Teacher Appreciation Week!

The work teachers do matters to students, and our communities. Let’s take a moment to say 'thank you'!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.  

MATC Accounting Programs Student Spotlight: Alla Baizuldina

Please meet Alla, who is a student and mentor in the Accounting program at MATC.  Thank you for sharing your INSPIRATIONAL story!

My name is Alla Baizuldina, and I am currently a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, pursuing an Associate Degree in Accounting. I moved to the United States three years ago after fleeing the war in my home country, Ukraine.

• Before coming to the U.S., I had a successful career as a Radiologist MD for nearly 15 years. Alongside my medical profession, my husband and I also founded and operated a small family-run healthcare business in Ukraine, which we managed for 17 years. 
• After arriving in the U.S., I completed five ESL courses within one year to strengthen my English skills and soon after decided to pursue a new professional path in accounting. I have always enjoyed working with numbers, solving problems, and paying close attention to detail—qualities that make accounting a great fit for me. It also offers strong career prospects. 
• In the Fall 2024 semester, I worked as an accounting tutor for the Accounting 1 course at MATC, helping other students understand key concepts. Most recently, I completed a full-time internship during the 2025 tax season at a small Accounting and Tax firm in Muskego, where I gained hands-on experience in tax preparation and client support. 
• In addition, I volunteered in the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program through my Applied Individual Income Tax class, providing free tax help to individuals in the community.
• My short-term goal is to gain more practical experience in the accounting field through part-time work while I complete my degree in December 2026. I want to apply what I’m learning in real-world settings. After graduation, I plan to work full time as a staff accountant or accounting assistant, with the long-term goal of specializing in tax accounting or small business financial services.
• Through my college experience, I hope to gain not only technical knowledge in accounting, but also the confidence and communication skills. MATC has given me the opportunity to learn from experienced instructors, connect with peers, and participate in hands-on programs like tutoring, internships, and volunteer work. 
• Outside of my academic and professional life, I enjoy a variety of activities that help me stay balanced and inspired. I love reading, enjoy art and music, and try to visit museums or cultural events whenever I can. Traveling is another passion of mine. I appreciate learning about different cultures and exploring new places. Most importantly, I deeply value spending time with my large family. It’s a source of strength and support for me, and I cherish the moments we share together.
• I am actively involved in volunteering with the Ukrainian community, contributing to different initiatives aimed at supporting my homeland during these challenging times. In addition, I volunteer at a local hospice, where I visit an elderly woman regularly to provide companionship and emotional support. 

MATC Accounting Student Spotlight: NaTalya Herrod

 

It's a new year--and an opportunity to let us share our NEW Student Spotlight series!  Please meet NaTalya (Tallie) who is a graduate and a tutor in the Accounting program at MATC.  Thank you for sharing your story!

• What is your name? NaTalya “Tallie” Herrod

• Where did you grow up? I grew up in the country. Houston Mississippi to be exact.

• What’s your work history? I’ve had a range of jobs since the age of 13. My very first “W2” job was a kitchen aide at a daycare and now I’m working as an Accounting Specialist for an investment firm.

• What brought you to MATC? Back in 2013, my job at the time closed up my department and sent it overseas and because of that, I was blessed to attend school for free.

• Why Accounting? Why NOT accounting! 😊 When I was a child, I always wanted a career where I carried a “briefcase” but didn’t have to work directly with too many people. Something that works the mind and gives me fulfillment. Once I started doing bookkeeping for my church, that was God’s confirmation. 

• When do you intend to graduate (or have you already)? I graduated in May of 2016 and have been working in my current position since April of 2016

• What are your career goals? I have goals to expand my tutoring to non MATC students as well as look into other fields of accounting. 

• What do you hope to gain from your college experience? I gained confidence. I was terrified of returning to school after being away for so long. I had a fear of failing because I tried accounting in high school and in my prior years of MATC and BOMBED! This time around was different, God blessed me to glean from a few very inspiring instructors. 

• What are your extracurricular activities and interests?  Jesus and naps!

• What are your community service experiences? Doing the Lord’s work

• Do you have any special talents or abilities? I’m somebody’s grandmother! HA! I like to sing opera, and I dabble in writing

• Is there anything else you would like to share with us? It’s ok to be scared, it’s ok to not know,

but if you seek God and allow Him to lead, He’ll always show you the way to go.

New Laptops Still Available for Acctg 122/130 Students!

Do you need a new/improved computer to use for Acctg class?  We still have about 40 BRAND NEW laptops available to be rented for 122 (Excel) and 130 (QBO) students. 

Students need to fill out this library checkout form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdkhIhdsyxfVik0u8StCMXJaJSywT46oz39TzXYt1ypJe-ocQ/viewform. Make sure to use your MATC email or it may be considered spam.

Let us know if you have any questions,

Erin and Nell

MATC VITA Updates! 430 clients and over 200 returns filed!

MATC Accounting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Updates!

Keep up the great work! 😀

MATC Accounting Student Spotlight

It's a new year--and an opportunity to let us share our NEW Student Spotlight series!  Please meet Mariel who is a current student and also a tutor in the Accounting program at MATC.

What is your name? 

My name is Mariel Farina.

Where did you grow up?

I am from Argentina and grew up in a city called San Francisco in Córdoba Province. 

What’s your work history?

My work history goes all the way back to when I was 10 years old. I started helping at my parents’ business since they didn’t have much help. Of course, I was only doing small tasks for about three to four hours a day, but it taught me responsibility and commitment. It also introduced me to a financial mindset early on—I would "work" and receive a reward. Over time, those rewards turned into a salary, teaching me the value of money and the importance of saving. 

I worked with them until I was about 17, then I started bartending. When I turned 18, I got a job at a clothing store while still bartending. At the same time, I started tutoring English since I was studying to become an English teacher.

Later on, I volunteered to teach English at a low-resource kindergarten /elementary school. I also became a bar manager and nannied four mornings a week. 

-When I was 24, I moved to the U.S. as an au pair, which is a cultural exchange program where I lived with a host family and cared for their children full-time (45 hours a week).

-Currently, I tutor accounting (ACCTG 111 and 121), and I absolutely love it! I also help with other classes I’ve taken if I’m familiar with the material.

What brought you to MATC? 

I first heard about MATC through a friend. When I started looking at majors, I decided to enroll here because it was an affordable option—especially as an international student, since I’m not allowed to work off-campus.

Why Accounting?

Initially, I enrolled in Banking and Financial Services, but I ended up developing a real passion for my accounting classes, so I switched majors. Funny enough, before I decided to study English back home, I had also considered accounting, but my love for English won at the time. 

When do you intend to graduate (or have you already)? 

This is my last semester for my associate degree, and I’ll be graduating in Spring 2025! 

What are your career goals? 

I want to gain experience working at an accounting firm. Maybe after that, I’ll finish my bachelor’s degree and, in the future, sit for the CPA exam. 

What do you hope to gain from your college experience? 

My goal is to develop more confidence, apply difficult concepts to real-world work, and gain hands-on experience. Since I’m in my last semester, I can proudly say that I have achieved—and am still in the process of achieving—all of that. 

What are your extracurricular activities and interests? 

I love taking my husky pup on walks and playing with him. I adore kids, so I still visit the families I used to nanny for. When I have time, I enjoy working out and playing (or at least trying to play) golf with my fiancé.  

What are your community service experiences? 

I’m not currently involved in volunteer work, but back home, I did a lot of charity work through my church. They had a center and home for people with mental disabilities, where we would organize games, sing songs, and sometimes cook. To raise money for the church and center, we sold desserts or roasted chicken. 

The kindergarten/elementary school where I taught English it was volunteer work. Every Friday morning, I planned lessons, brought snacks, and helped prepare lunch for the kids, as many of them didn’t have enough food at home. 

Do you have any special talents or abilities?

I’m great at acting! I loved performing in high school and have always been super expressive. When I was little, I actually wanted to be an actress or a singer… but my vocals didn’t quite back me up.

-One talent I do have is my ear for music. I used to play the keyboard, and I could pick up songs just by listening—I almost needed music sheets to figure out the notes. 

-I’m also an excellent storyteller. I can make a five-minute story last an hour—just ask my fiancé!

-When I used to go out with my sister, my mom would wait up for us since bars back home finish at 6am. She’d ask how our night went, and my sister would sum it up in two minutes. Meanwhile, I’d take 30 to 45 minutes telling her every little detail.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

The one thing I didn’t expect when I started studying was how incredible the faculty at MATC would be. The professors truly care and want their students to succeed, and that’s something I will always carry in my heart and be grateful for.

MATC VITA On the news! 2/12/25

 Volunteers are the heartbeat of free tax return preparation sites around Milwaukee

By: Andrea Albers

Posted 5:25 AM, Feb 12, 2025 

and last updated 5:25 AM, Feb 12, 2025

It's tax filing season, and this year, you have more options than ever before. If your taxes are really simple, DIY might be all you need. However — if you run a business or are self-employed, tax laws can be intricate. Or maybe you've made mistakes on past returns or are worried about potential audits. Those are all reasons to turn to a local professional. But it doesn't always have to cost you.

If you earned income from a single job, so you have just one W-2, and you have no dependents or significant deductions, preparing your own taxes will save you some money.

Watch: Should you do your taxes yourself, or hire a pro?

The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboarTaxpayers in 25 states, now including Wisconsin, can electronically file returns for free using the IRS Direct File Tool. There are no income restrictions.

Click here to answer a few questions to find out if Direct File is the right option for your 2024 taxes.

If you feel more comfortable handing things over to a tax pro, free tax prep is available thanks to volunteers like Mary Jo Driscoll.

"We can help people prepare their federal and Wisconsin tax returns," she said.

The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

"Our priority is 2024 but we will help people that need — maybe they didn't file last year, or the year before and need to catch up," said Driscoll. She is among the accounting students and volunteers at the VITA site at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Oak Creek. You can upload your tax documents online by clicking here or drop them off in person.