Lending an Ear: MATC Early Childhood Education Graduate Wins Spring 2026 President’s Award

My MATC experience was perfect. All the resources and all the classes have made me into the person I am today.

Is listening a skill? 

Is it an art? A science? 

For Quiana Wilder, it’s all three and she has become an expert. She excels in lending an ear to everyone, especially the younger generation.

“You need to meet kids at their level,” said Wilder, who will graduate from Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Early Childhood Education program on May 16. “Most of the time they just want to be heard. I try to get them to say things out loud instead of keeping them inside. Once it comes out, that establishes a relationship where I can talk to them about almost anything.

“Being heard,” she added, “can be just as powerful as receiving guidance.”

Wilder has made her impact felt at MATC as an outstanding student and in Milwaukee Public Schools as a trusted and dedicated classroom assistant for the past three years.

And for her powerful empathy, academic achievements and exemplary community service, Wilder was named the winner of the President’s Award for the Spring 2026 semester.

The President’s Award is a districtwide recognition for graduating students that honors academic achievement and rewards their contributions to the college and the community. The recipient is selected by the Office of the Registrar, Student Life and the Scholastic Recognition Committee.

“Quiana embodies the values of leadership, initiative, and service that the President’s Award represents,” said Angela Luse, a child development specialist at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus Children’s Center. “She has a natural talent for building meaningful relationships with children. She creates a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere where every child feels safe, respected and encouraged to participate. Her patience, empathy and understanding of child development reflect the qualities of an exceptional future educator.”

MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz wholeahertedly agreed. "Your presence here at MATC has made this college better," he said at the college's Academic Honors Recognition ceremony on May 7. "We cannot wait to see the future you will build and leading young people into the future."

Wilder said being selected for the award is both an honor and a symbol of personal success. “It reminds me that I am doing everything that I told myself I could do when I came to MATC,” she said.

Wilder graduated from Milwaukee’s Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education in the spring of 2020, a few months after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world. College wasn’t on her radar. 

“I was not thinking about it all,” she said. 

She enrolled at Empire Beauty School in Milwaukee but eventually dropped out. A few months later, she took a job at Milwaukee Health Services Inc., an independent, not-for-profit health center providing medical services to mostly low-income city residents.

“I found myself gravitating toward pediatrics. I loved working with kids,” she said. “I had discovered a true passion and a strong sense of belonging in that environment.” 

She enrolled at MATC in the fall of 2023 and immediately fell in love with the rhythm of college. “MATC kept me grounded, provided me with structure and helped me find my path,” she said. “I felt I had a purpose. The more classes I went to, the more I realized that I could succeed. That realization gave me a huge spark. That made me get up and go each morning.”

Wilder flourished in her childhood education classes.

“She showed a deep level of empathy and awareness, along with the ability to design supportive strategies that promote inclusion and positive development,” said instructor David Espinoza, who had Wilder in four classes. “She recognized the importance of creating learning environments where all children feel valued, supported and capable of success.”

Instructor Choua Her said that Wilder possesses a rare blend of empathy and diligence. 

“In the classroom, she was not only a student who completed work with care but a presence who uplifted the learning environment with her positive attitude,” Her said. “Her work consistently reflected a deep understanding of the ‘whole child’ approach, showing that she prioritizes the emotional and developmental needs of those in her care.”

While attending classes at MATC, Wilder took a job as a classroom assistant with Milwaukee Public Schools. She started at Obama, her old school, helping students in kindergarten through third grade. She later moved to Washington High School.

The hands-on experience allowed her to develop practical teaching skills and strengthened her ability to guide young learners. “What I was learning in class I was using at work, and what I was learning at work I was using in the classroom,” she said.

At Washington, a student confided in her about past trauma, which made it difficult for the student to think clearly or complete academic tasks, Wilder said. She listened, talked to and spent time with the student. 

“Over time, I witnessed genuine growth. Trust strengthened and the student began to open up more,” Wilder recalled. “Watching their resilience and progress was one of the most defining and rewarding experiences of my life.”

Her exemplary empathy comes from a very personal place, Wilder said. As a youngster, at times she felt unheard and mentally overwhelmed. Unable to understand what was happening and without consistent guidance, she lashed out.

“I was often left to navigate life through trial and error and personal mistakes,” she said. “That experience fundamentally shaped how I show up for my students today. I do not give up on them because I know what it feels like to struggle and still hope someone will see your potential.”

And Wilder is all about realizing her potential. This summer Wilder will start classes in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Inclusive Early Childhood Education program. Eventually she plans to work as a counselor or a psychologist.

“My MATC experience was perfect. All the resources and all the classes have made me into the person I am today,” she said. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing right now. I stayed focused and stayed true to myself.”