If you’re thinking about applying to MATC, apply. MATC is a top-flight technical college. The instruction I received was top notch. You will not be disappointed.
MILWAUKEE – Terence Mallett has been many things at Milwaukee Area Technical College: A wide-eyed, prospective student, a hard-working computerized machining program participant and a successful associate degree recipient.
And now, after parlaying the skills he learned at the college into a 30-year career at internationally-known motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson, Inc., he has added cheerleader to the list.
“If you’re thinking about applying to MATC, apply,” Mallett said. “MATC is a top-flight technical college. The instruction I received was top notch. You will not be disappointed.”
Mallett praised the transformational powers of MATC on Wednesday, December 7 at a community pop up event held at the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, 3536 West Fond Du Lac Avenue.
The event, the first of several planned for different locations, showcased the scholarships available at MATC. Staff members were on hand to answer questions and help interested community members apply to the college immediately.
Mallett, who received a degree in what was once called the computer machining technician program, was joined by MATC nursing graduate Octavia Manuel-Wright, Ph.D., a nurse practitioner who is opening her own integrated health clinic in the city. The two alumni told the crowd, of around 50 people, about why they attended MATC and their experiences at the college.
“I really liked how the nursing program was structured, the cost was affordable, and at the time, a four-year university was not an option for me,” Dr. Manuel-Wright said. “MATC provided me with the skill sets I used to work in almost every hospital, jail and nursing home in the area.”
And now, MATC offers several scholarship programs that cover most, if not all, costs for students, Dr. Manuel-Wright said.
“We didn’t have these programs back then, so this is a great time to take advantage of what MATC offers,” she said.
The MATC Promise program offers free tuition to eligible high school graduates to attend college and to adults returning as students.
The Ellen and Joe Checota MATC Scholarship Program, unveiled this summer, provides full-ride scholarships for students in short-term technical diploma or certificate programs so they can start or advance their careers faster.
“These are both exciting programs for anyone interested in attending MATC,” said Courtney Kelly, MATC’s special projects coordinator for scholarships. “These scholarships make going to college and learning important career skills attainable for almost anyone who wants to improve the lives of themselves and their families.”
For Mallett and Dr. Manuel-Wright, attending MATC transformed their lives, and they both said the college can do the same for others.
“MATC gave me the essentials of what employers are looking for,” said Mallett, who helps manufacture motorcycle engine parts and other components.
“I wouldn’t have done anything differently at MATC,” said Dr. Manuel-Wright, who has gone on to attain a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and a doctorate. “MATC was the place where I learned I can do anything.”
About MATC: Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 25,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 170 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.