Student Music Association hosts Musical Swap Meet in Red Wing on Feb. 28

• 3rd Annual Musical Swap Meet
• Saturday, February 28, 2015 
• 10 am to 3 pm 
• Southeast Technical, Red Wing campus 

Southeast Technical's Student Music Association is hosting a Musical Swap Meet on Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 10 am to 3 pm on the Red Wing campus (308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN). Vendors are coming from across the region to display, sell, and trade new and used musical instruments, accessories, tools, and supplies. 

"This is our third annual swap meet," says Student Music Association secretary Franziska Andonopoulos. "Judging from the number of vendors we have signed up in advance we expect it to be by far the biggest swap meet we've ever had. Plus we have a great variety of vendors -- everything from guitar picks to vintage instruments to tuba parts."

Recently, Bourgeois Guitars of Lewiston, Maine, made a very generous donation of a large supply of fine tonewoods, pre-cut inlays, fingerboards, tuning machines, and other materials to Southeast Technical, and these items will be available for sale at the Swap Meet. Proceeds from the sale of items donated by Bourgeois Guitars will benefit the Roger Benedict Memorial Scholarship, which supports students in the guitar and violin repair and building programs at the college.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Musical Swap Meet - there is no charge for admission. 

New Early Childhood Resource Center opens on Red Wing campus

 

Rachel Daley shows off the new large-format laminating machine.

An interview with instructor Rachel Daley

On February 7, Early Childhood instructor Rachel Daley cut the ribbon to open the new Early Childhood Resource Center. The facility is open Thursday evenings for the use of professionals caring for young children between birth and age eight. Supported through a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation grant, the overarching goal is to impact the quality of care for young children in the Red Wing and surrounding communities.  We caught up with Rachel in the Early Childhood Resource Center for this interview.

What gave you the idea of setting up an Early Childhood Resource Center? 
From personal experience in my years of providing childcare, early childhood professionals have limited resources -- not only financially, but also access to equipment that could significantly impact the opportunities presented to support young children's development. The idea was inspired through observing the work happening at Winona's Early Childhood Professional Development Center & Curriculum Lab. 

 

The die-cut machine uses blocks to cut out perfect letters for bulletin boards and other projects. 

What kinds of projects can people do with the equipment you have there?
Early childhood professionals can use the PC, printer, die-cut, laminator, and comb-bind machine to make projects such as family newsletters, curriculum projects, and classroom books. We consider this a living "Pinterest-style" collaboration opportunity for early childhood professionals to share ideas and continually add to the repository of possible projects!

Besides equipment and tools, what other resources do you have?
We have hundreds of books on subjects from child development to challenging behaviors and special needs.  The equipment, tools, and resource library are the foundation for the informal networking and formal training opportunities that this space will nurture. 

Is this a place for us to bring our kids or drop them off to play? 
No -- this space is designed for adults to use as their professional hub for development and access to materials.  The equipment and tools within the room are not age appropriate for young children.

 

Colorful materials and hundreds of books are among the resources available to early childhood professionals.

 

Will you offer classes in the Resource Center, and if so, what kind and when?
Classes will be offered on the third Thursday of each month from 5:30-7:30 pm with informal topics suggested each Thursday evening.  There will be additional training opportunities some Saturdays in the Early Childhood Resource Center to support Parent Aware training needs (see the training schedule at www.southeastmn.one/training).

When is it open? Do I need an appointment?
No appointment is required -- the room is open 5-8 p.m. on Thursday evenings.  Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on any further openings (as well as closings).

• Contact Rachel Daley at [email protected] for more information about the Early Childhood Resource Center. 
• Learn more about the Early Childhood Education program offered at Southeast Technical. 

Applying online to Southeast Technical just got easier

New application form streamlines the application process, works on mobile phones

At Southeast Technical, all of our applications for admission must be processed online. The good news is that we have just rolled out a re-designed application form, and it's easier to use than ever!

• First of all, the new application form will work on whatever device you use to connect to the internet, whether it's a mobile phone, a tablet, or a desktop computer.
    
•  Secondly, the steps in the application process have been streamlined and it's very easy to see where you are in the process.  If you don't already have a StarID, the first thing you'll do is create one. This is the number that you'll use to log in to most services at Southeast Technical throughout your college career.
    
•  If you need to come back to the form later, you can save your work and log back in with your StarID and password.

If you have questions about how to apply to Southeast Tech, or need help with the online form, stop by the reception desk at either campus, or contact our admissions advisors.  We are here to make applying to college as easy as possible for you!  

Admission Advisors

Picture yourself in a brand new home in May 2016

Proposals are now being sought for 2015-2016 Southeast Technical Carpentry program home building project 

For home owners, building a brand new home is the opportunity to make a dream come true -- the American dream of owning a house built to their exact specifications. For students in Southeast Technical's carpentry program, building such a house becomes an opportunity to learn a valuable and rewarding trade. 

Every year the Carpentry Program students at Southeast Technical, and their instructor Ralph Roemer, build a house -- from ground breaking to final touches, including custom cabinetry. 

Proposals are being sought now for a project home to be built in the 2015-2016 academic year, with groundbreaking intended to occur no later than the last week of August 2015. 

For more information, or to submit a proposal, contact Ron Sellnau, Southeast Technical Dean of Business, Information, and Trade and Technologies ([email protected], 507-453-2738).

In Southeast Technical's carpentry program, students learn each step of the construction process, from reading a blueprint to building cabinets and everything in between. Working in the college carpentry lab as well as on-site, they gain hands-on experience in a real world environment. Just as they would on a commercial construction site, the students work side-by-side with skilled sub-contractors who are hired to grade the construction site, pour concrete, and install plumbing and electrical systems.

This year's students are working on a project home near Pickwick Mill, southeast of Winona. "While we can't provide an exact estimate as to the financial savings, the homeowners will reduce a substantial amount of the cost of labor by participating in the college's building project," says Ron Sellnau. "We expect a similar outcome for the future owners of our 2015-2016 home."

Not only is the program beneficial for homeowners, it's also a great benefit for the students who participate. "The future is bright for our graduates," says Ron Sellnau. "According to recent U.S. Department of Labor projections, employment of carpenters is projected to grow 24 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the housing market continues to improve, increased levels of new home building and remodeling activity will require more carpenters."     

To learn more about working with Southeast Technical to build your dream home, contact Ron Sellnau, ([email protected], 507-453-2738).