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Anniversary

MSC Southeast 50-75 Anniversary History Banner

History Highlights

1949

Winona Logo 49-66  

The Winona Area Vocational School, the second public vocational-technical school in the State of Minnesota, is founded in Winona.

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

66-87 WATI Logo  

The building at 1250 Homer Road in Winona is funded. Construction begins with controlled burns of old homes and barns on the site - on-the-job training for the Winona Fire Department.

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

Red Wing AVTI Logo 72-76  

In 1972, there were 7 students: 3 in secretarial/clerical, and 4 in truck driving. 31 practical nursing students began classes at St. John's Hospital that fall.

1973

The Red Wing facility at 308 Pioneer Road opens its doors to students. 

1976

R W Circle Logo 76-79  

A new logo for Red Wing AVTI debuts, combining the letters R and W.

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

Red Wing Birdhouse Logo 79-87  

Red Wing AVIT unveils the new "Birdhouse" logo.

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

Red Wing Logo 87-92  

Red Wing campus name changes to Red Wing Technical College and changes logo to a stylized wing.

Ed Dunn returns as president (1987-1992).

1988-1995

Cliff Korkowski serves as president of Winona Area Technical Institute.

1989

WTI Logo 87-89  

The Minnesota Technical Institute System, which includes both the Red Wing and Winona schools, becomes the Minnesota Technical College System.

Winona campus changes its name to Winona Technical College.

1992

Eagle Logo 89-82  

Red Wing Technical College and Winona Technical College merge, becoming Red Wing/Winona Technical College. Its new logo - an emblem of an eagle soaring over bluffs and the river - is designed by a Cannon Falls student attending Minneapolis Technical College. 

Cliff Korkowski becomes the first president of the combined colleges. 

A new 73,000 square-foot Aviation Training Center opens in Winona.

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

MSC Southeast Technical Logo 99-03  

Red Wing/Winona Technical College changes its name to Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical and updates with a new logo.

2000

The College is granted a 10-year re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

2003

Southeast Technical Logo 03-12  

Southeast Technical becomes the second college in the Minnesota State system to be awarded distance accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission, allowing the institution to offer certificates, diplomas and degrees online.

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

MSC Southeast Technical 12-16

A 25,000-square-foot addition includes state-of-the-art paint booths and an automotive technology shop.

College unveils a newly designed logo.

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

MSC Southeast Logo 2016

College changes mission to become a comprehensive technical and community college, offering the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Name is changed to: Minnesota State College Southeast.

Practical Nursing program receives accreditation from Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

2018

President Duran resigns; Dr. Larry Lundblad appointed Interim President.

New Transfer Pathway associate degrees are launched.

2019

2019 LogoMark 2019

College debuts the S-Logo Mark. 

More than $500,000 raised in community support for Advanced Manufacturing infrastructure in Winona. Dedication ceremony for new Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

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!