Vol 2.  Issue No. 1  Fall/Winter 2002

Alumni Spotlight

A Great Place to Start

"I received the highest return on those two years of education than from any of the others."

From an occupational degree to a Ph.D., Shaun Lynch has been immersed in education for almost a lifetime! Lynch, a professor of Computer Information Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, began his post-secondary education at Riverland. As a 1985 graduate of the Electronics program from the Austin Vocational Technical Institute (now Riverland), Lynch has a high opinion of the education he received at AVTI. "It was the best two years I ever spent," states Lynch.Those "others" include a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Physics, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Engineering from North Dakota State University.

What did Riverland have to offer that made it the "best?" Lynch says it is a combination of things. "It was a great place for me." The College offered excellent instructors and a diverse learning environment. The diverse group of students including non-traditional-aged students and those just out of high school was a "big plus" in creating an environment where Lynch matured and learned.

Lynch still uses the skills he learned from the Electronics Technology program, including the ability to trouble shoot and problem-solve. He had an advantage going into the university with the skills he learned at Riverland, "I could decompose a problem into its parts. Working with your hands gives you an ability to visualize and to develop spatial skills which are absolutely essential to success in this field."

"AVTI, now Riverland, was a great place to start," said Lynch. He encourages others to check out the opportunities at two-year colleges. Riverland provided a great foundation toward an excellent future where he affects the lives of hundreds of UW-Superior college students!

The Drive to Succeed

"People should open their minds to the possibility of attending a two-year college or a technical institution."

Amy Pitan is a 1999 Riverland Community College alumnus and a graduate of the Automotive Service Technology program. At Riverland, she learned everything there is to know about cars and how to fix them. She attended Riverland because she liked the location, the technical programs, the small class sizes and the type of equipment available. Pitan added, she would not be where she is now if it were not for the great instructors, Ron Miller, now retired, and Roger Panzer. "Roger drove me to do my best and to excel in all areas."

Currently, Pitan works as a Service Manager at Expert Tire in Owatonna as a fully certified mechanical technician (meaning she's a master mechanic). Before she became a manager, she worked at Owatonna Ford, where she received a lot of hands-on experience.

Pitan's advice for college students who are undecided is to not be afraid to try a variety of courses. "People should open their minds to the possibility of attending a two-year college or a technical institution." She mentioned that she has many friends who attended four-year colleges and are still job searching or dissatisfied with their professional careers. Pitan is where she wants to be.

She credits her success, in part, to her two-year technical education and human relations' courses where she developed skills to work with people and customers. Pitan sees a successful career for herself in the auto-mechanic field. Her goal is to open a shop of her own in the future. Pitan certainly has the drive to succeed!