College approaches 50th Anniversary in 2020
Message from Interim President Michael Berndt
Michael Berndt
DCTC Alumni:
At the end of the 2018–2019 academic year, I once more congratulate this year’s graduates and wish them well as they join the ranks of our esteemed alumni! As the interim president of Dakota County Technical College, I’ve had the pleasure to witness the many benefits we bring to our students and community. Some of these benefits are highlighted in this edition of the newsletter.
Two others include Brett Kolles, English faculty, who was nominated as the 2019 Minnesota State Board of Trustees Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching. The college’s Student Affairs division received the Innovative Student Affairs Program Award at Minnesota State’s Academic and Student Affairs Leadership Conference last October for the quality of DCTC’s new student Orientation and Registration Program.
No matter where your life and career take you, I encourage you to stay connected with your college. Stay informed and invested in the life-changing work taking place at Dakota County Technical College. Our faculty and staff look to you, our experienced alumni, to share your professional expertise and life experiences with our students. We encourage you to take part in events on and off campus and serve as community ambassadors for the great educational opportunities here at DCTC. Register today to join the Alumni Association—it’s free and simple to do!
Last, but certainly not least, stay tuned as the college approaches its 50th anniversary in 2020! Plans are underway to forge bigger and better partnerships with area businesses. I want our college to be the partner of choice in providing highly skilled, engaged, and responsible workers and citizens. I would be honored to have you share in these endeavors. Together, we can ensure our 50th anniversary is fun and impactful.
Best wishes,
Michael Berndt
Interim President
Dakota County Technical College
Inver Hills Community College
2019 Minnesota State Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence | Courtesy of Glen Stubbe Photography
Top Alumni: Brent Luther and Branden Luther
Branden Luther and Brent Luther
2005 Graphic Design Tech grads thrive at Creative Color in Bloomington
Brent Luther and Branden Luther are 36-year-old fraternal twins who look nearly identical. Both Brent and Branden graduated from Dakota County Technical College in 2005 with Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in Graphic Design Technology and Applied Visual Arts. Both were home-schooled and both continued on to become PSEO students at Alexandria Technical & Community College.
Brent started his own company, Creative Color, with a partner, Jeffrey Volino, in 2003. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, Creative Color specializes in large-format printing, branded environments, graphic design, vehicle wraps, signs, tradeshow displays, banners, apparel design, full-print production and more.
In August 2018, Branden joined his brother at Creative Color after a nearly 13-year career as a senior graphic designer at Winsted Corporation, a global leader in control room consoles.
“I needed Branden at Creative Color,” Brent said. “I knew having my brother here would work. I knew it would be like having a clone of me.”
“I absolutely loved working for Winsted—now a client of Creative Color, however, I needed the freedom to grow more as a designer and work on more diverse projects,” Branden added. “Creative Color has given me this opportunity. Working with my twin brother is a lot of fun, and we work so well together.”
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MVTA Bus Service
Route 420 increases transportation options
DCTC students take advantage of multiple bus stops per day via Route 420. This route connects directly to Rosemount and the Apple Valley Transit Center, offering multiple connection points.
Richard Crawford, MVTA public information manager, reported: “From August through December of 2018, the DCTC stop had about seventeen riders per day. Route 420 ridership showed a year-over-year increase in ridership of 9 percent for the first semester of school.”
DCTC Bookstore staff reported that for fall semester 2019 about 20 bus passes were sold; the spring semester 2019 total was 11. Summer passes will be available for interested students.
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Blue Knights Softball Welcomes New Dugouts
SKB donates $5,000 toward construction at UMore Softball Fields
On Tuesday afternoon, May 14, 2019, Ryan O’Gara, government affairs liaison for SKB Environmental and a member of the Dakota County Technical College Foundation Board of Directors, was an honored guest at an event at the UMore Softball Fields in Rosemount, Minnesota. Ryan threw a ceremonial pitch to celebrate the completion of new dugouts for the DCTC Blue Knights fastpitch softball team.
Michelle Boe, executive director of the DCTC Foundation, was on hand to welcome Ryan. “SKB Environmental contributed $5,000 toward the dugout project as a way to support DCTC softball,” Michelle said. “SKB has been a loyal community partner of the foundation and the college.”
The UMore Softball Fields represent a partnership between DCTC and the city of Rosemount. The dugouts are a significant improvement to the home field of the college’s softball team, which competes in NJCAA Division II.
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View more event photos on the DCTC Flickr album:
Blue Knights Softball Welcomes New Dugouts
DCTC Commencement 2019
Record number of grads
This year’s commencement ceremony was held Friday, May 17, at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The annual event honors students who have completed their programs of study and are ready to begin a new career or continue their education. A record number of graduates—390—walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.
View more event photos on the DCTC Flickr album:
DCTC Commencement 2019
DCTC & Inver Hills Present 2019 Joint Gala
DCTC & Inver Hills 2019 Joint Gala
Staff, alumni and community partner honored at annual event
Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College teamed up to present A Night in Hollywood, a joint gala event that honored the tremendous work of students, faculty, staff and the donors who support them.
A Night in Hollywood was held Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in Lakeville, Minnesota. The evening began with a social hour and silent auction. A special dinner was served to all guests at hosted and numbered tables. A program, live auction and heads or tails fun completed the gala event.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the ongoing work of the DCTC Foundation and Inver Hills Foundation. Both foundations strive to help students find success in college and graduate with less debt.
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View more event photos on the DCTC Flickr album:
DCTC and Inver Hills 2019 Joint Gala
New Graduate Spotlight: Danielle Tinney
Danielle Tinney
Automotive Technician student interning at Superior Service Center
After graduating from Osceola High School in 2017, Danielle Tinney, 21, had her heart set on going to college in Arizona. Danielle was less than enthusiastic when her father, the owner of Scott’s Tire Service in Osceola, Wisconsin, suggested she take a look at the transportation rograms at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC).
“I was dreading the experience on the drive over to the DCTC campus with my dad,” she recalled. “I was happily surprised. The automotive tech instructors were great and I liked the feel of the college, especially the automotive labs. After the visit, I really wanted to go to DCTC.”
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Alumnus Spotlight: Steve Long
Steve Long
Brewing & Beer Steward Technology grad opens own craft brewery
Steve Long, 60, a native of El Paso, Texas, is a 2018 graduate of the Brewing & Beer Steward Technology program at Dakota County Technical College. Steve enrolled in the certificate program for two reasons: 1) to learn more about brewing science at a commercial scale; and 2) to find a knowledgeable and passionate assistant brewer for his own craft brewery.
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Steve succeeded on both missions. He gained the brewing expertise he needed to launch 3rd Act Craft Brewery, the first ever and only brewery in Woodbury, Minnesota. He also hired a classmate, Brandon Peterson, who stood out in the program as an exceptionally bright, inquisitive and hardworking student.
“Brandon didn’t know he was participating in a yearlong job interview,” Steve said with a smile.
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2nd Annual Alumni Fund Drive: 100% for Students
Josh Clemens
Alumni step up to support 2018 campaign
The holidays were all the brighter this year thanks to DCTC’s generous alumni. Throughout December, numerous alumni provided more than $5,500 toward 100% for Students, making the campaign a significant success.
Josh Clemens, a 2007 graduate and owner of Barnwood Customs, made this year’s drive all the more impactful, providing a matching gift of $1,500. Additionally, Ziegler CAT of Bloomington, one of the largest employers of DCTC students, continued their support by matching employee contributions.
These donations ensure resources are readily available for books, equipment, scholarship funds and more. Thanks to each and every contributor who provided a 2018 alumni gift!
DONATE ONLINE
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Alumnus Tony Werner Visits DCTC
Tony Werner
Comcast technology president speaks to packed Dakota Room
Tony Werner, technology and product president at Comcast Cable, returned to the Dakota County Technical College campus in Rosemount, Minnesota, Thursday morning, November 29, 2018. Werner graduated from DCTC in the late 1970s with a degree in telecommunications. He spoke to a full house of students, faculty, staff, visitors and administrators in the college’s Dakota Room.
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View more event photos on the DCTC Flickr album:
DCTC Alumnus Tony Werner Visits Campus
Michelle Boe, JD
Michelle Boe
Executive director oversees DCTC and Inver Hills foundations
Michelle Boe, JD, serves as the executive director of the DCTC Foundation and the Inver Hills Foundation. Michelle took on the role in an interim capacity in January 2018.
Before starting in her role as executive director of the DCTC Foundation in 2016, Michelle worked as an associate attorney at Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak, & Pikala, P.A., a law firm in Minneapolis. She came to the firm from the Fourth Judicial District Court in Hennepin County, having served as a law clerk for the Honorable Referee Mary Madden.
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Have a DCTC story lead or want to learn more about the Alumni Association? Simply contact:
Amy Eppen
Foundation Development Director
651-423-8265
DCTC Alumni Association on Facebook
DCTC Alumni on LinkedIn
