Milwaukee Area Technical College

MATC is the region’s leading workforce development college, equipping over 30,000 students every year in more than 180 programs with the skills and expertise needed for today’s changing workforce. It’s also the most diverse higher education institution in the state.

“Our vision is to be the best choice in education, where everyone can succeed and every student feels welcome,” says Anthony Cruz, MATC’s president. “And we have the support in place that allows every single student to succeed.” 

Such is the case for Ankur Kaushal and Hallee Tretow, two students with completely different career paths who developed the skills and the knowledge they needed inside MATC classrooms. 

Tretow is a welder who graduated in May with an associate degree in Welding Technology. While completing her degree, she worked full time at Wisconsin Stamping & Manufacturing in Germantown and is now part of the less than 8% of welders who are women. 

“The amount of career opportunities really expands when you get that extra schooling,” says Tretow. “Demand for welders is very high, and job security is a big thing for me.”

Kaushal was student speaker for MATC’s 2024 winter commencement after he graduated with his Associate of Science degree and a 4.0 grade point average. He had only arrived in the United States a year prior, after studying at the Punjab State Aeronautical Engineering College in India. After taking an anatomy and physiology class, he changed his path.

“It was very interesting to learn how everything works in the body. It’s a marvelous piece of engineering, and the parts all work together as one. I was hooked,” Kaushal says. Kaushal is now earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing and pharmacy and then will move on to medical school. 

“With 91% of students staying right here in Wisconsin, MATC plays a critical role in sustaining the local economy by preparing future engineers, health care professionals, technology experts, hospitality professionals and more,” says Cruz. “Without students like Ankur and Hallee, businesses struggle to find qualified workers, and the city’s growth and momentum can fall behind.”