Checota MATC Scholarship News Conference
On Friday, August 19, 2022, at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, the college announced the Ellen and Joe Checota MATC Scholarship Program to create a $7.5 million “full-ride” scholarship fund for eligible students in short-term technical diploma and certificate programs. The largest scholarship investment in the college’s history, Ellen and Joe Checota’s $5 million gift provides a $2:$1 match for donations up to $2.5 million. Also, it was announced that MATC Foundation Board President Julianna Ebert and her husband, Frank Daily, committed $500,000 to the program; with the Checotas’ matching $1 million donation, the college had the funds to begin awarding scholarships in September. More than 700 students applied for the scholarship by August 31 and more than 130 qualified for the Fall semester. The comprehensive scholarship covers a student’s tuition, books, equipment, transportation, meals, child care and housing at Westown Green student apartments. Speakers representing MATC at the news conference were Vicki J. Martin, Ph.D., president; Laura Bray, vice president for college advancement and external communications, and MATC Foundation executive director; and Erik Riley, advisor for the Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation Academic & Career Pathway. Joe Checota and Ebert also shared remarks. By helping more students enter the workforce quickly, the gifts support MATC’s efforts to impact the region’s diverse talent pipeline, upward mobility and workforce readiness. Learn more at matc.edu/donate.