MATC celebrates non-traditional students on path to a new career

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) celebrated some adult students on a journey to a brighter future.

"Here it is, I'm 54 years old, and I'm starting a new career," Eddie Knox said.

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Knox and 12 other students graduated from MATC's Integrated Education Training (IET) Program.

"The IET program is an opportunity for students that are in GED, HSED, adult high school, or ESL to take college classes concurrently. It is a free opportunity, so our students can earn up to 6 credits to transition into an academic program or the workforce," IET Coordinator Isamary Reyes said.

The free program helps non-traditional students overcome the obstacles that may have held them back in the past.

"It allows students to have that opportunity to have college-level classes with support classes. That means that our faculty understands that our students are coming back to school, and they need that extra support. Those wrap-around services to be successful," Reyes explained.

For Knox. the past couple of years have been filled with challenges.

"On Jan. 4 of 2022, I was shot 11 times in my truck," he said.

The aftermath of a brutal attack left Knox with nothing. Jobless and lost, his mother inspired him to take his life back.

"I should've been dead, but hey, I survived," he said. "I came down to MATC. I enrolled in some classes. Here I am 10 months later, walking out with my high school diploma. I'm walking out with two college credits."

Now, he is on the path to a new career in computer science.

"As you can see, everyone is guaranteed to graduate if you work hard at it," he said.

The free program has two career pathways: Office Technology Assistant and Healthcare Customer Service.

"It takes grit. It takes relicense. It takes a lot of determination," Reyes said. "When I hear those stories, I just feel that fuel to keep doing what we do for our community. MATC does transform lives, community, and industry, so it just motivates me to keep spreading the word and trying to recruit students and helping them transition into the workforce."

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