Gateway, DWD announce new mechatronics apprenticeship

Gateway Technical College and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development/Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards announced the creation of a new mechatronics registered apprenticeship program to be offered at Gateway to help meet the needs of area employers and provide training for area residents in this in-demand field.

“Wisconsin has invested over $200 million to support innovative talent development solutions under Governor Walker's leadership in the last four years, including continued funding for the Registered Apprenticeship program,” said DWD Deputy Secretary Georgia Maxwell.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) awarded Gateway Technical College an $80,000 grant to support its Launch Box Growth Accelerator Program, which will help 10 area entrepreneurial teams start or grow their businesses.

The grant will enable Gateway to conduct two intensive, 10-week Launch Box classes with five teams in each – one this fall and one in spring 2018.

“Receiving this seed growth accelerator grant from the WEDC is great news for all of us in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of southeastern Wisconsin,” said Thalia Mendez, business resource specialist at Gateway’s Business and Workforce Solutions Division. “Ten entrepreneurs are going to reap the benefits of a rigorous customer discovery exercise and at the end will receive at a minimum $2,500 seed grant to spend at their discretion.

Gateway Technical College President and CEO Bryan Albrecht was featured in a national podcast series of technical and community college presidents on the impact that the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program has had on their colleges.

Albrecht describes how Gateway has used the TAACCCT grant to invest in student success by expanding career and educational pathways and developing comprehensive supports for students.

Zaida Hernandez-Irisson represented Gateway and female engineering students from across the nation at the STEMconnector Broadening Participation in STEM Higher Education conference June 28 in Washington, D.C.

The conference focused on how industry and colleges can join together to help mentor and recruit more females working in the areas of STEM, or science, technology engineering and math. Hernandez-Irisson said she was there to provide feedback on the strong work Gateway has done with females in engineering and related fields.

“When you are at a national event like that, you realize how unique Gateway really is,” said Hernandez-Irisson. “The college, the faculty and even the transfer agreements with other colleges such as Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) show how committed Gateway is to ensuring women succeed in STEM. I am living proof this works for Gateway.”

Hernandez-Irisson graduated from Gateway’s Electrical Engineering Technology degree and uses the skills gained there in her current job as an electrical engineering technician at an area company. She also took part in a credit transfer agreement with MSOE, where most credits she earned transferred to the four-year college, saving her time and money.

Gateway Technical College released its Dean’s List for the Spring 2017 semester. This award is given to students who completed at least 6 hours of postsecondary course work – not including development/remedial credits – and achieved a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. 

Gateway congratulates all those who made the list.