MATC graduation marks a milestone for one graduate and his life-long mentor

Saturday, May 17, 2025 was a pivotal occasion in the life of Michael Jefferson. He walked across the graduation stage for Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, earning a degree in Electronic Engineering. But his milestone is more than an academic achievement—it’s the culmination of a journey marked by struggle, resilience, and unwavering mentorship. Michael attended Lincoln Middle School of the Arts, where he faced behavior challenges and many suspensions from the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). That was until he attended Ceria M. Travis Academy and met the school’s founder Dr. Dorothy Travis Moore. Dr. Travis saw something in Michael that others overlooked. Moving students from potential to performance was a goal of the academy. Thanks to Dr. Travis, Michael did not become another dropout statistic.

Throughout the ups and downs in Michael’s life, Dr. Travis was there to talk to him about his life issues and help him make a plan. One time while Michael in the military was stationed in Hawaii, and Dr. Travis just happened to be there on vacation and they reconnected.

Driven by a lifelong interest in technology, Michael subsequently enrolled at MATC. Even at the age of 40, he achieved his dream. To celebrate this momentous occasion he reconnected with Dr. Travis on social media and invited her to his graduation. “You’ve always been the one who believed in me,” he wrote to her. “You helped me understand myself as a black man and where I came from.”

Michael is a single father of three boys – Devin, business major in college is 20 years old, Charlie is 12 years old and Michael Jr., is 8 years old.