DCTC welcomes Karen Organization of Minnesota to campus
Dakota County Technical College hosted a welcoming event for the Karen Organization of Minnesota Wednesday, November 28, 2018, in the Dakota Room on the college’s main campus in Rosemount, Minnesota. Participants learned about the rich history of the Karen people while celebrating the Karen cultural heritage. More than 20 Karen students are completing the Automotive Technician program at the college, and the event acknowledged their contributions to the DCTC community.
Harold Torrence, business management faculty, reported that the college’s Multicultural Student Leadership Association (MSLA) helped make the celebration possible. Ana Kharkural, MSLA president and Student Senate vice president, was an instrumental member of the event planning committee. Harold serves as MSLA faculty advisor.
“It was wonderful how our automotive students and faculty came together to learn more about the Karen people, culture, customs and history,” Harold said. “Our MSLA leaders also participated. More than one hundred students attended the event.”
“St. Paul, Minnesota, is home to one of the largest Karen communities in America. More than 17,000 Karen have resettled in St. Paul since the early 2000s.”
— Karen Organization of Minnesota
Harold added that students, staff and faculty engaged the Karen Organization of Minnesota presenters during an informative question-and-answer session.
“That resulted in shaping a better collective understanding of the cultural background and human experiences of our Karen students,” he said. “I was impressed by how our faculty wore their Karen attire proudly and how they were willing to learn about our students’ stories and challenges.”
“The Karen students bring new perspectives and ideas to our program, and we are glad to have them as part of our family.”
— Jeff Copeland, Automotive Technician Faculty
Xuong Tran, TRIO Student Support Services advisor and MSLA staff advisor, is more than happy to work with Karen students on campus.
“They are a delightful group of students,” Xuong said. “As part of our work on the Equity and Inclusion Council, we make sure our Karen students are involved on campus and have opportunities to share their culture with our college community. TRIO SSS works with our Karen students so that they have the help they need with financial aid, planning their classes and testing. They in turn refer other students to TRIO. It’s a great partnership for success.”
Jeff Copeland, automotive technology faculty, really enjoys having Karen students in his program. “These young men are very polite and eager to learn,” he said. “They have excellent attendance and work very hard to complete their assignments on time. Our program can be very challenging at times as many of them are still developing English reading and writing skills.”
Jeff noted that teaching students with diverse cultural backgrounds requires flexibility and innovation. “As instructors, we have had to modify many of our teaching methods to aid them with understanding the often difficult technical content,” he said. “The Karen students bring new perspectives and ideas to our program, and we are glad to have them as part of our family.”
About the keynote speaker, Eh Tah Khu
Eh Tah Khu
Eh Tah Khu serves as co-executive director of the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM). Eh Tah Khu joined the organization in 2011 as a youth development coordinator and was promoted to Youth and Social Services program manager in 2013. He was appointed to his current role by the KOM Board of Directors in February 2016.
As co-executive director, Eh Tah Khu primarily focuses on program management, operations and community engagement. He is also a visible leader in the Karen community in St. Paul through his active participation with KOM and Ebenezer Karen Baptist Church.
Eh Tah Khu was born in Burma, but due to political conflict he moved as a refugee to Thailand, where he earned a four-year degree from Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Bible School and College. After graduating from college, he taught for two years and helped manage multiple schools under the Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee. He came to Minnesota as a refugee with his wife and son in 2010. Eh Tah Khu became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
Karen People Celebration gallery
More about the Karen people ¹
Karen History
Migration to Burma
There are few written records of the Karen origin story. The Karen people began to inhabit what eventually became Burma about two thousand years ago. They traveled from Tibet and China and settled largely in the hills bordering the eastern mountainous region of Burma.
In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Burmese also began migrating to the area north of what is now the Karen state. Ethnic groups around this region included the Mon, Shan, Thai, Burmese and Karen. When the British colonized Burma in 1886, these groups all became part of Burma. Read more…
Resettlement to Third Countries
Some Karen refugees have been able to resettle in the United Sates, Australia, Canada, England, and Norway. Whether they plan to become citizens, or whether they hope to return to their homelands, adjustment to a third country can be very challenging.
Learning a completely different language is the biggest barrier that refugees face when starting new lives in a third country. Many refugees are also not familiar with things that we take for granted, such as transportation, winter weather, and even something as basic as how to use an oven or a refrigerator. Read more…
Karen Culture
¹ Courtesy of the Karen Organization of Minnesota
Student Spotlight: Kwee Wah
Kwee Wah
Kwee Wah, 22, is originally from Kayin State (formerly Karen State) in Myanmar (also known as Burma). Kwee is a sophomore in the Automotive Technician program and is graduating December 2018 with his Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.
A graduate of Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul, Kwee works while attending DCTC at Apple Ford Lincoln in Apple Valley. He also takes advantage of the resources provided by TRIO Student Support Services on campus. Kwee is focusing his career goals on the automotive industry and would like to own and operate his own shop some day.
“When we came to Minnesota, our family vehicles would break down and cost a lot of money to repair,” Kwee said. “I learned how to repair cars to help out and save my family money. Becoming an automotive technician is my way to give back to the Karen community.”
Kwee has seven siblings, four brothers and three sisters. He’s the middle child. He also has a big brown dog he loves named Tiger. When he’s not studying or working, Kwee enjoys spending time with his family and cooking meals for them.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
HARDWORKING. AMBITIOUS. SKILLED.
Kwee Wah | Q & A
What’s one thing every technical college student should know?
To get a good career you need to go to college.
What do you like best about the Automotive Technician program?
I like working with my hands. Our shop area gives us a lot of space to work.
Why did you choose automotive maintenance and repair as your career field?
I like working on cars and it’s a great way to help the people in my community.
What is your favorite make and model motor vehicle?
Mitsubishi Evolution
What one word best describes your experience at DCTC?
FRIENDLY.
Kwee Wah | 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
Place you would most like to visit: Kayin (Karen) State
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Joined the Automotive Tech program
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Family Guy
- Favorite all-time movie: N/A
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Become a master tech
- Most valuable material possession: Karen culture
Dream occupation: Helping other people
- Person you would most like to meet: Saw Ba U Gyi, first president of the Karen National Union
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Diagnose automotive problems
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: War
Student Spotlight: Kaw Htoo
Kaw Htoo
Born in Kayin State in Myanmar, Kaw Htoo, 19, is earning his Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in the Automotive Technician program. A sophomore at DCTC, Kaw is on track to graduate December 2019. He is focusing his career goals on becoming an accomplished automotive tech.
Like his classmate Kwee Wah, Kaw is a graduate of Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul. He also works while going to school as an automotive tech at Apple Ford Lincoln. Like Kwee, he belongs to TRIO SSS.
“I didn’t know anyone when I came to Minnesota,” Kaw said. “Thanks to DCTC and the Automotive Tech program, I have new friends and a future career.”
Kaw has two older sisters. In his free time, he likes playing videogames. He favorite game at the moment is Fortnite.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
PUNCTUAL. RESPECTFUL. HELPFUL.
Kaw Htoo | Q & A
What’s one thing every technical college student should know?
Study hard.
What do you like best about the Automotive Technician program?
You get to know about cars and people.
Why did you choose automotive maintenance and repair as your career field?
When I was 17, I built my own car.
What is your favorite make and model motor vehicle?
2018 Ford Mustang (Kaw owns a black one.)
What one word best describes your experience at DCTC?
FUN.
Kaw Htoo | 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
Place you would most like to visit: Montana
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Work on cars.
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Work on cars.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Riverdale
- Favorite all-time movie: Avengers
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Finish cars.
- Most valuable material possession: 2018 Ford Mustang
Dream occupation: Travel
- Person you would most like to meet: Lionel Messi
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Martial arts
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: War
Learn more about the Automotive Technician program at DCTC by contacting:
Jeffrey Copeland
Automotive Technology Faculty
651-423-8296
Learn more about the Multicultural Student Leadership Association (MSLA) at DCTC by contacting:
Harold Torrence, EdD
Business Management Faculty
Equity and Inclusion Council Chair
Diversity Officer
MSLA Faculty Advisor
651-423-8606
MSLA Staff Advisor
651-423-8289
Automotive Technician students: (left to right) Thaw Thi Lay, Kaw Htoo, Saw Thoo, Hser Baw, Loo Hae, Kwee Wah, Henary Poe
