Taking the Reins: MATC Graduates Prepared To Be Next Generation of Leaders

There are people around you who believe in you. You put in the time. Now you need to meet the moment.

Leadership isn’t easy, says Lauren Feaster.

But she’s convinced the Milwaukee Area Technical College students who graduated on Saturday, May 17, at the college’s Spring Commencement are more than ready to guide the city, the state and the world into the future.

“Leadership is the ability to inspire autonomy toward collective action,” said Feaster, an MATC alumna who serves as CEO of Professional Dimensions, a network of women leaders in Milwaukee. 

“When faced with challenges and hurts, you had the courage to pause and heal. When experiencing unanticipated loss, you found out grief is real but that deep sadness and joy can co-exist. You decided to invest in yourself and found mentors to help you,” she said. “There are people around you who believe in you. You put in the time. Now you need to meet the moment.”

Feaster delivered her words of inspiration as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony, which was held at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Nearly 1,700 students were eligible to receive their associate degrees, technical diplomas, apprenticeship diplomas and adult high school diplomas. About 580 students graduated with honors. In addition, 28 graduates who were in the U.S. military received red, white and blue cords to honor their service.

See more photos from Spring 2025 Commencement

About 4,500 family members, friends and guests filled the arena to witness the ceremony, along with MATC District Board members, administrators and faculty. 

The historic venue was a fitting site to recognize success, said MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz: It’s where the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team won its first NBA championship in 1971.

“Today, MATC’s success celebrates the entire region,” Dr. Cruz told the audience.

He praised the graduates for completing their educational journeys while leading busy and sometimes complicated lives. He saluted dual credit students, student-athletes, honor students, students who are parents and those who worked while taking classes.

“You were probably told at some point that you couldn’t do these things and go to college,” Dr. Cruz said. “You can’t go to high school and college at the same time. You can’t play sports and go to college. You can’t excel in academics. You can’t work and go to class. 

“But you can, and you did,” Dr. Cruz said. “So congratulate yourselves for these achievements. Today marks the beginning of the next chapter of your lives. I know you will succeed because of the knowledge and skills MATC provides, and more importantly, because of your commitment to achieving your dreams.”

Shakiela Riley, who graduated with an Early Childhood Education associate degree, kicked off the ceremony by welcoming students and staff into the arena.

Student speaker Yeng Tha “Cloud” Vue, recipient of the Outstanding Associate Degree Graduate award, shared some personal life experiences with his fellow graduates.

At 17, Vue, the son of Hmong immigrants, came out as gay to his family. They struggled to understand his decision. “I felt like my world was falling apart,” he said. “It was hard for them.”

Six years later, he enrolled at MATC with a new, positive attitude. “During those lonely years, my suffering taught me to put myself first because no one will love me the way I can,” Vue said. “Love, kindness and self-respect allow us to rise above. Choose kindness, because at the end of the day, that’s what most of us need.”

Vue then addressed his parents in the crowd by delivering words of love and praise in the Hmong language. 

And as he left the stage, Vue, who earned a Web & Digital Media Design associate degree, revealed a large QR code on the back of his gown. “If there are any tech CEOs here today, go ahead and click on this. I’m looking for a job,” he said as the crowd laughed and applauded. 

Feaster originally came to MATC to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) where she would acquire more skills to attend medical school. She had earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in Spanish and pre-med.

“My time at MATC changed my life in so many beautiful and challenging ways,” she said.

Feaster rode on ambulance calls and discovered that most medical emergencies were social, mental and educational emergencies. That’s when it clicked for her and it all came together – she wanted to work in education. That changed her career trajectory. She worked at City Year Milwaukee, an educational nonprofit, for five years and Teach For America Milwaukee before joining Professional Dimensions in 2020. She also is a local DJ under the stage name “DJ LoLo.”

Laura Bray, the college’s vice president of college advancement and external communications and executive director of the MATC Foundation Inc., said the Foundation will establish a $1,000 scholarship in Feaster’s name for a student in the Community and Human Services Academic and Career Pathway. 

The Foundation also gave awards to Riley, Vue and Warren Murphy, the winner of the President’s Award, which recognizes student achievement and contributions to the college and the community. 

Murphy received an Associate of Arts degree and plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to work toward becoming an immigration attorney. He made the college’s honor roll four straight semesters; served as managing editor of the MATC Times, the student newspaper; chaired the District Student Association; and worked part time in the Student Life office at the college’s Oak Creek Campus. 

He also volunteered at the Milwaukee Justice Center, where he supports low-income Milwaukee community members going through divorce or custody issues, and staffed the sexual assault hotline at Aurora Sinai Medical Center’s Healing and Advocacy Services. 

The commencement ceremony is now available on MATC’s YouTube channel and will be broadcast Saturday, June 14, at 9 a.m. on Milwaukee PBS Channel 36.