Carla Hedtke wins national honors for NWTC Board service

Carla Hedtke, former chair of NWTC’s Board of Trustees, has been honored as a state and national leader. Hedtke recently received the 2020 Central Regional Trustee Leadership Award from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the 2020 Trustee of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Technical Colleges District Boards Association.

Ms. Hedtke has been volunteering her time and leadership skill to NWTC's Board of Trustees for 25 years. In addition to her board service, she has served on the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association, been the board’s representative at Association of Community College Trustees national meetings, and provided a voice for two-year college students in the halls of state and national legislatures.

“It’s really an honor to be recognized by peers and colleagues—especially when they share our values," Hedtke said. "From the local level to the national level, we all believe that it’s important to make educational opportunities--especially career education--available to everyone who can benefit. It’s particularly important now with our heightened focus on diversity and inclusion. Two-year colleges, including NWTC, are in the right place to help all students succeed.”
 
She said being interviewed for the award nomination highlighted the surprising number of positive changes that NWTC and two-year colleges have implemented over the past 25 years. That makes this kind of award competition especially valuable, both for the College and for the community.
 
“It gives us all a chance to evaluate our true direction, to reflect on how we are meeting the needs of our students through instruction, services and support. It helps us stay true to our mission, which is success for all students.”
 
During her years of service, NWTC has expanded its facilities and its rural services, making NWTC one of the fastest-growing large two-year colleges in the United States; provided high-speed internet access to rural communities, some of which had never had it before; and strengthened regional centers to bring college to more communities. Her guidance has contributed to the College being honored by the Lumina Foundation, Achieving the Dream, the Gates Foundation, National Science Foundation, American Association of Community Colleges and more.

In nominating her for the award, NWTC Board Vice-Chairman David Mayer said, “Her enthusiasm for lifelong learning and commitment to making postsecondary education available to residents who may not have easy access to opportunities has altered the course of countless lives and made Ms. Hedtke an important voice for rural and urban residents of all ages.”

Ms. Hedtke owns NEW Rehabilitation Services/Trigger Point Myotherapy. She is a civic leader and frequent volunteer, honored by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. She helped organize the “NEW Horizons” Wheelchair Basketball Team. She is an active member of the Oconto Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Oconto County Economic Development Corp.

Learn more about NWTC's Board of Trustees.