LOCAL LATINO COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVITED TO EXPLORE
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT MATC WORKSHOP
In Dane County, the largest segment of the rapidly growing Latino community is between 15 and 24 years old. Like their counterparts in the broader community, young Latinos are looking towards their educational and career futures. With this in mind, Madison Area Technical College (MATC) will host its seventh annual Latino Educational Opportunities Workshop for Spanish speakers on Saturday, June 9.
The workshop, presented in Spanish, will showcase a variety of educational opportunities available through the college. Included will be a session on bridging cultural differences in the job search and interviewing process. The workshop will be held at the Truax location, 3550 Anderson St. in Madison from 8 a.m to 2 p.m.
"While we offer information about English as a second language (ESL) classes at MATC, we are hoping people will see this as a step on a path to a career," says Suset LaBoy Perez, office manager for the MATC South Madison location and an organizer of the event. "People may come expecting to learn about ESL classes and walk away wanting to go into our Diesel Technology program. We want people to see the big picture of their career path—this workshop can be a step on that path."
About 100 people are expected to attend the workshop. In addition to ESL classes, participants have the opportunity to learn about high school completion programs, bilingual (Spanish and English) health care programs such as the ESL Certified Nursing Assistant and Language Interpreter for Health Services programs, as well as experience hands-on exploration of technical diploma programs in Automotive and Diesel Technology. Other offerings include a small business workshop, a panel discussion on "life inside MATC" by Latino students, information on adult continuing education classes and on how to apply and register for classes and programs at MATC.
Nathalia Hernandez is a second-year Liberal Arts Transfer student at MATC who is planning on continuing her studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in international studies. A native of El Salvador, she says she didn't have experience with the U.S. educational system before she came to MATC, so the support she received was important. She is one of the members of Orgullo Latino, a group for Latino students at MATC, who will be on hand at the workshop to talk to potential students.
"There's a lot of support here if you know what's here and how to find it. We know that many Latino students have to acclimate to a new culture as well as college. We want them to know they're not alone. There are many Latino students at MATC."
This year, the college will introduce participants to several bilingual "career-laddering" certificate programs in supervisory management, office support skills, early childhood education and Microsoft Office products, designed to help them advance in the workplace and transition into advanced educational programs.
Instructors in both the Diesel and Automotive Technology programs will be on hand to talk to those interested in opportunities in the field. MATC offers a two-credit Diesel Technology course taught with Spanish interpretation. The course credit can be applied to the two-year program.
The cost for the workshop is $16.71 for the day and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and childcare services. To register, interested individuals can stop at the registration window on the first floor of the Downtown MATC location, 211 N. Carroll St., Madison or visit the South Madison Community Campus at 2300 S. Park St., Madison (in the Villager Mall). For more information, contact Valentina Ahedo at (608) 246-6461, Suset Laboy Perez at (608) 255-0426 or Maria Bañuelos at (608) 246-6460.
MATC is one of the largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges. It provides “real world smart” education through 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 offers associate degrees, vocational diplomas and certificates, and non-degree courses in more than 140 programs of study. The college serves all or parts of 12 counties located in south-central Wisconsin and offers instruction through five campuses and numerous community locations throughout the district.
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Last
Modified:
June 4, 2007
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