MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome back from spring break! I hope you’re refreshed, renewed, and ready to resume what you do best–transform lives, one at a time.

Women’s Basketball Team
Congratulations to the women’s basketball team. They made it all the way to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III national championship game! The Lady Wolfpack fell just short in the final—but they had a remarkable season. This is the program’s sixth national tournament appearance and the fifth in the last seven years! Congrats to head coach Jessica Pelzel and Athletic Director Steve Hauser.
 
Convocation Questions and Answers
During Convocation, we tried to answer as many of your questions as possible on issues affecting MATC. Our executive team was able to update you on such things as the future of the Mitby Theater, possible job cuts, and the new Westside campus. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and could not answer all of your questions. But don’t worry, we’re hoping to answer those remaining questions on MATC Matters. Stay tuned for more information.

Devi Bhargava Memorial Award
Don’t forget—the deadline to nominate a student and faculty/staff member for the Devi Bhargava Memorial Award is noon on Monday, March 30. The award honors a graduating student with a disability and a faculty or staff member who demonstrates special understanding and support for students with disabilities. Devi Bhargava worked at MATC from the early 1980’s until she died from cancer in 1999. As a legacy to her work with people with disabilities, her family and friends created a memorial fund in her name.

MATC Marvels
When I talk to students and hear about their favorite teachers, I also ask them to tell me about anyone at MATC who has especially helped them or been kind to them. Here are the names mentioned to me most recently:
Scott Ritter, disability resource liaison
Brian Short, music
George Alexander, math

More MATC Marvels
Thank you to the faculty and staff who helped with the mid-semester convocation. If you missed the presentation or want to see it again—it’s available online. 

The next time you’re at the State Capitol—stop by Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton’s office (Room 16 East). From March 20 through April 16 you’ll find “The Magic and Mystery of Cherokee Marsh� through the lens of MATC photography instructor Mario Quintana. Mario recently received a first place award in Wisconsin Trails magazine’s annual photography competition!

Highlights of my past two weeks:
• visited with the Lodi School District Board along with MATC District Board trustee Jim Cavanaugh to talk about enhancing our services and partnerships with the District (this is one of a series of board-to-board outreach visits we are making to every one of our 40 school districts);
•with Bob Dinndorf, presented our case for support to the Madison Club Foundation Board. We were one of three finalists chosen as a possible recipient of money raised during the Madison Club’s upcoming fund raising event. Although Porchlight homeless shelter was selected as the recipient, we were asked to be the beneficiary of a celebrity chef’s dinner in June;
• met with members of the Reedsburg community prior to the district board meeting held at our Reedsburg Campus;
• met with City of Fitchburg Mayor Tom Clauder and members of his cabinet;
• addressed the college community at our mid-semester convocation;
• attended the WTCS Presidents monthly meeting;
• taped, “For The Record� which aired Sunday;
• met with Student Senate President Jason Humke as the senate prepares for their annual report to the MATC District Board on April 8th;
• greeted leaders of our Native American community leaders at their annual Councils of Color meeting; and
• attended the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Lakeland College where our own Denise Reimer was named student of the year. Denise is graduating in May with her Master’s and has maintained a 4.0 average throughout her studies.

I leave you with this quote from Winston Churchill:

“We make a living of what we get. We make a life of what we give.�

Bettsey