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MATC HONORS 120 AT HIGH
SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CEREMONY
From
Civil War to a U.S. Diploma: Sudanese Immigrant Receives Equivalency Diploma
Every graduation can
be emotional. But emotions often run especially high for those receiving
their diplomas at Madison Area Technical College (MATC)'s high school
equivalency ceremony. This ceremony marks a great accomplishment for the
many people, who for a variety of reasons, haven’t followed the traditional
educational process. On May 30, Madison Area Technical College (MATC)
honors students who have completed requirements for a high school option,
including the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED), the General Educational
Development (GED) certificate and the External Diploma Program (EDP).
The cap and gown ceremony will be held at 7:00 PM in the Mitby Theater
on the MATC-Truax Campus, 3550 Anderson Street. A reception in the cafeteria
will follow the ceremony.
This year’s ceremony
will include the largest number of participants to date. In addition to
the 120 graduates, approximately 700 guests are expected to attend. Among
the graduates is James Nyang, a Sudanese immigrant. The civil war and
political unrest in Sudan led Nyang to flee his homeland. His challenging
journey led him to Kenya where he worked with the UN before coming to
the U.S. Nyang’s family is still in Sudan, but because there is no
embassy or political relationship between the U.S. and Sudan, he is unable
to bring his mother, brothers or sister to this country.
Several of Nyang’s
friends from Sudan had relocated in Madison and they referred him to MATC
and the HSED program. To receive his diploma, he had to demonstrate competency
in math, reading, writing, social studies, literature, health, civics
and employability skills. Nyang currently works in the physical plant
department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hopes to continue
his education, possibly in the health field. Nyang will be speaking briefly
at the ceremony.
Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
will give the keynote address. Dr. Ladson-Billings is a professor in the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and a former Senior-Fellow in Urban Education at the Annenberg Institute
for School Reform at Brown University. Her research interests focus on
the relationship between culture and schooling, and in particular, successful
teaching and learning experiences for African American students. Her publications
include Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children,
the Dictionary of Multicultural Education (with Carl A. Grant),
Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms
(May 2001) and numerous journal articles and book chapters.
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 southcentral 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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