If we didn’t have any kind of awards, I would still do what I do the way I do it every day. To me, students being successful is the real win.
When a student in Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Paramedic Technician program was in danger of being dropped, Margaret Ehlert came to the rescue.
As coordinator of the college’s Protective Services programs, which include emergency medical services, Ehlert made sure the student registered in the correct classes and pointed him to financial assistance.
Thanks to her efforts, he stayed and completed the program.
“She saved me,” the student later wrote.
On Tuesday, July 28, Ehlert and 27 other MATC staff members were recognized for their commitment to student success at a breakfast held at Cuisine Restaurant at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus.
The 28 employees (see the full list below) each received at least two nominations, which qualified them to receive a WE CARE Service Excellence Award for exemplary work between October 2025 and May 2026, said Laquitha “Elle” Bonds-Jones, vice president of human resources.
The standards of WE CARE, which stands for Welcoming, Engaged and Empowered, Compassionate, Accountable, Resourceful, and Exceed Expectations, reflect how the college aims to interact with other employees, students and visitors.
Peers, students and visitors can nominate employees for the award.
“MATC’s real success comes from dedicated people like you, who go above and beyond,” MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz told employees at Tuesday’s event. “Whether you take an extra minute to walk a student to a classroom that they couldn’t find, or you take a moment to help and support a colleague. Caring is never done by accident. It is a part of each of you.
“When you make the conscious choice to care and to lead by example, you ignite a powerful chain reaction,” Dr. Cruz added. “You directly change the student experience by removing barriers and by letting our students know that they are seen, that they are valued and that they truly belong at MATC.”
Ehlert came to MATC in 2009 as an advisor in the Community and Human Services Academic and Career Pathway. She became Protective Services coordinator in April.
Ehlert said she kept close watch on more than 100 students in the Paramedic Technician program. “You help them register, make sure they’re on schedule, check their balances,” she said. “By doing that, you build relationships with those students.”
Added Ehlert, “If we didn’t have any kind of awards, I would still do what I do the way I do it every day. To me, students being successful is the real win.”
One of Ehlert’s nominations called her “a true champion for students” and an expert at navigating registration and financial aid processes, said Jane Beyer, director of talent strategy.
At Tuesday’s event, Beyer read snippets of the nominations as each recipient received a framed certificate from Dr. Cruz.
“Thank you for setting the bar high, for keeping our college healthy and thriving, and for bringing your heart to MATC every day,” Dr. Cruz said. “Continue to lead with care because the spark you light today, through your intentional actions, becomes the inspiration for someone else to make that impact tomorrow.”
2025-26 Q2 and Q3 Nominees: Esmeralda Alvarez, Mary Bromwell, Samantha Burgos, Rita Chesser, Peter Couto, Maria Cruz-Lopez, Margaret Ehlert, Bouazza El Ouahbi, Norma Florez, Deanna Forsythe, Betha Gonzalez, Suzanne Goodrich, Shirly Gunawan, Gale Johnson, Jordan Jung, Kimberly Kelly, Katonya Love, Kristin MaierMerz, Valerie Meyer, Kristen Miller, Sophie Pappenheim, Erik Riley, Eliana Schell Campos, Penny Schwanz, Gloria Shaw, Neil Verhaeghe, Nicole West, Mai Yang.
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.
