PTC student Angela Filler lands management position; opens gallery

Photo: Angela Filler showcases Rapid Press Printing's newest location, set to open in Pine City on Mar. 15.

PTC student Angela Filler is a real go-getter! Filler, a quadruple-major, is working toward an A.S. in business administration, a certificate and A.A.S. in accounting, and a certificate in entrepreneurship. Already an entrepreneur, Filler exhibits and sells her own original artwork at various locations in and around Pine City. Now, Filler has teamed up with Stev Stegner, owner of Rapid Press Printing and Copy Center, Inc., and is set to open and manage the print shop's newest location in Pine City.

"The new location opens Mar. 15 in downtown Pine City," Filler says. "I am so proud to be the store's manager and represent Rapid Press Printing in Pine City. I'm just so excited and eager to open our doors," Filler adds.

Rapid Press Printing has locations in Forest Lake and North Branch, and some products and services the shop offers are: business printing, envelopes, stamps, black and white printing, color printing, binding, laminating, graphic design, business cards, and more.

"I think Rapid Press will prove to be an asset to the Pine City community," Filler says. "For example, I'm sure PTC students will find us useful for binding papers, reports, and maybe for graphics for displays. Plus, I grew up in the Pine City area -- I'm familiar with the business community here, and I’m glad to be part of the business landscape in the Pine Area," Filler adds.

Filler already holds a degree in graphic design from Brown College and is combining her experience and training in business management and the arts; Filler also is opening her own gallery, MIFGAP Gallery, at the new Rapid Press Printing location. MIFGAP (Mural Art, Illustration, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Advertising, Photography) Gallery will feature Filler's own creative works including sculptures, custom greeting cards, prints, and more. MIFGAP Gallery will operate as a gift shop at the Rapid Press Printing site.

"I love the saying, 'If there's a will, there's a way.' It's my favorite quote, because it's true!" says Filler. "Right now, I am just so excited to be in a position where I can apply my skills and training in business, accounting, management, and the arts, and that I am providing a service in my own community," Filler adds.

Goals + Plans = Success, a.k.a. "GPS!"

Many MnSCU campuses are using a new online resource, known as GPS LifePlan, to provide all kinds of career, personal, and academic services for students. PTC is no exception; GPS LifePlan is available to PTC students straight from the PTC website.

The comprehensive resource helps students set goals and design plans that will lead them to the success they desire. Through a variety of campuswide events such as PTC’s free Student Success workshops and GPS LifePlan workshops, students are encouraged to set personal, professional and career-related goals with the assistance of campus staff and faculty. PTC's Counseling Services keeps up the site with relevant, current information that helps students work toward their goals.

PTC invites you to explore the GPS LifePlan site to learn more about the Five Plans (Career, Education, Finance, Leadership and Personal), and discover how they may help you. Visit PTC’s website, and select the GPS LifePlan link in the toolbar at the top of the page.

"A man's life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals."
- Aristotle

PTC wins grant to offer manufacturing day camp this summer

Nine grants of $2,500 each were awarded by Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs® to community and technical colleges that offer day camp experiences that introduce young people (ages 12-18) to careers in manufacturing and engineering.

According to Gerald Shankel, President and CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl., the purpose of the manufacturing camp grants is to provide a positive, hands-on experience so young people will consider manufacturing as a career option.

The 2011 grant winners (listed alphabetically by state) are:
o Rock Valley College, Rockford, Ill.
o Triton College, River Forest, Ill.
o Anoka Technical College, Anoka, Minn.
o Pine Technical College, Pine City, Minn.
o Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, Miss.
o Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, Ogden, Utah
o Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Va.
o Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis.
o Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, Wis.

"There is an ever-increasing demand for highly skilled professionals who can design, program and operate technology," said Traci Tapani, NBT board member and co-owner of Wyoming Machine Inc., a metal fabrication services company in Stacy, Minn. "Thousands of manufacturing companies like mine, located across North America, already see the impact of a manufacturing skilled labor shortage despite the recent recession and high unemployment statistics. Creating a skilled workforce in the trades is vital to the future of America, and it all starts with introducing young people to the career potential in this sector and providing an engaging hands-on experience," Tapani adds.

The camps target youth at the critical level of middle school and secondary education, exposing them to math, science and engineering principles, while providing them with an opportunity to see and work with technology being used in industry and learn about the high level of skills that will be required from the workforce.

"The purpose of the manufacturing camp grants is to provide a positive, hands-on experience so young people will consider manufacturing as a career option," said Gerald Shankel, president & CEO of FMA and NBT. "We need to increase the pool of available, highly skilled workers to avoid an otherwise inevitable skilled labor crisis as Baby Boomers retire. This will definitely improve future prospects for our economy," Shankel adds.

Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs: The Foundation of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl., also issues scholarships to students attending community colleges and trade schools pursuing careers in manufacturing. More information on NBT is available by visiting www.NutsAndBoltsFoundation.org.

Based in Rockford, Ill., the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, is a professional organization with more than 2,100 members working together to improve the metal forming and fabricating industry.

Blood drive draws students, staff and faculty to give

Photo above: President Musgrove signs in to give blood.

The American Red Cross was on campus today collecting blood from PTC students, staff and faculty from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. With an excellent turnout, from open to close, the event consistently had at least three people in line waiting to give. That's good news for the Red Cross, since last week, the organization issued a nationwide appeal for blood donors to boost a dwindling supply. Severe winter weather across the country has caused more blood drive cancellations this winter season than any previous winter season since 2001. Because of blood drive cancellations, the Red Cross estimates they have lost the opportunity to collect about 16,400 blood and platelet donations over the last several weeks. The Red Cross has not seen its blood supply drop this dramatically at this time of year over the past ten years.

"People who are able to give blood and who live in unaffected areas need to step up to the plate and give," says PTC President Robert Musgrove. "It's a way to help others and save lives," adds Musgrove.

To find out how to donate, visit the Red Cross website, and click "Giving and Getting Involved."


Photo above: Gunsmithing student Mat Peters gets ready for the needle.

Secrets of the aces: Test-taking tips from the pros

You've read the text, you've taken notes, you've attended class regularly, but you're still suffering from test anxiety -- so, now what? Dr. Frank Lawlis, American Mensa's Supervisory Psychologist, best-selling author and two-discipline American Psychological Association Fellow, offers these testing tips:

• Breathing patterns are critical for higher achievement because of the need for oxygen fuel to the brain. Increase your brain's fuel by breathing in long breaths.

• Research has shown that a high-protein breakfast is essential to high performance; the best specific research used boiled eggs, but other high-protein foods are cheese, peanut butter and fish.

• The research is clear the act of chewing actually improves your memory and lowers your anxiety, so chew sugarless gum during the test or study session — if it's allowed, of course.

Lawlis says the biggest foe to smart thinking is anxiety; people tend to worry too much about the results of performance, and doubts and fears simply cut thinking power in half. Instead, focus on the process of problem-solving and not on the outcome. Also, according to Lawlis, intellectual performance is based on allowing your brain to do what it does best — solve problems; remember you are truly capable of doing anything you set out to do, if you enjoy the act of participating.