There are so many helpful people here. You make MATC into what you want it to be. But you get an awful lot of help when you need it and ask for it.
When his furnace went on the fritz on a chilly September night in 2020, Tommy Wilhite did what most every homeowner would do: He called a repairman.
The technician came to his house, finagled a few things and got the furnace up and running. For six days.
“It broke down again,” said Wilhite, who worked at the now-defunct Ambrosia Chocolate factory on North Fifth Street for 13 years.
So Wilhite turned to YouTube. He replaced three different parts himself and diagnosed a faulty control board as the culprit.
“That’s when I decided I could make some money doing this,” he said.
In 2021 — at the age of 58 and after having both of his knees surgically replaced — he enrolled at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He earned a technical diploma in the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating Service Technician program.
“I was the oldest person in the class, but once I got in there, I didn’t care,” Wilhite said. “I might be an old dog, but I have learned a whole lot of new tricks.”
Wilhite decided the diploma wasn’t enough. He returned to MATC and enrolled in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology associate degree program.
“Tommy was, by all accounts, one of my best students,” said Doni Bartley, Ed.D., HVAC/R instructor and department chair. “He quietly led his cohort of students, acting as a fatherly figure, sharing his wisdom with the younger students. Tommy was always quick to help others in and out of class. He brought humility, respect, wisdom, patience and understanding to his flock.”
Wilhite also took a job as a student ambassador at the Oak Creek Campus, working the welcome desk at the front entrance, helping students, potential students and guests.
And with assistance from Erik Riley, his Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation Pathway advisor, Wilhite received a scholarship from All Within My Hands (AWMH), a foundation established by the rock band Metallica to support students in heavy metal trades such as such as HVAC, automotive/diesel, CNC machining, trucking and welding.
In July 2022, MATC was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $100,000 from AWMH, established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017. In June 2024, MATC was one of five community colleges to receive a $100,000 grant from AWMH Metallica Scholars x Lowe’s Foundation to fund critical training, equipment, recruiting and wraparound services.
“Since day one, Tommy has approached every challenge with an optimistic mindset, focusing on possibilities rather than limitations,” said Riley, who is also Wilhite’s nephew. “His ability to stay calm under pressure, paired with his drive to put his best foot forward, has always been a source of inspiration to me and countless others.
“Tommy doesn’t just set goals — he surpasses them, thriving on each accomplishment and using it as fuel to aim even higher,” Riley added. “He is living proof that it’s never too late to embrace new opportunities and achieve greatness.”
Wilhite said the support he received inside and outside the classroom makes MATC a special place.
“There are so many helpful people here,” he said. “You make MATC into what you want it to be. But you get an awful lot of help when you need it and ask for it.”
Wilhite will earn his associate degree at MATC’s Winter Commencement on December 14, 2024, at Fiserv Forum. “I am proud to see him graduate but saddened at the same time to see him leave,” Dr. Bartley said. “He leaves a lasting impression on all who spend time with him.”
Wilhite said he’s thinking about getting an HVAC job, but his heart is set on becoming an advisor at MATC.
“I really want to work with younger students and show them what they can accomplish in the MCT Pathway,” he said. “I want to show them what is possible for them, because I certainly know it was possible for me.”
About All Within My Hands (AWMH): Established by the members and management of Metallica in 2017 as a means to invest in the people and places that have supported the band, AWMH is focused on supporting sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger and other critical local services. All expenses of the AWMH are covered by the band, the board and a few special friends so that 100% of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
About MATC: As 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. Nearly 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; and 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.
