I appreciate the culture the college has. The employees here are clearly taught to treat people with dignity and respect. They understand and they listen. And many times that makes all the difference.
As a minority within a minority, Yeng Tha Vue struggled to be seen.
Vue grew up in Milwaukee, the son of Hmong parents who immigrated to the United States from Thailand in 1994. At 17, he came out as gay. His family was confused, and struggled to understand. While their love for him never vanished completely, he said, it began to feel more distant and out of reach.
“I felt invisible. I navigated silence, hid parts of myself and tried to find spaces where I truly belonged,” he recalled. “I spent lonely years searching for purpose.”
Vue, also known as Cloud, found acceptance, support and direction at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
He enrolled in the college’s Front-End Web Developer program and earned a technical diploma in the spring of 2024. He stayed at the college and, in only three semesters, completed his associate degree in Web and Digital Media Design.
He made the college’s honor roll, served as vice chairperson of the District Student Association, and was president of the Asian Student Association for two semesters.
For his perseverance, his academic excellence and his community involvement, Vue is being recognized by the college as its Spring 2025 Outstanding Graduate – Associate Degree.. He will serve as student speaker at MATC’s Spring 2025 Commencement, to be held Saturday, May 17, at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Vue will illuminate how MATC helped him appreciate the positive things in his life, rather than dwell on the negative things that made him feel invisible.
“It’s about showing love and support at all times,” he said. “At the end of day, I chose kindness. If I had chosen anger and revenge, I would have lived a life of misery.
“You need to have the heart to serve, even when the work is quiet and unseen,” he added. “When we serve others, we begin to heal the parts of ourselves that once felt unworthy. I carry that lesson with me always, and I know now that even in small acts, we have the power to change lives, including our own.”
Vue attended Milwaukee Public Schools, but he struggled to learn proper English. After high school, he worked in fashion design. “But I quickly discovered that pursuing my passion wasn’t paying the bills,” he said.
He thought about being a truck driver but decided to study web design at MATC. “Web design stuck out to me,” he said. “It was a creative outlet, and I could work behind the scenes.”
In the fall of 2023, he earned a full-ride Ellen and Joe Checota MATC scholarship, designed to have students earn diplomas or certificates and enter the workforce quickly. The scholarship covers tuition, books, fees, food and emergency assistance.
“The Checota scholarship saved me so much money, and I can’t thank the college enough,” Vue said. “When my laptop was stolen, I received a check right away to replace it.”
Vue liked the web developer program and the college so much he stayed to complete his associate degree.
“I have been consistently impressed by Yeng’s design and coding skills,” said Antonio Garza, one of Vue’s Web and Digital Media Design instructors. “Specifically, I was particularly impressed by his development skills and his innovative approach to designing the user interface for course projects. Yeng’s ability to quickly learn and apply new skills in web coding, responsive design, user experience and interactive design demonstrates a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of user-centered design.”
He also selflessly assists other students in his classes and on campus, said Vice Provost Sadique Ishaku, Ph.D. “Cloud is nice, kind and always helping people,” Dr. Isahaku said. “He’s an amazing individual who is strong and resilient and will continue to be a leader in whatever he does.”
This fall Vue plans to start classes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and earn a bachelor’s degree in information science and technology. He wants to use his web design skills to ensure Hmong-owned and operated businesses in Milwaukee have access to the digital resources they need.
“I want to use digital storytelling to empower underserved communities,” he said. “My aim is to create inclusive, accessible websites that promote cultural identity, mental health awareness and workforce development. I think that would be a great way to help my community.”
Vue clearly is committed to the state’s Hmong community, which is one of the largest in the nation. Wisconsin’s Hmong population has grown steadily in the past 50 years and today there are nearly 60,000 Hmong-American citizens in the state.
He served as youth coordinator at the Hmong American Friendship Association, a community agency in Milwaukee that assists the Milwaukee Hmong community, and he continues to volunteer his time to the Hmong community.
“Some members of the Hmong community say their culture is changing,” Vue said. “They are losing touch with the community, and some aren’t even able to speak Hmong, so it’s really hard for them to connect back to their roots.”
“Yeng Tha has helped promote cultures through events,” said Gary Morimoto, advisor for the Asian Student Association and a lieutenant with MATC’s Public Safety department. “He has a positive attitude and is always willing to assist others and provide constructive advice.”
After years of feeling alone, Vue found a belonging, welcoming place at MATC.
“The college is very helpful and full of resources,” he said. “I appreciate the culture the college has. The employees here are clearly taught to treat people with dignity and respect. They understand and they listen. And many times that makes all the difference.”
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.