My goal is to open my own business ... I think MATC is the best place for me to start.
First things first: Mercedes Alvarado wasn’t named after the luxury German automobile.
But she does love cars.
Her father owns and operates an auto repair shop in Milwaukee and, as a young girl, Alvarado rolled up her sleeves and helped.
“I was around them (automobiles) all the time,” she said. “Working on them just became what I did.”
Now Alvarado, a senior at St. Joan Antida High School, is taking her love of all things automotive to the next level: She’s coming to Milwaukee Area Technical College in the fall to study Automotive Technology.
“My goal is to open my own business,” she said. “A place that offers collision repair and car painting. I think MATC is the best place for me to start.”
Alvarado was one of 50 area high school students who made the same decision.
On Thursday, May 14, those students gathered at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus to sign letters of intent to attend MATC and celebrate the start of their collegiate journey.
“This is an important decision and an exciting decision,” said Aneisha Denson, a recruiter at the college. “It’s a big, big deal. This is a stepping stone on the biggest journey of your life.”
Students signed their letters on the Cooley Auditorium stage, enjoyed music and refreshments, heard from representatives from the college, and received some MATC swag.
Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Phillip King told the students that they would have an abundance of support at the college.
“We won’t leave you to do this alone,” he said. “We have advisors, coaches, retention people and deans. They all work to support you and help you succeed. I look forward to seeing all of you in the halls.”
Resources include tutors, student organizations, Pathway offices and libraries, Denson said. “If you’re lost, there’s always someone who will help you,” she said.
Simply deciding to attend college is a great example for others, said Ramiro Romero, another recruiter at the college. “You can be the motivation for brothers, sisters, cousins and other relatives,” he said.
This is the college’s fourth Senior Signing Day. About 100 students attended the first event in 2023, about 200 were at the 2024 festivities and another 200 were at the 2025 event.
The college started the event to recognize and celebrate high school seniors who chose to attend MATC in a unique and special way, said Marwill Santiago, the college’s director of student recruitment.
“We want to make this a fun activity that relieves the stress students have been under throughout their decision-making process,” Santiago said. “It provides recognition of the accomplishments, which builds self-confidence. We hope it inspires younger kids who will witness the occasion to set high expectations for their own futures.”
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 35,000 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 45 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.