JANESVILLE — Blackhawk Technical College honored community members and industry partners, as well as alumni and staff who have gone above and beyond in the past year, at its third-annual Golden Brick Awards.
The event was held at the college’s Conference Center on Thursday, April 25.
“For over 100 years, Blackhawk Technical College has continued to strive to be a primary partner to train our community’s future workforce. And this afternoon, as we recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their support of our mission, we also pay tribute to the spirit of collaboration that truly defines us,” said Lisa Hurda, BTC’s director of advancement and foundation.
Philanthropic Award
Alliant Energy received the Philanthropic Award.
In 2012, Alliant Energy began offering manufacturing scholarships to BTC students in the welding, computer numeric control technician and electro-mechanical technology programs. In 2019, the scholarships shifted to electrical power distribution students to address workforce demands within the energy industry.
“These scholarships, totaling $6,000 annually, along with a $200,000 contribution for the naming rights for the electrical power distribution outdoor classroom and dig pit, which is part of the Public Safety and Transportation Complex, underscores a commitment to addressing critical college needs,” wrote Liz Paulsen, the college’s executive director of marketing and communications in the release. “Alliant Energy’s in-kind donations, including vital vehicles for industry-aligned training, exceeded $40,000.”
Alliant Energy also works closely with Blackhawk Tech’s workforce and community development team for contract training services. In 2022-2023, nine Alliant Energy drivers received training through Blackhawk, with seven more drivers receiving training this academic year.
Community Partnership Award
The Boys and Girls Club of Janesville received the Community Partnership Award, which honors organizations that have “made significant contributions through a sustained and reciprocal partnership with Blackhawk.”
In partnership with BTC, the club offers opportunities such as hosting student interns and serving as a stop for the college’s shuttle service. BTC’s workforce and community development team also facilitates college and career readiness programs for teens at the club, including tours of the college’s central campus in Janesville.
Angie Kablar, a BTC employee, sits oin the club’s board of directors, and helps to facilitate connections between the two organizations, including the partnership between the college’s culinary arts program and the club’s Let Loose and Laugh fundraising event featuring Charlie Berens. Culinary arts students make and serve desserts for the event at the Janesville Performing Arts Center.
K-12 Partnership Award
The South Beloit School District is the recipient of this year’s K-12 Partnership Award, which recognizes an exceptional K-12 school partner with the college that has a “common goal of growing a high-quality talent pipeline for the next-generation workforce for our communities.”
Superintendent Scott Fischer, Principal Jeremy Schaaf and College and Career Director Emily Roer collaborate in this partnership, which includes dual credit options for students to obtain either a 2 or 4-year college degree and a dual-credit experience in the trades and technical fields. Both programs help South Beloit students work toward their career goals while in high school. In fact, the South Beloit dual credit students earned nearly 230 credits from Blackhawk Tech in the last academic year.
“This partnership is a blueprint for how other school districts and community or technical colleges can be successful together to meet the needs of their communities,” Paulsen wrote.
Rising Star Alumni Award
Kaleb Shafer received the Blackhawk Technical College’s Rising Star Alumni Award, which recognizes an alumnus who graduated from the college within the past decade.
As a student at Parker High School, Shafer worked at The Diamond Center, which gave him flexibility to pursue a degree from the college upon graduation. It was at Blackhawk Tech that he crossed paths with Steve Zimmerman, former chief information officer of Prent Corporation, who became a significant influence. Zimmerman hired Shafer as an intern and then as an employee.
During this time, he explored entrepreneurial ventures, always nurturing the dream of working for himself. The pivotal moment came when Nate Rodgers, owner of Badger State Maintenance, offered him an opportunity to handle the low-voltage systems, such as cameras and door access systems, for a new building. This opportunity led him to meet John Favreau of Evergreen Designs.
This marked the birth of Shafer’s own business, Superior Technologies, which has since grown into an LLC with five employees and over $2 million in revenue.
Distinguished Faculty Award
Lisa Johnson is the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award, which honors an instructor who contributes in “significant ways to a program, department and the Blackhawk community.”
Johnson is the lead instructor of BTC’s dental hygienist program, which she launched at the college in fall 2022. Since then, she has started the Blackhawk Dental Clinic, which is open to the public. Johnson also will help lead an expansion of the dental program over the next few years.
Distinguished Staff Awards
There were four recipients for the Distinguished Staff Award, which honors staff who “contribute in significant ways to their department and the larger Blackhawk community,” including Cynthia Delcourt, Tiffany Garrison, Marissa Grueul Hainstock and Elizabeth Howard.
Delcourt is Blackhawk Tech’s teaching and learning specialist. Set to retire in June, she has been at Blackhawk Tech for nearly 15 years, supporting college faculty through use of instructional technology and instructional design. She serves as the lead administrator of Blackboard, the college’s learning management system.
Garrison is Blackhawk Tech’s dean of general education and transfer pathways. Garrison started at Blackhawk Tech in 2017 as a full-time science instructor. After becoming academic chair of math and science, she moved into the role of administrative chair of the general education department, becoming dean of general education and transfer pathways in 2024. Her position oversees Blackhawk Tech’s associate of arts and associate of science programs.
Greuel Hainstock is the college’s transfer coordinator. After moving to Janesville, she started working for Blackhawk Tech’s recruitment team. She eventually transitioned to an academic advisor position, primarily for the nursing program. She also obtained her master’s degree in higher education from UW-Whitewater. “Now as Blackhawk’s transfer coordinator, she is an integral part of Blackhawk’s associate of arts and associate of science programs,” Paulsen wrote.
An alumnus of BTC’s accounting program, Howard {/span}helps students navigate financial aid and veteran benefits. Specifically, she helps process financial aid applications and package federal and state aid awards. She also is the certifying official for veterans, working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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