Right now the sky's the limit for what you can accomplish. Things can change in three or four years, but we have a lot here that you can think about.
MILWAUKEE – Acie Holland III is a tad too young to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College just yet – he graduated from the eighth grade at Glendale’s Glen Hills Middle School only last week.
But perhaps the college might consider making an exception for this exceptional young man.
Holland has basked in local, state, national and international spotlight since his quick thinking and heroic efforts in April saved a school bus full of students from veering into oncoming traffic.
On Thursday, June 6, MATC rolled out the red carpet for Holland, who has said in several interviews that he wants to be an auto mechanic or a barber. The teenager, his father Acie Holland Jr., his mother Kimberly and his younger brother Christopher toured the Al Hurvis/PEAK Transportation Center and the Barber Cosmetology labs at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus.
Reggie Parks, Ph.D., a retention coach with MATC’s transportation servicing programs, served as host, guiding the Hollands on a tour of the two-story Hurvis Center, explaining what programs the college offers, and handing out swag and souvenirs to the entire family.
“Right now the sky's the limit for what you can accomplish,” Parks told the teenager. “Things can change in three or four years, but we have a lot here that you can think about.”
Automotive instructor David Hoffmann – himself a Glendale native who attended the same middle school as Holland – showed Holland a Tesla 3 electric vehicle and a Lincoln MKC. Hoffmann attended MATC after graduating from Nicolet High School in Glendale, worked in the field and returned to the college as an instructor.
“Working in the automotive industry has its ups and downs, but this is a very, very fun occupation,” Hoffmann said.
The family then moved to the Barber Cosmetology labs, where barber instructor Diane Sanders watched Holland show his skills with barber clippers.
“If you have a passion for this, you will be fine,” Sanders said. “I played with hair my whole life and I knew what I wanted to do at a young age. I had talent, but I came here to learn the science behind it. That made all the difference.
“This profession can be so much more than just hair,” Sanders added. “It can be all sorts of things that help your community.”
Holland helped his community on April 24, when he sprang into action after the driver of his school bus had a medical emergency and temporarily lost consciousness. Holland rushed to the front of the bus, moved the driver's foot off the gas pedal, applied the brake and securely parked the bus.
Holland then contacted his grandmother, who is a nurse, and called 911, ensuring the 14 other students were all right and instructing them to call their parents.
Stories about Holland’s exploits have been in newspapers and media in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the United States and Europe. He was formally recognized for his life-saving efforts by the City of Glendale, the Glendale School District and the Glendale Police department. He also appeared on the Tamron Hall Show, which aired locally on WISN Channel 12.
"I just wanted to make sure that everybody was OK," Holland said during his appearance.
During his visit to MATC, Holland was all smiles and the epitome of politeness, graciously answering questions in a soft, yet confident voice.
Both Parks and Sanders suggested that Holland attend one of MATC’s summer camps for high school students to get a closer look at the college.
“Our goal is to help you change lives one customer at a time,” Sanders said. “But you already know all about that. You’ve been out there saving peoples’ lives.”
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 30,000 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 180 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.