Naomi Omoruyi
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Associate of Science
While at Milwaukee Area Technical College, I have had the privilege of serving as a District Student Association officer. In this role, I met Jerry O’Sullivan, a 74-year-old former MATC student who now helps and supports student government leaders nationwide. Before MATC, Jerry felt clueless about what to do with his life. The school gave him direction, helping him figure things out. He didn’t stop there. Instead of just taking what he learned and moving on, he gave back. He helped create the American Student Association of Community Colleges, now the largest student organization in the country.
Jerry shared an analogy that stuck with me. He compared community college to driving on the I-94 freeway. You can take an exit and start making money immediately with the skills you’ve gained, or you can stay on the freeway and keep climbing the educational ladder. You get to choose. That’s what makes technical education so valuable. It puts you in control, letting you decide how far you want to go. Unlike big universities, where you can feel lost in a sea of students, technical colleges provide a smaller, more supportive environment. Instructors know your name, advisors help, and the hands-on approach makes learning feel relevant.
Cost is another reason why traditional college doesn’t work for everyone. Four-year degrees can be expensive, leaving many students with huge loan debt that takes decades to pay off. Technical programs cost much less, and many last only six months to two years, meaning you can start working and making money much sooner. Skilled trades, healthcare and tech careers often offer competitive salaries, sometimes even more than jobs that require a bachelor’s degree. At the end of the day, school is supposed to prepare you for life. Technical education gives you real skills, real jobs and real opportunities. It’s a chance to build a career that fits your interests, pays well and doesn’t leave you drowning in debt. Success doesn’t have to come from a four-year degree. Sometimes, the smartest path is the one that gets you where you want to go faster and with fewer obstacles.
Ambassador Coordinator: Anne-Marie Bernard
Ambassador Nominator: Eric Hagedorn