NWTC students receive record number of scholarships March 19

Scholarship awards rise as employers search for skilled workers

and families honor loved ones

The NWTC Educational Foundation Inc. will set a new record for scholarship awards this year, thanks to increasing support from the community.

More students will receive more scholarship funding during the Foundation's 2008 Donor Recognition and Scholarship Awards Banquet on Wednesday, March 19. The Banquet allows students to thank donors face-to-face, and allows donors to find out how their support is changing the lives of local students.

Donations have increased sharply in recent years, and the banquet includes only some of the year's awards. In this fiscal year, the Foundation distributed over $318,000 by Feb. 28, up 55.5% since the year before. Cash and in-kind donations to the Foundation rose 61% in the same period. Officials say the increase shows that community members feel a critical need for NWTC's work in addressing the health care crisis, industry layoffs, diverse educational needs, technology changes and other issues.

Quick facts:

  • The Foundation will distribute a record $137,700 in scholarships at the banquet.
  • More students will benefit this year, with 203 students sharing in 250 awards.
  • The previous record, set in 2007, was $126,700 given to 193 students in 239 awards.
  • Fourteen new scholarships will be awarded this year, and 25 donors have increased either the dollar amount or the number of scholarships that they are awarding.
  • About 500 people are expected to attend, including students, donors and families.

Also during the evening, the NWTC Alumni Association will honor Brown County Executive Tom Hinz, this year's Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. (See story, right.)
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2008 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
THOMAS J. HINZ
Criminal Justice -Law Enforcement, 1976

NWTC is proud to present the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award to Brown County Executive Thomas J. Hinz.

Tom's contributions to the college and the community are so broad-reaching that they are difficult to catalog; yet he has served with inspiring energy, enthusiasm and good cheer.

Tom graduated from NWTC's Law Enforcement program in 1976 and began a distinguished career with the Green Bay Police Department, including six years as Assistant Police Chief. He was the first recipient of the Wisconsin Attorneys General Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award and was awarded the police department's first Medal of Valor for jumping into the Fox River to save a woman who attempted suicide. He left in 1996 to serve as Brown County Sheriff. In 2000, he retired and began teaching at NWTC as an adjunct faculty member. Soon afterward, he was hired as NWTC's first Security Manager, where he began NWTC's Student Security program to increase diversity in law enforcement. In April of 2007, he took office as Brown County Executive.

Tom has always been a vocal advocate for technical college training. "Without going to NWTC under the G.I. Bill, I wouldn't be where I am today. It opened a lot of doors for me, and whetted my appetite for continuing education." He said many people didn't stress the need for education in the 1960s and 1970s, but lifelong learning has become critical to developing the new skills and new perspectives needed for an employee (and an economy) to remain current. He is still continuing his education, pursuing a bachelor's degree at UW-Green Bay.

"I just think NWTC is really a jewel in our community," he said. "Whether you're looking for economic development, welding, marketing, or law enforcement, NWTC can retool itself a lot faster than some other institutions and stay contemporary."

Tom has also been a tireless volunteer for the community. He serves on the boards of several community organizations including the Family Violence Center of Brown County, United Hmong Community Center, the Crime Prevention Foundation and Special Olympics of Wisconsin. He has started a scholarship fund to help students earn their high school equivalency diploma. He recently returned from Seattle, where he discussed ways to improve relations with tribal leaders. And his concern for the people involved in his police cases created relationships that have endured for many years.

For over 16 years, the Alumni Association has honored outstanding NWTC graduates for their professional achievements, community service, and contributions to technical education.