Charles Dreher III
Moraine Park Technical College
CNC/Tool and Die Technologies
When I decided to attend college after graduating high school, I aimed to experience the typical college life of moving away from home for the first time, while keeping tuition costs lower than those of a four-year or private college. I chose to enroll at Fox Valley Technical College on the Appleton campus. It was just far enough away for me to live independently but still close enough for regular visits to my family. However, during my second semester, I had to move back home due to the 2020 pandemic and family reasons.
Subsequently, I spent a year working to save money and gain on-the-job experience in CNC machining. When I made the decision to return to college, I was determined to stay within the technical college system. After researching options, I found Moraine Park Technical College, which was closer to home. My older sister graduated from MPTC in 2002 with a Cosmetology degree and highly recommended the college. Since I had already earned credits in manufacturing courses during high school that were transferable to Moraine Park, enrolling here became a straightforward decision.