple of hours, making recipes, and being able to cut, chop and mince vegetables,” said 38-year-old James Brody, who is pursuing a degree in Culinary Management at WCTC.

BizTimes Milwaukee -- Waukesha County Technical College received approval to begin offering an associate degree program focused on artificial intelligence. In a Thursday announcement, WCTC said it is the first technical college in Wisconsin to offer such a program. The Artificial Intelligence Data Specialist Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program consists of 60 credits and will officially launch next fall.