Celebrating
2009/2010 Gateway to College Graduates
Graduation from high school is an
important accomplishment for any student. However, for Gateway students, who have often overcome tremendous academic and
life challenges, the milestone is even more significant.
Between Summer 2009 and Spring
2010, about 350 students
graduated from Gateway to College programs across the
country, earning both a high school diploma and substantial college credits. We extend our heartfelt
congratulations to these students and wish them well as they continue their education and pursue
challenging careers!
Following is information on Summer 2009 - Spring 2010 graduates. In some cases, the numbers reflect projections for Spring term which have not yet been confirmed.
Mount Wachusett Community College GtC graduates  |
Front Range Community College GtC graduates  |
City
College of San Francisco - 1 graduate
 Graduate
in the spotlight: Barclay
This Spring, Barclay became the
first student to graduate from the Gateway to College (GtC) program at City
College of San Francisco. Through GtC,
he earned 60 high school credits, 21 college units, and maintained a 2.7
GPA. Barclay plans to continue his
education at Skyline College and then hopes to transfer to a four-year university.
College
of The Albemarle - 12 graduates
 Graduate
in the spotlight: Will
Will
entered College of The Albemarle's GtC program in Fall 2008, with 12 high
school credits and a 2.6 GPA. During his two years in Gateway, he earned
17 high school credits and 30 transferable college credits (with a 3.53 college
GPA). Will was on the Dean's list for the Spring 2010 semester, having
earned straight A's. He has been motivated to learn about music theory in
two difficult classes, and has stretched his skills from that of a novice
guitar player who could not read music into a competent music composer.
Will currently operates his own computer repair business and plans to pursue a
career in that field. He will continue his pursuit of an associate's
degree in applied science at COA, then hopes to transfer to the University of
Virginia to major in computer engineering.
Community
College of Philadelphia - 11 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Hareece
Hareece started Gateway to
College in the Spring of 2007. He earned his high school diploma in December
2009 and continues taking classes at Community College of Philadelphia. He has accrued 65 college credits and has 9 classes left before earning an associate's
degree in facilities management. During his time in Gateway, Hareece worked to support his wife and two
children. He also provided positive leadership to fellow
Gateway students and helped tutor his peers in history. After completing his associate's degree, Hareece
plans to pursue his bachelor's degree in facilities or construction management.
Front
Range Community College - 9 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Karla
Karla was a member of Front Range
Community College's first Gateway to College learning community in the Fall of
2008. During the program, Karla
maintained a 3.2 GPA, while working and raising her daughter. She completed her
high school diploma requirements and graduated in August 2009. After graduating from GtC, Karla continued at
Front Range Community College and earned her nurse's aide certificate in
December 2009, and is currently working
as a nurse's aide. Karla plans to begin
taking classes again at Front Range in Fall 2010 to complete the prerequisites
for the nursing program.
Georgia
Perimeter College - 9 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Joshua
Joshua enrolled in GtC at Georgia
Perimeter College in Fall 2006 with a 1.47 GPA and 15.5 high school
credits. Prior to his enrollment in GtC,
he unexpectedly lost his father - his center and stabilizing force. Joshua,
a promising athlete and star student, lost focus while his widowed mother
struggled to provide for her family on one income. He graduated in
December 2009 with a 2.95 GPA and 45 college credits. Joshua continued
at Georgia Perimeter and will graduate with an associate's degree in December
2010. He plans to transfer to the University of Georgia in the Spring to
major in psychology.
Holyoke
Community College - 30 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Christina
Christina was a member of Holyoke's
inaugural Gateway to College learning community in Fall 2008. Since then, she
has earned 14 high school credits and 32 college credits, while working
full-time and living on her own. Christina has maintained a 3.2 GPA, is
valedictorian of her class, and was accepted into Holyoke's veterinary technician program, which only admits 30 students every two
years. She
has since begun a full-time job at the local animal shelter which allows her to obtain internship credit toward her planned major.
Massasoit
Community College - 15 graduates
 Graduate
in the spotlight: Clarissa
Clarissa enrolled in the GtC
program at Massasoit Community College in Fall 2008. She has been a
mentor in the program for the past two years, and was one of the establishing
members of the GtC Leadership Committee. In addition to lending support to her fellow students, taking full-time
classes, and being a single parent, Clarissa also works full-time. In
December 2009, she completed her CNA requirements, and graduated with a 2.93
GPA and 39 credits toward her associate's degree. Clarissa plans to complete
her education at Massasoit Community College before transferring to a four-year institution
to complete a degree in nursing.
Monroe
Community College - 3 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Chelby
Chelby enrolled in GtC at Monroe
Community College in June 2008, and has since earned 13 high school credits and
65 transferable college credits. She
graduated with a 3.41 GPA, was enrolled in multiple honors courses during the
program, and plans to continue taking honors courses as she works toward her
associate's degree. During her time in Gateway,
Chelby maintained high grades while working full-time, and over the past year,
got involved in a fitness program and shed over 80 pounds. She's taken on the role of mentor and coach to
other students who wish to improve their health and wellness, and has
been an inspiration to her peers. Chelby
plans to continue her education in veterinary science at the University at
Buffalo once she completes her studies at Monroe.
Montgomery
College - 36 graduates
 Graduate
in the spotlight: Lawrence
Lawrence entered Montgomery
College's Gateway to College program during the Spring 2007 term. During his
enrollment, he worked full-time and became the guardian of his younger brother. Lawrence was
inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, joined the Renaissance
Scholars honors program, and recently won the highly competitive Jack Kent
Cooke Foundation Scholarship, which will provide up to $30,000 each year for
tuition, books, and living expenses to use at the four-year transfer
institution of his choice. In May 2010, Lawrence earned his associate's degree,
graduating with honors from Montgomery College with a 3.48 GPA. He has been accepted and plans to attend
George Washington University in Fall 2010.
Mount
Wachusett Community College - 23 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Lauren
Lauren enrolled in the Gateway
to College program in Fall 2007. She was determined to work at a fast pace and has become the
first Gateway student at Mount Wachusett Community College to simultaneously
complete her associate's degree and high school diploma. Lauren graduated with a cumulative GPA of
3.12, and plans to transfer her credits to a private college to pursue a
bachelor's degree in the communications field. In addition to her academic
studies, Lauren contributed to the college's literary journal and participated
in many activities associated with the broadcasting and electronic media program.
Palo
Alto College - 29 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Joseph
Joseph enrolled in the GtC program
at Palo Alto College in Fall 2009. Since
then, he has earned 10.5 high school credits, 32 college hours, and maintained
a 3.78 GPA. As a learning community leader,
Joseph motivated his fellow "teammates," and six of them graduated right
alongside him. Joseph has been a guest speaker for several GtC
functions, and achieved the President's honors list on two occasions. He plans to enlist in the U.S. Air Force and
continue his education to ultimately become an officer in the Air Force.
Portland
Community College - 57 graduates
 Graduate
in the spotlight: Raniece
Raniece began in Gateway to
College in Fall 2006 at the age of 16. While in Gateway, she worked two
part-time jobs and made it on the honors list several times. In the Winter of 2008, Raniece experienced a great tragedy when her fiance took
his own life. She dropped her classes and it took almost a year before
she was able to focus on her education again. With much support from her
friends, family, and resource specialist, she regained her strength and
determination, and graduated in March 2010 with a high school diploma, 61
college credits, and a 3.0 GPA. Raniece is currently working on her associate's degree in business administration
at Portland Community College and will soon transfer to Portland State University to major in marketing.
Riverside
City College - 31 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Jesse
Jesse enrolled in
Gateway at Riverside City College in Fall 2008. He had less than one year of high school credits, and was
facing three years in prison. During his time in GtC, Jesse completed his probation, earned 144 high
school credits and 36 college credits, all while keeping a full-time job. His employer made him the lead technician due
to his expertise and reliability. Jesse needs
less than one year of additional coursework to complete the requirements for an
associate's degree at Riverside City College. He then will pursue sound engineering at the Los Angeles Recording
School in Hollywood, California.
San
Antonio College - 70 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Itamar
Itamar was born in Mexico, and was raised in the U.S. by relatives under very harsh and abusive
circumstances. Attempting to ease her pain,
Itamar got involved in drugs and gang activity. Finally, after marrying, Itamar gave birth to a son, which provided motivation
to return to school. She enrolled in GtC
at San Antonio College, and recently graduated with 27 college
hours. Her future goals include additional education in the study of
psychology. She would like to help others who have lost hope and need a sense
of direction. "Throughout my life, I was
forced to learn how to defend myself, since no one would do it for me. I got married and now have my children who
have become my inspiration to keep on coming to school and to give them the
life I always wished to have."
Savannah
Technical College - 7 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Amber
Amber was a member of the first
Gateway to College learning community at Savannah Technical College's Effingham
Campus in Winter 2009. Since then, she earned 5.5 high school credits and
30 transferable college credits, all while suffering a difficult
pregnancy. Amber earned her high school diploma in Summer 2009 and is
scheduled to begin classes toward a nursing degree in Summer 2010.
St.
Louis Community College - 5 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Joshua
Joshua was in the first GtC
learning community at St. Louis Community College (STLCC) in Fall 2008. During
his time in GtC, he earned 17 high school credits, 45 transferable college
credits, and maintained a 4.0 GPA. Joshua also worked three part-time jobs to help support his family's
income, was hired as a math tutor at STLCC, and was the president of the STLCC
chess club. He was recently elected as
the regional vice president for Phi Theta Kappa (Eastern Missouri), earned the
K. Ann Dempsey scholarship, and is eligible for the Danforth scholarship. He will complete his associate's degree
by Fall 2010 and hopes to attend Washington University for undergraduate, and
then Harvard Law School for his J.D. degree.
Tri-County
Technical College - 7 graduates
Graduate
in the spotlight: Elizabeth
Elizabeth entered Tri-County
Technical College's Gateway program in the Spring of 2009. She wrapped up her
first semester with straight A's and never looked back. Her resource specialist
said recently, "I've never been more impressed with a student's commitment to
getting an education." Her daughter is one reason for such a strong commitment. Elizabeth graduated with her high school diploma and 29 college credits in May 2010. She is continuing her studies toward an associate's degree in Tri-County's
science program, and working part-time this summer as a "graduation buddy" to
assist students in their last semester of the Gateway program. Elizabeth plans
to earn a bachelor's degree in environmental science and pursue a career in
natural resources.
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Gateway to College 10
Year Anniversary
Gateway to College was originally developed at Portland
Community College (PCC) in 2000. To mark
the 10 year anniversary of Gateway to College and related PCC Prep alternative
programs, PCC held a celebration on June 4 at its Cascade
Campus. The event kicked off with a
barbecue, music, and dance performances, and was followed by a formal program
featuring student speakers and remarks from PCC President Preston Pulliams, Nan
Poppe (retired president of PCC's Extended Learning Campus), and Portland Public Schools Superintendent
Carole Smith. A graduation ceremony recognizing
the 2009/2010 academic year graduates from PCC Prep programs capped off the
evening.
PCC's Gateway to College program started with three partner
school districts and 19 students, but has since served nearly 2,000 students in
the Portland metro area through partnerships with eight districts. "We were a team of people trying to solve a
student need," said Program Director Linda Huddle, the remaining founder at the
PCC Gateway to College program. "It has been 10 years of really hard work. But
then there has been all of this achievement that the students have made as they
have become active private citizens. They are overcoming great challenges in
order to catch up and surpass their peers."
National replication of Gateway to College began in 2003. "Thousands of young people across the country
are now benefiting from the program," said Laurel Dukehart, President of Gateway
to College National Network. "What started in Portland 10 years ago has
blossomed into a national strategy working with well over 100 school districts
in 16 states, and spawned an independent nonprofit organization to coordinate
the effort."
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Staffing Update from the National Network Office
From left to right: Paul Clayton, Missi Hegland, Jennifer Alkezweeny, Ashley Wilkins  |
In March, Jennifer Alkezweeny joined the National
Network team as Manager of Training
& Site Support, and will focus primarily on Project DEgree. Previously,
she worked as Coordinator of Portland Community College's Service Learning
Program, where she helped faculty and nonprofit community partners create
service-based experiential learning activities for students. Jennifer holds a master's degree in communication from Portland State University and a bachelor's degree in interpersonal communication from the University of Alaska.
Paul Clayton came aboard in early May as Coordinator of Program Evaluation &
Database Design. He will focus on providing Gateway program directors and
resource specialists with a more secure, scalable database platform to manage
student data. Prior to joining the
National Network, Paul designed and managed the database for the Alaska Salmon
Program, a fisheries research program at the University of Washington. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics
from the University of Washington.
Missi Hegland, who was hired by the National Network
in February 2010 as Assistant of Finance, graduated on June 13 from Portland State
University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting. On June 14, she
became a full-time employee.
Ashley Wilkins, who was originally hired as Assistant
for Organizational Development in August 2009, was promoted to Coordinator of
Grant Reporting & Organizational Development on June 1. She will coordinate the monitoring and reporting on deliverables related to the
National Network's grant funding and increase her support to the
National Network's President and Board of Directors.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
July 26-28, 2010: Peer Learning Conference
Location: Keystone, Colorado
Details: For more information, go to PLC info page
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