Seven Milwaukee Area Technical College students had great nights at American Family Field on Wednesday, Aug. 5.
At the Milwaukee Brewers baseball game, the students received scholarships sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 333, the MATC Foundation, and several Brewers latino players.
The students work part time at MATC’s Education Center at Walker's Square, located on National Avenue in the heart of Milwaukee’s largest Hispanic neighborhood, and were recognized for going above and beyond to help MATC students.
Each student received $500 to buy laptops or books, cover transportation costs, or pay for other expenses while attending MATC.
MATC students receiving scholarships were:
- Alham Alipuly, Biotechnology
- Magdalena De la Torre, ESL
- Jesus Marques, IT Network Specialist
- Sarai Melendez, Business Management
- Eilleen Ramos, Human Services
- Lucus Vernon, Graphic Design
- Zhion Yhlite, Culinary Arts
The students attended Wednesday’s Brewers game against the Pittsburgh Pirates – a 4-2 Milwaukee victory – and were presented the scholarships on the field.
At the presentation were Katina Shaw, vice president of Brewers Community Relations; Cecelia Gore, executive director of the Brewers Community Foundations; Fela Salinas, president of LULAC Council 333; Annette Velez, a LULAC Council 333 member and an MATC employee; Bobby Velez, a LULAC Council 333 member; and Kalyn Harris, an MATC Entrepreneurship student and recipient of the 2025 Jamar Shaw Scholarship.
In 2014, LULAC teamed up with the MATC Foundation, the college’s philanthropic partner, and Milwaukee Brewers Latino players to develop the scholarship. This year, current Brewers players Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Gary Sanchez, along with with former players Ángel Zerpa and Steward Berroa, together raised more than $54,000 for the scholarships,
In the past 12 years, 275 scholarships totaling more than $224,000 have been awarded to students at or planning to attend MATC.
About MATC: As 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.
About The MATC Foundation: The MATC Foundation is the philanthropic partner of Milwaukee Area Technical College. Since 1979, it has collaborated with civic leaders, employers, regional residents, the college community and alumni to create accessible paths to family-sustaining employment through large-scale, career focused scholarships and other student financial support programs like quick-turnaround emergency grants. The Foundation’s work ultimately promotes economic opportunity for MATC students, their families and the entire region. In addition, the Foundation supports vital college initiatives and is the trusted fiscal steward for Milwaukee PBS, a viewer service of MATC.
About LULAC: LULAC is the largest and oldest Hispanic/Latino/a civil rights organization in the United States. The organization advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic/Latino/a Americans.