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MATC SPRING GRADUATION FEATURES
MANY SUCCESS STORIES
Graduates include former
YWCA low-income housing resident and several ‘all in the family’
graduations
On Saturday, May 19th,
success stories will fill the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center
during Madison Area Technical College’s (MATC)’s spring commencement
ceremony. Thousands will gather to celebrate the achievements of the 1757
students scheduled for graduation. Classmates span the generations --
from Generations X and Y up to a 79-year old Liberal Studies graduate.
The graduates’ fields of study range from accounting to welding and
their backgrounds and future plans are just as varied.
Speakers at the ceremony,
which begins at 10 a.m., include James Cavanaugh, MATC District Board
vice chair; Dr. Beverly Simone, MATC president; and Paul Shain, CEO Berbee
and a member of the MATC Foundation Board. Student Gayle Reierson has
been selected to present the main address, “Steps of Opportunity.”
Among the graduates,
252 will earn Academic Honors, which are awarded to students with a GPA
of 3.75 or higher in courses within their academic programs. MATC also
will recognize recipients of its annual Distinguished Teacher Awards,
Distinguished Service Citation and State Ambassador Award.
Fifty-eight students
will receive the Special Service Award, presented to students nominated
by at least two faculty members for service in student government, clubs
and activities; demonstrated leadership and initiative in the classroom;
and awards and accomplishments outside the college. Twenty-five graduates
are receiving both honors.
MATC’s spring
commencement speaker, Gayle Reierson, is graduating from MATC’s Computer
Information Systems-Operations Program. Reierson, a Columbus resident,
is employed at General Casualty in Sun Prairie as a computer operator.
She is president of Phi Theta Kappa, MATC’s academic honor society.
The MATC Foundation is recognizing four faculty members for exemplary
teaching and unique contributions to MATC. This spring’s Distinguished
Teacher Awards will be presented to: Alternative Learning Instructor Christopher
M. Page, Math Instructor Michael A. Bertrand, Veterinary Technician Instructor
Kay M. Bradley and Economics Instructor Frederick M. Arnold. The Distinguished
Teacher Awards, established in 1982, have recognized 50 faculty members
for contributions to the college and its students.
The Foundation also
recognizes outstanding individuals for their service and support to the
college. This year’s recipients of the Distinguished Service Citation
are the Spike Ehlers Family and the Madison Rotary Foundation, whose generosity
established the Lona M. Ehlers International Nursing Scholarship Fund.
Due to special gifts from Spike Ehlers and his son, David, the fund total
is nearing its initial $1 million goal.
The State Ambassador
Award annually recognizes one outstanding student from each Wisconsin
Technical College. As MATC’s ambassador, Shannon Luey will promote
technical education to the public and area businesses. A graduate of Columbus
High School, Shannon is pursuing an associate degree in the Medical Laboratory
Technician Program. She serves as vice president of MATC’s Medical
Lab Technicians club and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa. Shannon is employed
at Poser Clinic in Columbus and plans to pursue a career as a physician’s
assistant or medical microbiologist.
Other success stories
among this spring’s graduates include:
Jessica Landgraf’s
Journey from YWCA Housing to a National Business Competition
Jessica Landgraf had seen hard times when she started her education at
MATC. Two years ago, Jessica, a single mother, was living with her one-year
old daughter in a facility run through the YWCA’s Third Street Program.
She was determined to make a change.
“I knew I needed more education to be able to support myself and
my daughter and give her the life she deserves,” states Landgraf.
Two years later, she is receiving her accounting degree, interviewing
for jobs, and starting a new life.
In addition to caring for her daughter and attending classes, Landgraf
has been active in Phi Theta Kappa, MATC’s Academic Honor Society,
and the Business Professionals of America (BPA) student club. As a member
of BPA, she and her fiancée, Christopher Glass, competed in state
and national competitions with their design of a BPA Website. The couple
is returning from the BPA national conference in Annaheim, California,
where they were married Tuesday, just in time to attend graduation this
Saturday.
Ray Rollins
and Daughters
Ray Rollins, 44, took his final class at MATC with daughter Jessica, a
19-year old Fashion Marketing student, as a classmate. This Saturday,
Ray will share the stage with elder daughter, Melissa, as both take part
in the MATC graduation ceremonies this year.
Ray Rollins, a Verona
resident, is graduating with honors in Supervisory Management. He credits
the classes he had already completed at MATC as part of his degree program
with helping him land his current job as a production supervisor at Germania
Dairy Automation. Melissa, 21, is earning her associate degree in Liberal
Studies and plans to transfer to a four-year university to continue studies
toward a bachelor’s degree.
Ray Rollins notes
that even his wife, Penny, was attending MATC last semester. “My
wife took a class in computer programming and at that point we thought
maybe we should qualify for a family discount,” he joked.
Both Rollins daughters
are graduates of Verona High School. Jessica plans to graduate from MATC
within the next two years.
Three Dental
Hygienists Named Droessler
Graduation is a family affair for Angie, Mandy and Tatum Droessler. Not
only are they all graduating on the same day, but they are all graduating
from the same program. Twenty-six-year old Angie had previously started
but not finished an educational program in nursing. When her 22-year old
niece, Mandy, enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program at Western Wisconsin
Technical College, she decided to try the profession as well. After completing
that program, they applied at several colleges to enter dental hygienist
programs and both were accepted at MATC the same year. Little did they
know that their 26-year old distant cousin, Tatum, had enrolled in their
same class. Tatum, president of MATC’s Dental Hygiene class of 2001,
is graduating with academic honors.
Seventy-Nine
Years Young Maxine Wilke Earns College Degree
Education always has been very important to Maxine Wilke, but like many
in her generation, her formal education stopped when she graduated from
high school in 1940. Six years ago when Wilke’s beloved husband of
fifty years died after suffering for many years from Alzheimer’s
disease, the five Wilke children all knew their mother needed a new focus
in life. They encouraged her to finally continue her formal education
and she began taking classes at MATC. With a lifetime interest in art,
and part-time experience at MATC teaching rosemaling, Wilke concentrated
on art classes and soon dedicated herself to pursing an associate in arts
degree in Liberal Studies. This Saturday she graduates with honors at
the age of 79. Three generations and about 20 family members, including
twin daughters Jan Haag and Jean Hammen, who both work at MATC, will be
cheering their mother’s success and dedication from the crowd.
MATC is one of the
largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges.
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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Last
Modified:
September 17, 2001
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