Attendees at the Stevens Point Downtown Campus renaming and ribbon cutting, Nov. 7. Front row, from left: Portage County Business Council (PCBC) Ambassador Dorothy Pientka; Mid-State Technical College Dean of Schools of Business & IT and Hospitality Trina Kloehn, Vice President of Academics Chris Severson, Dean of Stevens Point Downtown Campus and School of Business & IT Ben Nusz and President Shelly Mondeik; PCBC Ambassadors Debbie Lepper, Melissa Blenker, Mary Lane and Billie Sjomeling. (Contributed)

Mid-State celebrates renaming of Stevens Point Downtown Campus

By Patrick Lynn

STEVENS POINT – Mid-State Technical College’s campus in Stevens Point will now be known as the Stevens Point Downtown Campus, a change formally marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 7. The event also kicked off a year-long celebration commemorating the 10th anniversary of the campus’s move to downtown Stevens Point.

The college moved its campus to the downtown area in 2014, expanding its facilities from 36,000 to 54,000 square feet, after outgrowing its previous Michigan Avenue location. This summer, Mid-State added a second campus location in Stevens Point, the Wayne H. Bushman Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, and Apprenticeship (AMETA™) Center. The new name for the original downtown campus is intended to distinguish the two sites.

“This campus is really a demonstration of the word ‘partnership,’” said Mid-State President Dr. Shelly Mondeik. She noted that innovation, community engagement, and a focus on students and employers were key elements of success when the downtown campus opened a decade ago. “One more word I would add would be ‘committed.’ I know that the future will be very bright, but it’s only going to happen because we’re committed to this city, we’re committed to our communities.”

Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza said the college’s growth reflects its impact on the community. “It’s a testament to how much they contribute to the community, that now you’ve got multiple sites throughout the city and so much growth you have to rename the location of your campus,” he said.

Wiza praised the college’s close relationship with the city, calling it “a tremendous partnership.”

Portage County Business Council President and CEO Mike Witte emphasized the college’s role in the area’s economic growth. “People are the new economic development that we need in this community, and Mid-State is so focused on making our people better, making each one of us better and helping every business in our community,” Witte said.

The year-long celebration of the campus’s 10th anniversary downtown includes activities exploring Mid-State’s history in Stevens Point and partnerships with the Portage County Historical Society. Events include a lecture in February, as well as celebrations honoring business partners, alumni, and community members in the spring. More information on these events is available at mstc.edu.