This means the world to me. It’s a great gift. It’s a blessing. This will help me do everything that I want to do in my life.
Janetta Patterson is ready to enter a brave new world.
More than 25 years after she last stepped foot into a classroom, she’s returning to school to earn her High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
“This is my time,” said Patterson, a 43-year-old mother of nine who dropped out of South Division High School in Milwaukee after her junior year. “This year is my year.”
And on Wednesday, January 14, Patterson received some high-tech help for her new beginning: a free Dell laptop computer from the AT&T Foundation.
Patterson was one of 50 MATC students who received laptops as part of an AT&T initiative to connect people to affordable high-speed internet access and digital resources.
Along with the computers, the AT&T Foundation donated $25,000 to the MATC Foundation, the college’s philanthropic partner, for other technology and scholarships.
AT&T representatives gathered Wednesday with MATC students, administrators, MATC District Board members and City of Milwaukee officials at Walker’s Square Education Center to distribute the laptops and celebrate the donation.
“We want to empower you as students with the technology and the resources that you need to thrive,” said Robyn Gruner, director of external affairs for AT&T Wisconsin. “We believe that connecting changes everything. When you open up that laptop, you’re opening up a door to many opportunities and endless possibilities.”
See TV coverage of the event
Later this month, Patterson will start HSED courses and also take classes in healthcare customer service through MATC’s Integrated Education and Training program. In the IET program, students take college courses and earn a certificate while working toward their HSED. Patterson then plans to enroll in the college’s Medical Assistant technical diploma program.
She said she will use her laptop to do research, study and keep track of her children’s activities. “This will help me stay organized and significantly enhance my ability to succeed,” she said. “This means the world to me. It’s a great gift. It’s a blessing. This will help me do everything that I want to do in my life.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, millions of people don’t have access to the internet or the connected devices needed to fully participate in the online world.
AT&T is spending $5 billion between now and 2030 to bridge that digital divide by donating computers and providing access to technology. Since 2021, the company has distributed more than 122,000 computers and Wi-Fi hot spots to students and families across the nation.
“AT&T’s dedicated focus on digital literacy speaks volumes,” said MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz. “It recognizes that everyone needs these skills for future success, no matter their future area of study, no matter the career they choose.”
With technology, MATC graduates can become part of a productive workforce and enjoy the economic mobility that provides families a promising future and assures entire communities flourish, Dr. Cruz added.
Having access to technology isn’t a luxury anymore, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said at the event.
“Having the internet, having that connectivity is a utility. It’s something that's really, really important,” Johnson said. “It’s important for the schoolwork that you do, for people who are searching for their jobs, for folks throughout our community to access resources and services.”
Dr. Cruz thanked Jaime Hurtado, a member of the MATC Foundation Board and regional business owner, for connecting the college to AT&T.
“We believe education transforms lives and is a powerful engine for our region’s economy, but we cannot and should not do this work alone,” Dr. Cruz said. “When business and civic leaders engage more deeply with MATC, they gain a clearer understanding and stronger appreciation of how we help address these challenges. Today, you see the power of partnership.”
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.