The PTC mace: A campus tradition

In 2002, the college's faculty requested the creation of a mace, a ceremonial staff used by many institutions of higher learning to show the right of academic and technical institutions to grant degrees. PTC's mace was created by the college's precision manufacturing faculty and students and includes the college logo that was in use at the time, as well as eight sparkling gems that represent brilliance and light.

The ornamental staff is carried at the lead of the commencement procession and also would be used during the installation of a new college president. When not in use, the mace is on display in the President's office.

Tracing its history back far enough, the mace was originally a weapon of war. Traditionally used by horsemen and warriors to unseat battle opponents and smash heavy armor during tournaments, it was typically made entirely of metal and was crafted to include a grooved head with lethally sharp spikes. After abandoning its barbaric roots for more genteel pursuits in the Middle Ages, the mace became associated with high-level state occasions and eventually gained prominence as a modern-day symbol of power, authority and dignity.

Register for Star Alert and get PTC weather alerts on your phone

Star Alert Emergency Notification System
In the interest of promoting the safety of our campus community, Pine Technical College is implementing a new wireless emergency notification system, Star Alert™, for students, faculty and staff.

What Is Star Alert?
Star Alert emergency messages are sent through text mail and e-mail during emergencies that threaten life or safety and/or severely impact standard campus operations. The Star Alert system will only be used in emergency situations.

Who Can Register?
All members of the Pine Technical College community are encouraged to register for this valuable service. Star Alerts provide immediate emergency communication, and as a wireless notification system, they provide critical information if computers and telephones are compromised.

More Details
Notifications are brief and clearly identified as Star Alerts. They include information on the situation at hand, action to take and where to find additional information.

Register Now
Registration is free, quick and easy. Participants must be able to receive text or e-mail messages on their cell phones. The process also can be reversed if the service is no longer desired. Information submitted through the registration process will only be used for the Star Alert system.

Are you a PTC student wishing to subscribe to Star Alert?
Click here: Student Star Alert Registration

Are you a PTC faculty or staff member wishing to subscribe to Star Alert?
Click here: Faculty/Staff Star Alert Registration

Happy holidays from PTC!

PTC sends holiday wishes to all students, staff members, faculty members and our business and industry partners for a happy holiday season and a very successful 2011. Enjoy our slideshow, here, and turn up the volume -- celebrate a very successful "year in review" with us! Cheers, from PTC!

Pine Technical College honors faculty in Educator of the Year awards

Pine Technical College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU), will participate in this year’s Educator of the Year awards program – an esteemed award, which is the system’s highest academic honor. The MnSCU Board of Trustees launched the awards program in 2007, and while many MnSCU system institutions have nominated faculty members over the years, this is PTC’s first year to participate.

“Winning an Educator of the Year award is to honor and recognize teachers who have given distinguished service and who exemplify excellence in their profession,” says Dean of Academic Affairs Joan Bloemendaal-Gruett. “And, Pine Technical College is fortunate to have numerous dedicated and highly skilled faculty members capable of inspiring and teaching students of all backgrounds and abilities. The award recognizes their personal achievements and makes them more visible and will strengthen public support of our programs. It will bring acclaim to the winners, PTC, and the Pine community,” Bloemendaal Gruett explains.

The Board of Trustees Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching is an honor bestowed upon MnSCU faculty to acknowledge and reward exceptional individual professional accomplishment and to encourage ongoing excellence in teaching. The award is intended to recognize superior teaching at MnSCU colleges and universities.

MnSCU Chancellor James H. McCormick says, “I am proud we highlight the excellence of our faculty with these awards. The honorees exemplify what we value most in this system – high-quality teaching, learning and service.”

Winners of the award are recognized at a gala state event, and their programs and institutions are given broad exposure, informing the public about the fields in which they teach and also about what makes for exceptional teaching in public colleges and universities. By applauding winners and nominees, institutions have an opportunity to celebrate the core importance of teaching and provide models for faculty and students.

All currently full-time and unlimited, tenured, or tenure-track faculty who have at least three years of full-time teaching service at their home institution are eligible for the award. Nominators may be members of the college or university community such as faculty members, staff members, administrators, students and/or community members. Faculty designated as Outstanding Educators by their campus president must prepare a teaching portfolio which will be reviewed by a systemwide review committee which will recommend the Educator of the Year winners.

To nominate an outstanding Pine Technical College educator who exemplifies excellence in teaching, please complete the Award for Excellence in Teaching Nomination Form by Dec. 26, 2010; return the completed form(s) to Joan Bloemendaal-Gruett via e-mail: bloemendaalj@pinetech.edu or on campus, Room 44 in the Administrative Offices suite. For more information about Pine Technical College’s participation in the Educator of the Year awards program, call 320-629-5116.


Image above: An Educator of the Year medallion, hand-crafted in the jewelry design and manufacturing program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Toy Drive extended through Dec. 17

The Pine Technical College Student Senate is in the midst of hosting a toy drive benefitting Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, a nonprofit agency (a part of the Minnesota National Guard) that provides assistance to families of military service personnel.

The drive originally was set to end Dec. 3, but after such a successful run, student senate leaders decided to extend the drive through the end of Finals Week, Dec. 17.

"On Monday, we delivered 55 toys collected from the drive to the 194th Calvary National Guard Unit here in Pine City," says James Hinrichs, Student Senate Vice President. "Because the toy drive initially was so successful, we want to keep it going right up until the winter break. Plus, we're going to incorporate it into the Holiday Party, which is taking place at Chubby's on Dec. 16. For example, for each toy a student gives at the Holiday Party, they will receive an additional raffle ticket for prizes," Hinrichs explains.

Through Friday, Dec. 17, students, staff members, faculty members and anyone in the community may drop off unwrapped, new toys at PTC. People should look for the blue shopping cart at the college's main entrance. Gifts should be valued at no more than $10, and all items are locked during non-business hours. For more information, contact Amanda Spencer, PTC Student Senate Advisor, 320-629-5127.


Photo above: Members of the 194th Calvary National Guard Unit accept toy donations from PTC student senate leaders and Pine City Mayor Jane Robbins.

PTC floats with "Holiday Madness"

Photo above: Students decorate the PTC float in the Automotive Technology lab just prior to the start of the parade.


Photo above: Parade participants line up with the float.

On Fri. Dec. 3, led by Student Senate leaders and President Musgrove, Pine Technical College students entered a float in the Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce's annual "Holiday Madness" parade. The float, decorated to the tune of "Deck the Halls of PTC," was driven by Pres. Musgrove and featured a giant, wooden cut-out of the PTC logo, lit with green and orange (college colors) holiday lights. Students participated and walked along with the float handing out PTC-imprinted pencils and candy canes.

"It was so much fun to participate in the parade," says James Hinrichs, PTC Student Senate Vice President. "This is an event where the college can showcase itself to the community, plus it's a chance for students to get involved in an event outside the college walls. It's socializing and community and college pride all wrapped up together," Hinrichs adds.

The college especially thanks the following parade participants -- a mix of PTC students, faculty members and administrators -- for making the PTC float the success it was (in alphabetical order): Christina Allred, Torfi Arnarson, Dave Defenbaugh, Doug Gregerson, Heather Hansen-Mead, Joe Haselbauer, James Hinrichs, Addison Koniar, Casey Leao, Robert Musgrove, Randy Nowling, Colin Roskos, and Seth Siladke.