Supporting The Mission
At Dr. Cruz’s investiture, MATC introduced the Medal of Distinction award. Each medal honors those who live the college’s mission to transform lives.Programs Hone Leadership Skills.
IMPACT AWARD
Ellen and Joe Checota
In August 2022, Ellen and Joe Checota made the largest scholarship investment in the college’s history by committing $5 million to the MATC Foundation Inc. to establish the Ellen and Joe Checota MATC Scholarship Program. Their extraordinary commitment to match donations two-to-one created a $7.5 million scholarship. This program, the first of its kind at MATC, provides eligible students with a scholarship that covers tuition and required books, equipment, tools, and materials, as well as support for things such as child care, transportation and food. Checota scholars consistently say that the scholarship enabled them to complete their programs and pursue credentials confidently. Graduates, who reported an average household income of $27,000 or less, now earn an average of $57,000 annually. The Checota scholarship model, which offers full, renewable support with wraparound assistance, will help shape our approach to scholarship programs going forward. Clearly, Ellen and Joe’s impact on the region, and MATC alumni especially, is deep indeed.
LEGACY AWARD
Julie Ebert
Julie Ebert’s connection to MATC began through her grandmother Mildred Benson, a longtime MATC teacher. Julie established a scholarship in her grandmother’s memory, which led to her deep involvement with the MATC Foundation. Since then, Julie and her husband, Frank Daily, have significantly supported MATC student success. They pledged $500,000 to the Ellen and Joe Checota MATC Scholarship Program and helped secure an additional $2.5 million for the fund six months ahead of schedule. Julie’s commitment to MATC is also evident in her years of service on the MATC Foundation Board of Directors, where she has been instrumental in its growth and influence. Julie and Frank consistently support numerous other MATC Foundation funds, including the MATC Promise, Supplies for Success, Greatest Need and Uniquely Abled Academy, and Julie was an early investor in the Student Parent Scholarship Fund. Her legacy is an inspiration to everyone.
AMBASSADOR AWARD
Viola “Vi” Hawkins
Ms. Vi’s enthusiasm for MATC was unmatched, as was her commitment to our region. With over 60 years of service to the community, Ms. Vi’s engagement included marching alongside the late Father James Groppi and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Ms. Vi attended MATC in the 1980s to study Business Administration, calling it “the foundation for anything else I wanted to do.” She encouraged her 30-plus godchildren to consider the college and actively participated in MATC events. After graduating with straight A’s, she worked for the City of Milwaukee Housing Authority, served on the City’s Safety and Civic Commission, and chaired Milwaukee County’s Commission on Aging, connecting officials to MATC programming. To ensure future generations have access to an MATC education, Ms. Vi established the Vi Hawkins Grassroots Scholarship, funded by her donations and those of nearly 100 others.