Thanks to the rock band Metallica, Ernesto Becerra Ovalle is taking his future into his own hands
Ernesto Becerra Ovalle was just a kid when he learned that using his head was just as important as using his hands.
His father worked in construction and then operated his own landscaping business in Milwaukee, where Ovalle was born and raised. Ovalle often helped repair and maintain the equipment, but his father also made sure Ovalle understood the value of education.
"Doing well in school was an expectation," said Ovalle, 19. "In high school, we were pushed to excel, so I went into college with the same mentality."
At MATC, Ovalle is learning trade skills that use his hands, taking academic courses that expand his knowledge and getting help from the legendary heavy metal band Metallica.
Ovalle, who plans to own and operate a trucking business using all the skills he is learning at MATC, received a scholarship from All Within My Hands (AWMH), a workforce initiative established in 2017 by the members and management of the band Metallica to help propective students, recent high school graduates and adults discover and explore hands-on careers in "heavy metal" fields, including automotive/diesel technology, truck driving, computerized manufacturing, HVAC and welding.
In July 2022, MATC was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 from AWMH. Scholarships are based on students' financial needs. Since then, 84 scholarships have been awarded to MATC students through the MATC Foundation Inc., the college's philanthropic partner.
"The mission of Metallica's All Within My Hands aligns perfectly with our mission, which is to offer an education that transforms lives, industry and community," said MATC President Dr. Vicki J. Martin in receiving the grant. "This funding will help students enroll in our high quality, in-demand programs that meet local employer and community needs — leading to careers that provide family-supporting wages and better lives."
After graduating from Saint Thomas More High School in the spring of 2022, Ovalle enrolled at MATC. He earned a technical diploma in Welding in May 2023 — with scholastic honors — and this summer is enrolled in MATC's Truck Driving program. He plans to enroll in the college's Diesel and Powertrain Servicing program in the fall.
"I wanted to go to a technical college right out of high school," Ovalle said. "A university wasn't really for me."
"With Ernesto, it is never enough when it comes to his education," said Erik Riley, an advisor in MATC's Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation Pathway who told Ovalle about the Metallica scholarship. "His ability to quickly adapt to the college experience and excel demonstrates his potential. Young men like Ernesto are what the trade industry needs, and I'm confident he will succeed in any direction he may go."
"The Metallica scholarship has really helped me out," Ovalle said. "It kind of calmed me down knowing I had some financial help to go to college. Without it, I would not have been able to take this great journey at MATC."
Ovalle also effusively praised his advisor, Riley, who counseled him on school, work and life. "I would often visit his office two or three times a week," Ovalle said. "He helped me with financial advice and helped me plan out my journey at MATC. He reached out to me whenever there were any scholarships available. That is how I came across the Metallica scholarship. Not only is he a great advisor, but he's a great person to talk to about any school or personal matters. He really helped me with my plan."
"My classes are fast paced, the instructors are great and I never want to miss a day," Ovalle said. "MATC is providing me with the exact right skills for me to achieve what I want."
Learn more about the All Within My Hands Foundation at allwithinmyhands.org.