PTCC Automated Systems Technology instructor Doug Wickstrom visited Grantsburg High School’s Engineering class taught by Mr. Steck. The students learned about career opportunities in manufacturing and associated programs at PTCC. The students built spaghetti noodle towers with marshmallow connectors; the team with the highest tower took home a prize.

Thanks for the opportunity to visit, Grantsburg!

To learn more about all manufacturing programs at PTCC, visit Programs and Courses.

Congratulations to our most recent round of Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide graduates from Milaca and Princeton Public Schools!

• Emma Alkire – Princeton HS
• Jesse Blick – Princeton HS
• Cassanda Gray – Princeton HS
• Kaylie Fischer – Princeton HS
• Adreanna Kaas – Milaca HS
• Aretae Sahlstrom – Milaca HS
• Ayla Sonnek – Milaca HS
• Alexis Dahler – Milaca HS

Also in the picture:

• Milaca Public Schools Superintendent, David Wedin
• Milaca High School Principal, Damian Patnode
• PTCC Nursing Assistant Instructor, Cheri Carlsen
• PTCC President, Joe Mulford

Each year the PTCC Foundation awards over $300,000 in scholarships to our students. On October 28, our donors, scholarship recipients, state representatives, local businesses and guests gathered at The Lodge in Pine Technical & Community College for our annual Donor Appreciation Event. The highlights of the event included a presentation by student speaker, scholarship recipient and Student Senate President Jezzalyn Ringler, presentation of awards to our generous donors, and food and bar services by local businesses and restaurants. From all of us at PTCC, thank you to all who are contributing to the event and foundation to make college possible for those starting out or starting over!

Thank you to all of our food vendors: Grand Casino Hinckley, Parkside at The Lodge, Chris’ Food Center, and Maxwell’s Southern BBQ

Cash bar provided by: Lake Appeil

Thank you to our donors for your raffle prize contributions: Bob and Teddi Thompson, Wyoming Machine, and Karen and Bill Jansen

Event Photo Gallery

Minnesota College, community comes together to help local students attend college tuition-free. Locally funded scholarships boost enrollment at PTCC.

Scott Simon speaks to Joe Mulford, president of Pine Technical and Community College, about his college providing two years of free tuition to local high school graduates.

Take a Listen!

Pine Technical and Community College (PTCC) has been granted accreditation through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Accreditation Commission!

NACEP is an accrediting body that works closely with 500 institutions around the country providing best practices, research and advocacy for quality Concurrent Enrollment programming. To earn NACEP accreditation, Concurrent Enrollment programs must conduct a self-study, document how their programs adhere to NACEP’s sixteen standards, and undergo a rigorous peer-review process conducted by a professional team of representatives on the NACEP Accreditation Commission.

Concurrent Enrollment partnerships provide high school students the opportunity to take college credit courses. Concurrent enrollment is a low-cost, scalable model for bringing college courses to students in urban, suburban, and rural high schools. Students gain exposure to the academic challenges of college while in their supportive high school environment, earning college credit at the time they successfully pass the course. Concurrent enrollment also facilitates close collaboration between high school teachers and college faculty that fosters alignment of secondary and postsecondary curriculum.

PTCC NACEP accredited Concurrent Enrollment high school partners include: Chisago Lakes High School, East Central High School, Elk River High School, Fridley High School, Forest Lake High School, Hinckley-Finlayson High School, Mora High School, North Branch High School, Ogilvie High School, Pine City High School, Rush City High School, Rogers High School, Spectrum High School, Willow River High School, and Zimmerman High School.

1,257 Concurrent Enrollment students from these high schools saved nearly $1 million dollars through PTCC’s Concurrent Enrollment Program, earning them a total of 5,690 college credits.

“Providing students with access to postsecondary education during high school has incredible impacts for students, schools, and the community. Not only are students able to earn college credit at no cost to them, they are able to explore future career options and have tools to make important decisions about their future before graduating high school. Students who enroll in concurrent enrollment courses are substantially more likely to graduate high school, go to college, and stay in college through degree completion, often in less time than their non-participating peers,” said Kierstan Peck, Director of Student Affairs and K-12 Partnerships at PTCC. “Schools are able to offer rigorous college coursework, taught by qualified high school teachers onsite without needing to leave high school to seek out college courses on campus. The community benefits by having a more educated workforce, and in some cases, students who have earned industry recognized credentials and are ready to enter the workforce in high school or right out of high school.”

To learn more about Concurrent Enrollment at PTCC, visit www.pine.edu/future-students/college-credit-in-high-school/concurrent/