• 'The things we do without the fear of failure and the desire for success are the purest acts we'll ever do” ― Alan Moore
The student news site of Milwaukee Area Technical College

MATC Times
MATC music teacher and local artist Keshena Armon performs a set at the Summer Solstice Music Festival
Summer Solstice Music Festival : A photo gallery
Mexico fans protest rough play from the South African team
2026 FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Mexico vs South Africa
Participants work the crowd at the 2026 Milwaukee Pride Parade
Milwaukee’s Pride Parade: A photo gallery
MATC Times Writer Faith Jenkins has money on his mind.
MATC Times Graduate Spotlight: “Faith” Jenkins
MATC administrators participate in a pride flag raising ceremony at the Downtown Campus
MATC kicks off Pride Month with flag raising ceremony
Mexico fans protest rough play from the South African team
2026 FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Mexico vs South Africa
Graphic courtesy of MATC Athletics
A first for MATC’s softball program
Attalie Hord playing Overlord on MATC's Esports team. Photo provided by MATC Athletics.
Embracing Esports
Photo of Jayden Hackett courtesy of MATC Athletics
MATC’s Jayden Hackett selected for 2026 NJCAA All-Star Game
MATC Coaches discuss the game plan during a doubleheader against Dupage.
Stormers split doubleheader vs DuPage
MATC music teacher and local artist Keshena Armon performs a set at the Summer Solstice Music Festival
Summer Solstice Music Festival : A photo gallery
MATC Times Out & About: Rochambo
MATC Times Out & About: Rochambo
Graphic created by Google Gemini
Still Learning
Landmark Credit Union Live is a new concert venue in the Deer District.
New Kid on the Block: A music monopoly comes to Milwaukee
Graphic created by Emma Turk. (Emma graduated in May 2025.)
Words Sing
Noah Thomson is the illustrator and creator of Film Facts Trivia. Other students may create questions.
Film Facts Trivia – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
Noah Thomson is the illustrator and creator of Film Facts Trivia. Other students may create questions.
Film Facts Trivia – The Princess Bride
Noah Thomson is the illustrator and creator of Film Facts Trivia. Other students may create questions.
Film Facts Trivia:Titanic
Noah Thomson is the illustrator and creator of Film Facts Trivia. Other students may create questions.
Film Facts – 7
Noah Thomson is the illustrator and creator of Film Facts Trivia. Other students may create questions.
Film Facts Trivia – 6
Illustration by Noah Thomson
Kung Fu Critters
Snow Angel: Sending warm, magical winter wishes! by Autumn Melody (Sultan), MATC Times Magna Illustrator
Snow Angel: Sending warm, magical winter wishes!
Kung Fu Critters: Ready, Fight 3 by Noah Thomson
Kung Fu Critters: Ready, Fight 3
Kung Fu Critters: Ready, Fight 2 by Noah Thomson
Kung Fu Critters: Ready, Fight 2
Kung Fu Critters, Ready, Fight 1 by Noah Thomson
Kung Fu Critters: Ready, Fight 1
Connor Servais, MATC Times Managing Editor, engages with two Jehovah’s Witnesses on the 3rd floor of MATC’s S Building.
Freedom vs. Faith: Do you have a few minutes to talk about free speech?
Marianna (Mari) Darrington is a freshman pursuing an associate degree in music occupation. She poses with the book she wrote Unhidden Faith Identity And Becoming Me.
Wanna write a book? These two did
It is believed that colors – like those projected on this photo at the Met in NYC – likely decorated the temple of Dendur when it was built 2,000 years ago, but have since eroded away.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A writer’s perspective
Street performers report for duty in Times Square. March 6, 2026.
Financial Freedom and the Gig Economy
MATC Times News Editor Connor Servais waits for food he's ordered from a street vendor. He 'haggled' over the price, when he got his order which is something he wanted to do while in New York.
Intangible souvenirs: What I took home from New York
MATC Times Writer Faith Jenkins has money on his mind.
MATC Times Graduate Spotlight: “Faith” Jenkins
Photography graduate Juan Carlos "JC" Wood shares a laugh with current photography student Emma Guzman
MATC Times Graduate Spotlight: “JC” Wood
MATC's Spring 2026 Commencement
MATC Spring 2026 Commencement: Photo gallery of graduates
Dental Hygiene program award winners give their speeches at the pinning ceremony
Dental Hygiene graduates participate in the Spring 2026 Pinning Ceremony
Photography graduate Cierra Pleshette Wilson hands out freebies at gallery night.
MATC Times Graduate Spotlight: Cierra P. Wilson
View of the Catherine Lechmaier Makerspace located in the library of MATC’s Oak Creek Campus.
Wait, MATC has a Makerspace? Yes, and I think it deserves more love
Letter to the Editor: Why do Jehovah's Witnesses have space outside Downtown Campus third-floor cafeteria?
Letter to the Editor: Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses have space outside Downtown Campus third-floor cafeteria?
This photo depicts a student using AI to write a paper. The AI graphic was created by Kenya Johnson.
Artificial A’s: How AI hinders honest students 
The hallway leading to the Jury Management office and Assembly room in the Milwaukee County Courthouse can be seen on the right.
When duty calls: Performing your civic duty
The MATC Times was given permission to publish this photo from the Facebook page of Milwaukee-based music marketing and promotions executive “KB ThePlayMaker.”
Black history: History in motion
Car Show on Saturday at MATC's Oak Creek Campus
Car Show on Saturday at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus
Photo of the Open Mic event at the Oak Creek Campus provided by MATC Employee Mark Medved, who is co-Advisor for Rainbow Alliance and Imaginative Fiction, and an MATC Alumn.
Open Mic event at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus
Participants of the Flavors, Fabrics, and Facts event pose for a photo, May 6, 2026
Flavors, Fabrics, and Facts: MATC’s Asian Affinity Group celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Month
An employer greets prospective candidates at the Barber and Cosmetology Employer Marketplace, April 27, 2026.
MATC’s Barber and Cosmetology department hosts Employer Marketplace
Members of MATC's Rohingya Student Association pose for a photo on their Spring Break trip to New York. Photo shared by Khin Maung Aye, President Rohingya Student Association.
Journey to New York: Strengthening Rohingya groups resolve
MATC music teacher and local artist Keshena Armon performs a set at the Summer Solstice Music Festival
Summer Solstice Music Festival : A photo gallery
Mexico fans protest rough play from the South African team
2026 FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Mexico vs South Africa
Oak Creek Campus Car Show, Saturday, May 30
MATC hosts Campus Car Show
MATC administrators participate in a pride flag raising ceremony at the Downtown Campus
MATC kicks off Pride Month with flag raising ceremony
Car Show on Saturday at MATC's Oak Creek Campus
Car Show on Saturday at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus
An employer greets prospective candidates at the Barber and Cosmetology Employer Marketplace, April 27, 2026.
MATC’s Barber and Cosmetology department hosts Employer Marketplace
Students and alumni attend a Career & Internship Fair at the Downtown Campus on September 30.
Career fairs at Downtown Campus this week
Employers answer questions at a career & internship fair at the Oak Creek Campus.
Oak Creek Campus hosts first career fair of the semester
Graphic from MATC's The Week Ahead electronic newsletter
Fall Career Fair: Oak Creek Campus
A new Career Closet will be filled with professional clothing that MATC students can wear to interviews. The new space is part of the updates to the Student Resource Center (SRC) in S215 at the Downtown Campus.
Student Career Closet: Opening soon
Graphic created by Hannah Bleske.
Why so SAD?
The Wheel of Life is commonly used in life coaching spaces. Paul J. Meyer created the original Wheel; this image is a modification provided by MATC Bilingual Retention Coach Samantha Burgos.
Get radical about wellness: Take a pause
Students participate in creating vision boards with guidance from MATC Retention Coach, Samatha Burgos as part of a Creative Space Mindfulness event at the Downtown Campus in the Fall 2025 semester.
Mindfulness Creator Space: Helping students establish a healthy mindset
To achieve a healthy diet, you’ll need to do some planning and research. Photo Illustration provided by Cierra Pleshette Wilson.
Make your New Year’s resolutions meaningful and stress-free to benefit your mental health
AI generated graphic as directed by Zanaia Joshua
Domestic Violence Awareness: Every minute, an average of 20 people are abused
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell poses for a picture while stocking the community fridge at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges on feb 27, 2026, in Milwaukee, WI.
Efforts to fight Milwaukee neighborhood food deserts
A young guest can’t hide his excitement at the Wisconsin Bakers Association Paczki Party and Mardi Gras Dessert Tasting Experience in Franklin, WI.
Pączki Party & Mardi Gras Dessert Tasting Experience
Anonymous MATC Dietetics students answer your diet dilemmas and help you can make wise choices.
Diet Dilemmas: Is Calorie Tracking Worth It?
Connor Servais’s family’s pumpkin dip served for Thanksgiving holiday
Pumpkin Dip: A fall treat
Students in Culinary Fundamentals worked together to create seven different egg dishes. This class was highlighted in a feature about MATC's Culinary Arts Program in the MATC Times print publication.
What’s on the menu in Culinary Fundamentals? 
A shared kitchen area outside of rooms at Westown Green apartments
Westown Green needs to reconsider housing criteria
Students watch a Conflict Resolution presentation conducted by MATC Student Ombudsperson Yolanda Hodges.
Westown Green: Some love it, some loath it
MATC student move-in day
MATC student move-in day
On Campus Housing
Student Legal Clinic
Don’t rent trouble
The student news site of Milwaukee Area Technical College

MATC Times
The student news site of Milwaukee Area Technical College

MATC Times

Summer Solstice Music Festival : A photo gallery

by Dwight Williamson, Editor-In-Chief
June 14, 2026
Photo by Dwight Williamson
MATC music teacher and local artist Keshena Armon performs a set at the Summer Solstice Music Festival
SummerSolstice2026_14
Photo by Dwight Williamson
Milwaukee Rapper BLAX performs a set at the 2026 Summer Solstice Music Festival

Every year festival season kicks into full swing in mid June. One of Milwaukee’s staples is the Summer Solstice Music Festival sponsored by The East Side Business Improvement District. This festival features food, vendors and musicians on five different stages. Check out our photo gallery from this years event.

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MATC Times Out & About: Rochambo
MATC Times Out & About: Rochambo
Graphic created by Google Gemini
Still Learning
Landmark Credit Union Live is a new concert venue in the Deer District.
New Kid on the Block: A music monopoly comes to Milwaukee
Graphic created by Emma Turk. (Emma graduated in May 2025.)
Words Sing
Everyone on the Masquerade stage won some type of cosplay award at AMKE 2026, based on the intricate details of their outfit, from best use of materials and creativity to the best skits preformed on stage.
AMKE 2026: Always something new!
Tequilia Lewis serves up a green smoothie at the MATC State Street Coffee Shop. In the month of March, people like to try green drinks. Some are healthy, like the smoothie, others aren’t like St. Patrick’s Day mocktails and cocktails.
St. Patrick’s Day: An Irish holiday reinvented in America
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Mexico fans protest rough play from the South African team
2026 FIFA World Cup Watch Party: Mexico vs South Africa
Oak Creek Campus Car Show, Saturday, May 30
MATC hosts Campus Car Show
MATC administrators participate in a pride flag raising ceremony at the Downtown Campus
MATC kicks off Pride Month with flag raising ceremony
Car Show on Saturday at MATC's Oak Creek Campus
Car Show on Saturday at MATC's Oak Creek Campus
Veterans Resource Center honors Memorial Day, Thursday, May 21
Veterans Resource Center honors Memorial Day, Thursday, May 21
Elizabeth Kamprath, a photography graduate, engages with a guest.
MATC’s Portfolio Night highlights the next generation of creatives
More in Music
Fear EP cover
Face fear with Fear EP: A euphoric roller coaster
MATC Instructor Steve Peplin warms up outside the recording studios located in M170 at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus. The guitar is his favorite instrument. In addition to teaching, he plays in 10 bands.
Hitting all the right notes – Steve Peplin shares his love of music with MATC students and audiences
MATC students gather around the audio board to watch a recording session in instructor Matt Smith's class. He is having a student ‘tweak the EQ’ on the track, which adjusts the frequency levels on the equalizer.
Bands jam sessions in the M Building – Downtown Milwaukee Campus
A large screen on the right of the stage during Salt-N-Pepa’s performance at Wisconsin State Fair on August 4.
Shaggy and Salt-N-Pepa performance
B.Justice performing on the main stage at the Bronzeville Cultural & Arts Festival in Milwaukee on August 6.
Bronzeville Week Festival
As the night falls, fans enjoy the performance of famous DJ Steve Aoki on the first night of Summerfest 2022. Aoki brought energized crowds and high expectations for the rest of this year’s music festival.
Featured Flashback - Summerfest 2022 top crowds during the week