One of a few fortunate students selected for assistance by the PACE program, Regina Allen, exemplifies everything MATC seeks to encourage: determination, drive, and effort to pursue one’s goals for a better future. The PACE program – Partners Advancing Careers and Education – provides assistance to students who are currently receiving food stamps. A number of support services, such as child care, transportation, counseling, heating and housing assistance, and more, are available to help program students like Regina Allen reach their potential.
A jack-of-all-trades, Allen’s interests are wide and varied; among them are history, reading poetry by Maya Angelou, singing in her church choir, and working with her hands. She is employed in the Women in Technology department and is also enrolled in the Preparatory Plumbing program from which she is set to graduate in May this year, but that’s not all; Regina is also working toward a certificate in welding and expresses interest in pursuing further degrees related to machining and technology at MATC in the future. Having grown up in a large household with eight brothers, Allen says they all enjoyed similar hobbies so it comes as no surprise that she’s comfortable entering into what is traditionally a male-dominated field.
When asked about her interest in subjects related to construction, Allen explained, “I like building things … working with my hands. If I could have built this school brick by brick, I would have loved that.” Candice Zielinski of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development says it’s exactly that passion and drive that makes Allen a phenomenal young woman. After meeting with Allen for the first time about a month ago, Zielinski said she was immediately impressed. “She deserves this. She’s working hard; she advocated for herself to come back here and change her life around.” Originally Allen enrolled in 2012 but didn’t even make it through one semester. “There were many hurdles I had to overcome; I got introduced into the wrong crowd, started doing all the wrong things,” said Allen.
Allen cited MATC’s dedicated and supportive staff as a reason she came back; “(they) have been very supportive, MATC has really changed my life.  I’m going in a completely different direction with what I was doing in the past. I used to be a very negative person but being here has been a very positive experience.”
Duane Shultz, associate dean and Pathways to Construction Trades (PaCT) project director, says when meeting Allen he was immediately reminded of last year’s Tech Scholar of the Year. “He was simply amazing … I see Regina sort of in that same mold.” Zielinski introduced Allen and said, “Duane, meet the student we’re going to spotlight.”

Schultz expresses that he typically works with students who are struggling, so it was refreshing to meet someone like Allen who’s doing well for herself. He and Zielinski agree that Allen is an exemplary young woman and they wish to see her succeed. “I want to be there to help promote her … everything was going against her, now everything is going for her; I want to give her confidence that she can do this, she can make it. MATC is behind her,” stated Zielinski.
If you are currently receiving FoodShare benefits and would like to learn more about your eligibility for academic assistance through PACE or FSET, you can inquire in room T140. Thanks to the PACE program, Allen and students like her can receive assistance in achieving their goals, but according to Schultz and Zielinski, students don’t always know when they’re eligible. Additionally, students who may be eligible can sometimes be hard to reach so they recommend keeping a consistent mailing address and phone number on file.
Regina’s story is a prime example that stepping outside of your comfort zone, taking risks, and being determined in the face of personal challenges, can pay off in big ways. In her own words Allen says, “we live and we learn … we fall to get back up, take the bad and create good.”