Meet Travis from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Congratulations to our very first hero, Travis Wiersma, a janitor from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin! Travis was chosen from over 2,000 applicants for his desire to help over a thousand nursing assistants and nurses in training at Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in Wisconsin. The school will receive $25,000 worth of new state-of-the-art training equipment. Over 250 registered nurses and over 1,000 nursing assistants graduate every year from MATC so Travis's wish will help a great number of graduates, and since the equipment will be in use for several years to come, his wish will ultimately help thousands of nurses and nursing assistants as they head into the workforce to care for their patients.

Travis said, "I was just shocked to be selected. I never thought I would be one of Jenny's Heroes. It's an awesome feeling. I know my dream will be helping many nursing students coming in and it will just keep revolving. It will be a gift that keeps on giving. As for me, this experience has changed my life"

It turns out that Travis's grandmother was a nurse which makes his actions even more personal.

Something Personal and Very Special
Travis wanted to share this wonderful story he put together about the two families that have influenced him over the years. We loved it. It’s a must-read!...

Travis' Inspirations:

MATC and nursing have both played a large role in my family’s history. I wanted to give back to these communities that have given my family so much. My passion for the nursing programs comes from my family background. My deceased grandmother Bea Spyros left a very abusive relationship and became a single mother of 5 children. She was a very strong woman and entered into LPN training at MATC. Her mother (my great grandma) encouraged her and took care of the children/paid all the bills etc. while my grandma went to school. She received her LPN degree and worked at the Central Wisconsin Center for many years. While attending MATC she met and fell in love with my grandpa Nick Spyros, they got married and together raised 8 children. My mom worked in the dietary department of a hospital as a teenager and when she graduated from high school she also went on to LPN training. My arrival on the scene ended her training but not her love for nursing. Every stray creature that arrived on our door steps was treated with care and compassion. To this day she still “nurses” animals, grandchildren and even brings me the proverbial “chicken soup” when I’m sick (even though I’m 40 years old!)

When both of my grand parents became ill and were hospitalized it always seemed to me that the nurses/nursing assistants were all so very caring and compassionate. They helped me through the death of both my grandparents, and I have always appreciated and respected the many roles they play-not only as nurses and nursing assistants but as front line with families who have to deal with so many difficult situations.

MATC plays a positive role in our community and in my family, they help students gain work skills for the real world. .My grandfather worked at MATC for over 35 years, until his retirement, and my mom for over 17 years. I currently am working on my third year of employment at MATC, so my connection to this school is very strong.

So as you can see my reasons are two fold, and very much influenced by my 2 families, my real life family and my MATC family.

Diary Starts Here

March 16, 2009
Travis has a 14-year-old son we can all be proud of. Seth made the local news again as he shows what you can accomplish when you're willing to work for it.

Click the image to start video

Feb. 17, 2009
We love hearing from Sue and this time she sent us a photo of Marie McCutcheon, one of the students who sent Travis a sweet note on January 17th. Her note is posted on the right. Here is Sue's letter..

"Jenny & Damon,
MATC is extremely busy training Nursing Assistants with all our wonderful new equipment. As you know from the email from one of our students, we continue to talk about the generous gift we were given by Travis & Jenny's Heroes. I wanted to send you pictures of Marie in our lab with our brand new floors.

One instructor recently commented that she felt all the instructors were working together better as a team now. I think this is a result of the pride in our new equipment & updated surroundings. The office got new carpeting & a few new furniture pieces. We are feeling so organized now! Which is good considering the economy has increased the demand for Nursing Assistant training. Thanks again for all that Travis & Jenny's Heroes has done for us and continue to do for many others. It is wonderful that you are able to spend another year with new Jenny's Heroes.
Sue"

Jan. 17, 2009
Travis received a very touching letter today from one of the students at MATC. It's posted over on the right at the end of his huge list of congratulations.

May 21, 2008
Yesterday was just the best day ever! They had a Nursing Assistant Grand Re-Opening Reception and ribbon cutting ceremony and guess who was the guest of honor? Travis! And guess who was there by video hook-up? Me! It was so high-tech. Damon worked with Sue in Madison and hooked us up through his computer, so I could sit at the keyboard and see them on half of the screen and myself on the other half. Everyone was there: Dr. Barhorst (MATC President), Dr. Sido (Dean of Health), Sue Worth (Nursing Assistant Program Director), Travis, and even his mom, Sandy.

We were able to talk to each other and they even gave me a virtual tour of some of the new equipment. Sue said that the manikins even cry out if you stab them too hard. I had no idea how life-like these training manikins are. Sue also presented Travis with a plaque that we had made and sent to her last week.

As for the ribbon cutting, they draped the ribbon between two new sinks (Sue LOVES the new sinks) and Travis's mom actually cut the ribbon. She must be so very proud of her son. I know we all are. And that's not all. They also brought out a beautiful cake to celebrate the occasion.

It was so much fun. I made a special card for Travis that spelled out what his name really stands for:
Truly Remarkable Awesome Very Inspiring Sitizen
(okay, it's "Citizen" but the first way sounded good!)

At the end, everyone sang an early Happy Birthday to me. It was so nice to feel like I was there thanks to Sue who put this whole day together.

May 1, 2008
Travis works at night and we hear that some of the evening instructors invite him into the lab to tell the students what he has done for the school & them. The students now can see the renovation in process & are using some of the new equipment. It's great that they can see the transformation & the man responsible for it. And Sue tells us that another unforseen benefit of their new equipment is... recycling! Someone took their old crank style bed. A family member was having some health issues and wanted to try a bed where the head would elevate. Another person took one of the old chalk & bulletin boards for a children's playroom they were creating.

April 8. 2008
We received a nice update from Sue at the nursing program.
"They removed the old desk & sinks! There are 2 labs and there were workers in both. Lab 1 was removal of the old chemistry desk & the sinks attached to that. In Lab 2 all the old chalk boards & bulletin boards were being removed. This will also happen in Lab 1. Minor electrical work in both rooms.
Next week the plumbers come in to put in the new sinks. Painting, new chalk & bulletin boards, privacy curtains, new storage cabinets, file cabinets &students chairs. Its going to be a busy & exciting week."

Sue is planning a big re-opening reception after the work is completed & all the new equipment is in place. It should be in about a month. She also sent pictures of their new manikins.

March 27, 2008
Travis received a nice note of appreciation from Robert J. Dinndorf, the Executive Director of the Madison Area Technical College Foundation. It's posted to the right.

March 14, 2008
NEWS: At today's MATC Health Division meeting, Travis was presented with a recognition plaque by Dr Sido, their Dean of Health. Susan Worth introduced Travis & his contribution to their programs. The Vice President of Instruction, Terry Webb, presented the plaque. Travis recieved a standing ovation from the faculty & staff of about 150! We will post pictures of the event on Monday.

March 13, 2008
We heard from Susan Worth at the nursing program who tells us some of the equipment has already arrived, including manikins and "other body parts" (yikes!) for training.

February 15, 2008

We were thrilled to learn that Travis's gift has generated even more good things at MATC. Here's a letter we just received from Susan Worth, the Nursing Assistant Program Director....

"Jenny & Damon,

We are so excited about getting this generous donation. Travis is getting lots of praise from all his co-workers here at MATC. His mother works at MATC too & is so proud of him. Because I am able to buy in volume, I am getting discounts &/or free equipment so will be able to get even more equipment than initially planned.

Last year the Nursing Program had a grant to purchase some computer operated manikins that can simulate various health problems & emergencies, such as a cardiac arrest. This allows students to experience these situations in the safety of the school setting before going into the real world. That grant did not allow them to purchase the software needed to take full advantage of this state of the are equipment. Now they will be getting that software!

Tomorrow the labs will be measured for the Privacy Curtains & I can finalize some of the equipment orders with the sales rep. He has been working with suppliers to get us better prices on everything. Also because of all the attention the Nursing Assistant lab is getting due to this generous donation, I am able to get a long overdue remodeling project for the lab on the schedule. I am meeting with the Facilities Maintenance manager tomorrow about getting updated sinks for the lab. This will come out of our budget, but was something that always got pushed aside as more "important" projects came up in this older building. The spotlight on us has made this project a priority now. Early in April may be the only time the lab will not be in use long enough to get this completed. I can send you before & after pictures.

The timing on this is so wonderful. Recently, a large, expensive piece of equipment had to be replaced. This meant that we were not going to get anything new for our Nursing programs this year. Now we are getting more than I could have imagined! This is creating a ripple effect that will benefit our students in many ways for years to come! Travis will continue to benefit from the admiration of all of us here at MATC for years to come as well.

Thank you again,

Susan Worth RN, MSN, MSEd
Nursing Assistant Program Director
Madison Area Technical College"