MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) will accept a $112,000 donation from Van Horn Latino, an automotive dealership, and from El Rey, a family-owned and operated grocer, to expand its DACA Plus Scholarship program, thus supplementing students’ college expenses toward earning a certificate or degree.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a U.S. immigration policy that allows eligible immigrants into the country for a period without fear of deportation, but those non-U.S. citizens are not eligible to receive financial aid.
The program is for new MATC students who are non-U.S. citizens and are not eligible for financial aid because of their DACA or undocumented status. MATC’s DACA Plus scholarship offers $500 per semester for eligible students taking 6-8 credits, $750 for 9-11 credits and $1,000 for 12+ credits.
Antonio Diaz, general manager of Van Horn Latino and a member of the MATC District Board, and Ernesto Villarreal, owner El Rey, will present the check to MATC President Dr. Vicki Martin at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 12, at MATC’s Education Center.
“The contributions from these generous businesses will allow eligible students to attend college and expand their career opportunities, said MATC President, Vicki Martin. “Without scholarships like ours funded by partners, attending college can be difficult for DACA students. This aids in their acclimation and helps students feel included and part of the MATC community.”
MATC’s DACA Plus Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for the Fall 2022 semester, applicants must complete a scholarship application and register for classes no later than July 30, 2022 at www.matc.edu/daca.
