History Highlights
1949
1949-1955
High School Industrial Arts teacher John Fuhlbruegge serves as the first director of the school, which operates out of Winona Senior High School.
1955-1970
Thomas Raine serves as the next president of the newly named Winona Area Vocational-Technical School.
1965
The name is changed to Winona Area Technical School.
1966
1967
In the fall of 1967, the Homer Road facility opens its doors to 300 new students. Applications to attend the school averaged 8 per day.
1970-1988
William Hemsey serves as president of the school.
1971
As vocational education grows in popularity, the Winona facility is expanded to include 2 new shops, 7 new classrooms, and a large auditorium.
Winona campus name changes to Winona Area Technical Institute.
After much community campaigning, Red Wing becomes the 34th and final community in Minnesota to be awarded an Area Vocational Technical Institute.
1972-1985
Edward Dunn serves as president of Red Wing Area Vocational-Technical Institute.
1972
1973
The Red Wing facility at 308 Pioneer Road opens its doors to students.
1976
1977
During the height of the the Energy Crisis, the Towerview Estate site becomes home to a second Red Wing campus, the Energy Education Center.
1979
1984
A 25,000 square-foot student center is completed in Winona.
1985-1987
Harold Hoghaug serves as president of Red Wing Area Vocational-Technical Institute.
1987
1988-1995
Cliff Korkowski serves as president of Winona Area Technical Institute.
1989
1992
1995
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (now known as Minnesota State) is created as the state's Technical College System, the State University System, and the Community College System are combined under a single governing board.
Jim Johnson becomes president of Red Wing/Winona Technical College.
Red Wing/Winona Technical College receives accreditation from the North Central Association. As an accredited college rather than a subsidiary of the local high school systems, the college could offer credits that would more easily transfer among other higher education institutions.
1999
2000
The College is granted a 10-year re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
2003
2006
A $4.3 million, 39,500 square foot renovation of Homer Road campus in Winona begins.
2007
A $5.1 million, 36,400 square foot renovation of Red Wing campus begins.
2011
The Winona Airport campus building is sold to leverage new construction on the Homer Road campus.
2012
2013
The Norris P. Abts Transportation Center is dedicated. It is named for the Winona Area Vocational School's first diploma-level auto mechanics instructor, Norris Abts.
2014
James Johnson retires.
Dr. Dorothy Duran becomes the 8th president of the college.
2015
College named a Hiawatha Valley Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company.
2016
2018
President Duran resigns; Dr. Larry Lundblad appointed Interim President.
New Transfer Pathway associate degrees are launched.
2019
2020
On-campus instruction halts after Spring Break due to COVID-19 pandemic. Classes resume in Fall Semester with social distancing and masking restrictions in place.
2021
Dr. Marsha A. Danielson becomes the 9th president of Minnesota State College Southeast.
2022
Associate of Science in Nursing program achieves accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Red Wing College Promise, funded by the Jones Family Foundation, makes tuition-free college possible for Red Wing public high school graduates.
2023
College Opportunity Program, funded by Winona area business, industry, and philanthropists, makes tuition-free college possible for Winona high school graduates.
Minnesota State College Southeast launches year-long 50/75 Anniversary Celebration - honoring decades of service to the southeast region of Minnesota and far beyond.
2024
We have been looking back over our past history - now we're looking forward to see what the future will bring!