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College to Graduate 1,200 Students at Mid-Year
Commencement
Ceremony will include live video feed to MATC Website
Madison Area Technical College (MATC) will graduate about 1,200
students at its mid-year commencement ceremony on Thursday, December
22, 6:30 p.m. in the H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium, MATC Truax,
3550 Anderson Street, Madison. Graduates from MATC’s Madison
campus, as well as its Fort Atkinson, Portage, Reedsburg and Watertown
campuses, will participate in the ceremony. The event will be broadcast
via a live video stream at www.matcmadison.edu with DVDs of the
ceremony available for later purchase.
MATC returns to holding a
mid-year commencement ceremony this year, after its trial last
year of holding just one commencement in May to contain costs and
operate more efficiently. “Unfortunately, we found that last year less
than half the number of December graduates who typically participate in our mid-year
ceremony chose to take part in our commencement in May,” explains Keith
Cornille, MATC’s administrator of Student Life. “We realized it was
important for our students to hold a commencement ceremony each semester. Graduation
is an important life achievement and our students and their families deserve
a timely and memorable way to celebrate this success together.”
At the college’s 2005 mid-year commencement, two students will share the
honor of addressing the graduating class. Yoruba Freeman, who moved from Chicago
to Madison in 2000 with her three daughters, will graduate with high honors and
an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Management. Successfully juggling her
academic work, two jobs and the challenges of being a single parent, she found
time while at MATC to become an active member of the MATC Chapter of the Business
Professionals of America. She plans to continue her education and pursue a bachelor’s
degree in business with the hope of starting her own business in the future.
Joshua
Hakl, a resident of Watertown, also will speak. He began his academic career
at MATC in a dual credit program that allowed him to complete his GED
while also earning college credits. He will graduate with an Associate of Arts
Degree in Liberal Studies. During his time at MATC, Joshua was named to the
Dean’s
List while taking classes at both the Watertown and Truax campuses. He also has
written for The Clarion, the college’s
student newspaper, and has participated in the production of the Yahara
Journal.
He plans to enter
the workforce and
continue his studies toward a degree in journalism.
Other speakers at the ceremony
will be MATC District Board Chair Gerald R. McGowan and MATC President Bettsey
L. Barhorst.
Of the graduates, 418 will receive two-year
associate degrees or diplomas and approximately 800 will earn one-year or shorter-term
diplomas. Among the college’s
more than 100 academic and occupational programs, those graduating the most students
this semester include: Liberal Arts, Business and Marketing, Information Technology,
Nursing, Law Enforcement and Emergency Medical Technician.
One hundred and sixteen
graduates will receive academic honors. This honor is given to graduates who
have earned a GPA of 3.75 or higher in courses within
their programs of study. The Special Service Award will be granted to six graduates.
This award is given to students for their service in student government, clubs
and activities, their demonstrated leadership and initiative in the classroom,
and their awards and accomplishments outside of the college. Fifteen graduates
are members of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society.
MATC is one of the
largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s
16 colleges and serves approximately 44,000 individuals annually. It provides
a comprehensive curriculum of technical, liberal arts and science, adult basic
education and life enrichment studies and activities, as well as customized employee
training. MATC provides training in more than 100 career programs. It awards
associate degrees, vocational diplomas and certificates, and offers non-degree
courses. The college serves all or parts of 12 counties located in south-central
Wisconsin and offers instruction through five campuses and various other locations
throughout the district.
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The ceremony is now available on DVD
The Commencement Ceremony will be available on DVD for $15 (price includes shipping). To reserve your copy or copies of the ceremony, simply contact the Student Life Office at (608) 246-6224, and a staff member will take your order. You also can also download an order form (Adobe Reader PDF) or request one by emailing studentlife@matcmadison.edu.
Last
Modified:
December 23, 2005
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