These certificates are a symbol of hope and a bridge to the future. With these, we can become better fathers, sons, husbands and friends.
Lovingly holding his young daughter in his arms, pridefully wearing a graduation cap and gown, and proudly standing by examples of his new-found welding skills, Hector Miranda felt like a new man.
Despite being convicted of numerous felonies and currently serving time in the care of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Miranda can see a brighter future for himself and his family thanks to Milwaukee Area Technical College.
On Monday, May 19, Miranda was one of nine men who received certificates in Welding Fundamentals through MATC’s Second Chance Pell Grant program, which provides federal aid to people in state and federal prisons so they can receive postsecondary education while serving their sentences.
A completion ceremony was held in the Create Gallery at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, where Miranda served as the student speaker.
See TV coverage of the event
“Our path to this moment has been less than straightforward,” Miranda told the crowd of family, friends and officials from MATC and the state DOC. “These certificates are a symbol of hope and a bridge to the future. With these, we can become better fathers, sons, husbands and friends.
“We spent too many lonely nights and days of regret when we missed the family and friends we loved,” Miranda added. “We appreciate the value of family and how we are better with them than without them. Life has a time limit, so let’s make the most of it.”
In the Welding program, the men took classes six days a week for 16 weeks to earn the 17 credits required to receive the certificate. Classes ran from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, said MATC English instructor Ronald Clohessy, Ph.D.
“Some of these men had never welded before; some had never taken a college course before,” Dr. Clohessy said. “There was doubt, fear and anxiety, but they conquered those and moved forward with grit.”
The class attained a cumulative 3.5 GPA, Dr. Clohessy said.
Once released, the men could return to MATC to further their education or use the certificate to secure welding jobs that start at more than $20 an hour.
“You have mastered a life-changing skill,” said guest speaker Michael Green, superintendent of the Marshall E. Sherrer Correctional Center in Milwaukee. “This can be a life-changing opportunity if you continue to build on it.”
“You are done with resorting to crime and violence when times get hard,” Green said. “You are ready to accept a new, better, educated, evolved and conscious version of yourself.”
“To the family and friends here, your support means everything to these men,” Green added. “They’ll continue to need that support after they transition from corrections.”
Numerous objects created by participants during their classes were displayed at the ceremony. The works included flowers, pendants and an entire Mother’s Day card.
“Welding is not for the weak,” said MATC instructor Stacy Garza, who teaches welding in the program. “At first these men were concerned about the sparks, the heat and the slag. But instead of quitting, they got curious.”
MATC was the first Wisconsin college to participate in the Second Chance program, which was created in 2015. Since then, more than 250 students have graduated, said Sadique Isahaku, Ph.D., the college’s vice provost of learning.
Dr. Isahaku encouraged the men to continue their education through MATC’s Welding technical diploma or Welding Technology associate degree programs.
“I encourage you to push the envelope even further,” Dr. Isahaku said. “This is just the beginning.”
Learn about MATC’s Second Chance Pell Grant program
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.
