Human Services Associate student named 2021-22 WCTC Student Ambassador

2021-District-Ambassador

PEWAUKEE, Wis. (Tuesday, March 23, 2021) – Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) recently named Human Services student Keva Estrada as the 2021-22 WCTC Student Ambassador.

Estrada first came to WCTC in 2013 to earn a Language Interpreter for Health Services technical diploma, and she returned last year to pursue a Human Services Associate degree.

As an adult student and working mother, the online Human Services Associate program was the perfect fit for Estrada’s busy lifestyle. “I thought that WCTC would be a great place to begin learning about counseling and help me build the skills needed throughout my academic career.… WCTC offers the flexibility of online classes that I need,” she said. 

Her program is providing her with a solid foundation for a profession in which she can help others improve the quality of their lives, Estrada said.

“I am learning how to effectively communicate; respectfully interact with people of all ages, races, orientations and beliefs; and how to become a great leader,” she said. “The life skills that I am learning will prepare me for a career in which I will be able to help clients heal, grow and learn.”

Besides her new role as ambassador, Estrada is actively involved in campus activities, including serving as president of the Multicultural Student Union, student mentor and student representative on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compliance (DEIC) Committee.

Her time at WCTC is allowing her to grow personally and professionally, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as next year’s ambassador.

“WCTC has opened up a whole new world for me by expanding my knowledge of resources and activities available in and out of school, and cheering me on as I move toward my future goal to become a psychologist,” Estrada said. “I am so thankful for, and humbled by, the experiences that I have had thus far. It is an honor to represent WCTC’s mission, staff and students.”

Each of the 16 colleges within the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) selects one student every year to participate in the ambassador leadership development and recognition program, sponsored by the Milwaukee-based financial services firm Baird. The recognition event will be held virtually April 22. Additionally, Baird awards a $1,250 scholarship to each ambassador.

Objectives of the WTCS ambassador program include:

· Fostering public awareness and appreciation for the high-quality system of technical education that contributes to the state's economy and its communities.

• Highlighting the technical skills, academic achievements, community impact and leadership of Wisconsin’s technical college students and graduates.
• Encouraging ongoing collaboration in the delivery of technical education among state and local education, workforce and economic development, and industry partners.
• Emphasizing the valuable role of affordable, flexible and responsive technical education in an era of rapid change in the workplace and a modern economy.
• Inspiring pride in technical education among students, graduates and all involved in its delivery.