One goal of higher education is to prepare students for their careers. When students get hired before they even graduate, it’s a credit to both the student and the college.
Two Blackhawk Technical College students from the Accounting program shared their stories about how they will be moving on to new careers immediately after graduation.
Matheny chose a flexible future
The first is Avonte Matheny, a Beloit native who graduated from Beloit Memorial High School before coming to Blackhawk.
“I chose Blackhawk Technical College because it was close to home and well-known in the community. It was often highly mentioned by several of my high school teachers, particularly for its Criminal Justice program, which I initially pursued,” Matheny said.
While he liked Criminal Justice, his personal goals changed, and he ultimately chose to enroll in Blackhawk’s Accounting program.
“Accounting stood out as a stable, white-collar option that would give me flexibility in the future,” he said.
In May, Matheny will graduate with an associate degree in Accounting and an Accounting Assistant embedded technical diploma. And he already has a job.
Back in November, after a couple rounds of interviews, he was hired as an accounting assistant by General Beverage, which is based in Madison. He started work on Dec. 1, 2025, and has since been busy filing invoices, posting journal entries, running financial reports, managing fixed assets and more.
“Blackhawk has played a major role in helping me reach my goals. The Accounting instructors bring real-world experience and diverse backgrounds, which helped me build a strong foundation in the material. More importantly, the relationships I developed with my instructors gave me the confidence to push myself, ask questions and fully understand concepts that I might not have otherwise. That support system has been key in my growth both academically and professionally,” Matheny said.
Franks is a problem solver
The second is Sarah Franks, another student graduating with an associate degree in Accounting, also has a job lined up.
“I chose Blackhawk because of its convenient location and all the different course options as well as flexibility with MyEdChoice and evening courses,” she said. “I was drawn to the Accounting program because I've always been interested in work that involves problem-solving and critical thinking. It's a practical field that has strong career opportunities and is stable for the long-term.”
The employer that snatched her up is Industrial Supply Association (ISA), a trade association that connects all partners within the industrial supply channel. Franks is the new membership coordinator and supports the association’s finance department as well as its revenue growth department.
“Blackhawk has helped me achieve my goals by providing a strong academic foundation through its program. It emphasized practical applications and real-life scenarios, making the learning experience meaningful. The program also offered valuable opportunities through the internship, and the course content was relevant, well-structured and easy to follow,” she said.
Find out more about Blackhawk’s Accounting program