Pictures of the 2009 Southeast Technical Halloween party are now posted online!

Disability and Alcohol Awareness

Topic: In the Blink of An Eye
Date: Monday, October 26, 2009 – Room 314 (SE TECH Red Wing campus) – 11:00 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Mr. Marcus Engel

Southeast Technical will like to personally invite the public, to participate in the upcoming diversity programs hosted on the Southeast Technical campuses.

Marcus' stunning and honest account of the fight of his life. From average college student one minute, to clinging to life in a hospital bed the next, Marcus takes audiences deep inside his recovery after being blinded by a drunk driver. Audiences will experience the pain, frustration and loss that can happen in an instant, all due to one preventable mistake. Beyond your typical alcohol awareness presentation, Marcus blends an unforgettable Prevention message with significant amounts of humor, tips and insights for audiences to use to overcome adversity in their own lives.

Marcus Engel lived these horrific moments... but that is only the beginning of the story. On a cold autumn night during his freshman year of college, Marcus' life took a dramatic turn. Following a Saturday night hockey game, Marcus and some friends were headed to a local diner for a midnight snack. They never made it. As the carload of teenagers pulled into a busy intersection, a drunk driver traveling at twice the speed limit slammed broadside into the small Toyota; only a thin piece of metal separated Marcus from the full impact of the oncoming vehicle.

When he awoke to a world he would never again see, Marcus faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles: survive hundreds of hours of reconstructive facial surgery, adapt to blindness and find happiness in a world changed forever. While still restricted to a hospital bed, a feeding tube and respirator, Marcus set his goal: return to college as quickly as possible. This goal would sustain him through two years of medical recovery, a six-month stint at rehab school and one month training with a new Seeing Eye dog. Not only did Marcus accept and embrace the challenge, but the life lessons he learned are now the guiding forces that inspire hundreds of thousands every day.

Marcus' story has empowered, enlightened and entertained audiences around the nation to overcome personal adversity and make intelligent decisions. His autobiography, After This... An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons has helped tens of thousands realize their potential and reach for new goals. His latest book The Other End of the Stethoscope is an inspirational tribute to health care professionals, offering insight and strategies for excellent patient care.

Southeast Tech to offer Culinary Training Program geared for displaced workers

Red Wing, Minn – (MSC-ST) Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical was approved to receive a grant from Workforce Development Inc. through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funding will be used to develop a short-term Culinary Training Program, designed to bring displaced workers back into the workforce in the fine dining arena. The program will be lead by esteemed Chef Tom Skold of the Harborview Café  in Pepin, Wis. Skold has been chef at the critically acclaimed Harbor View Café for the past 15 years and has been cooking professionally for over 25 years. While the Harbor View, located just off the banks of the Mississippi River, offers seasonal dining; Tom is busy in the off-season leading his very popular cooking classes in Southeastern Minnesota. Skold is a graduate of Johnson & Wales College culinary program and also holds a Food & Nutrition degree from UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wis.

Students entering this 43-hour training program can expect to learn cooking skills associated with quality restaurants and sit-down exquisite dining. Skold will share his affinity for cooking and his expertise in the use of fresh garden ingredients, while teaching the attributes that create interest and offer uniqueness that leads to success in the kitchen. Some of the specific skills covered will be an introduction to:

·         Identification and quality assessment

·         Time management and organizational skills

·         Restaurant Management: Catering and cafeteria options

·         Safe food practices

·         Knife handling skills

·         Customer service and satisfaction

·         Topics on alcohol/drug abuse issues in kitchen settings

Classes will be held in the professional kitchen at Mississippi National Golf Links located just outside of Red Wing, Minn. Students will attend four weeks of training held consecutively on Mondays and Tuesdays, with the next session due to start November 2 and again January 4. Students in the program will spend Monday’s as prep days and Tuesday’s cooking and serving. In their second – fourth week they will be serving an eager clientele as guests from the region are invited to dine and enjoy their services.  Upon completion, students will possess the marketable skills needed to pursue a rewarding career in the restaurant/food preparation industry.

Robert Nilsson, Training Coordinator for Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical says there is a big demand for chefs along the Mississippi River corridor and throughout the southern region of the state. According to Skold who teaches with emphasis in hospitality, the region lends itself to destination dining, and adds that despite the slower economy, the Harborview dining experience continues to be in high demand, especially with metro travelers who enjoy day trip getaways.  As Nilsson adds, there are many bed and breakfast communities both on and off the river that are in need of these services, so the job market is good.  Skold says “Our job is to feed hungry people and I am excited to learn from my  students what they like about cooking and what sparks their interest.” He encourages students to explore their creativity on their own outside of the classroom as well and share their experiences with other students.

Tuition for the class is covered through grant funding, students interested in seeing if they qualify for entrance to the program should inquire with local your Workforce Office or call 507-292-5176 for additional referral.

WINONA, Minn. (WSU-UC) - In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Winona State University will present "The American Dream: Inspiring Others Through His Amazing Story of Resilience, Perseverance and Optimism" with JR Martinez on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7 p.m. in East Hall, Kryzsko Commons. On Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11 a.m. in the Auditorium at Southeast Technical College and at 4 p.m. in MH-223 at the Winona State University -  Rochester Campus.

Martinez will discuss the many hardships he faced while growing up in Shreveport, La., and how he overcame those obstacles to enlist in the U.S. Army in September 2002. Martinez was deployed to Iraq in March 2003, and then a month later, the Humvee he was driving hit a landmine.

Martinez suffered burns to more than 40 percent of his body, along with smoke inhalation damage.  He was evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany to receive immediate care and was later taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. His road to recovery involved 32 surgeries.  

Since his recovery, Martinez has inspired the lives of others through his story. He aspires to have a positive impact with his message that every dream can be fulfilled through hard work and perseverance.

Martinez has spoken to more than 450 groups across the country; has appeared on major networks such as ABC, CBS and FOX News; and has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America.

Click on the following link for more information: http://www.wolfmanproductions.com/jrmartinez.html

This event is free and open to the public.

This presentation is co-sponsored by WSU Inclusion and Diversity Office, Southeast Technical College, WSU-Rochester, WSU Foreign Language Department and VOCES club.  

For more information, call Alex Hines 507-457-5595 or e-mail: AHines@winona.edu