Celebrating 2010/2011 Gateway to College Graduates   

For many, it was a day they never dreamed would come. Yet 415 young people graduated from Gateway to College programs across the country during the 2010/2011 academic year. These students completed the program with a high school diploma and a substantial amount of college credits, but equally important, they emerged with a renewed sense of belief in themselves and what they can accomplish. 

Below are the stories of a few of this year's graduating class. Their persistence and achievement in the face of setbacks are an inspiration to us all, and we congratulate each and every graduate on their accomplishments. 

City College of San Francisco - 7 graduates

College of The Albemarle - 5 graduates

Community College of Philadelphia - 15 graduates

Essex County College - 27 graduates

Omar

Graduate in the spotlight: Omar

Omar enrolled in Essex County College's Gateway to College program in the spring of 2010. He struggled during his high school years, facing both expulsion and several suspensions. Omar experienced personal issues that affected his academic performance and ability to maintain a positive perspective in life. His life's ordeals steered him to gang affiliation and the streets, a path that was leading him nowhere. However, with his first child on the way, Omar was determined to earn his high school diploma to change his trajectory in life. He excelled far beyond the expectations of those who knew him in the past. In addition to earning his high school diploma this past June, Omar accrued 28.5 college credits during his enrollment in Gateway to College. He plans to continue working on his associate's degree at Essex County College and is considering majoring in Business Administration.

 

Front Range Community College - 48 graduates  

 

Georgia Perimeter College - 6 graduates

 

Holyoke Community College - 19 graduates

Graduate in the spotlight: Carmen

Carmen enrolled in the Gateway program in 2009. She graduated this spring with 24 college credits and a 2.9 GPA. She loved her Introduction to Criminal Justice course, saying, "The more I learn about [the subject], the more I want to be in that field." She will return to Holyoke Community College in the fall to major in criminal justice. Carmen hopes to intern with a corrections officer next spring and play college basketball. After she completes her associate's degree, she plans to attend Westfield State College.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology - 10 graduates

Graduate in the spotlight: Mariah

Mariah was a member of the very first Gateway to College cohort at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. She completed the Foundation term with a 3.9 GPA and enrolled in the multimedia design and production program. Upon earning her high school diploma, Mariah will have accumulated 73 credits towards an Associate in Applied Science degree with a cumulative college GPA of 3.5. She expects to attain her associate's degree in 2012 and plans to pursue a bachelor's degree after working as a graphic designer. 

Laney College - 3 graduates

Massasoit Community College - 27 graduates

Monroe Community College - 5 graduates

Montgomery College -  20 graduates   

Zita (right) on an alternative spring break trip, where she helped beautify a neighborhood block in Philadelphia.

Graduate in the spotlight: Zita 

In high school, Zita didn't feel connected to her peers, and when her family fell into financial hardship, she started working to help pay the bills. When she realized that she was too far behind to graduate on time, she applied to Gateway to College at Montgomery College.

Zita was drawn to the student service learning activities offered through Montgomery College's Student Life office. In a service learning trip to the Red Wiggler Farm in Clarksburg, Zita was exposed to organic farming, a solar home, and community supported agriculture. As she planted seeds and harvested crops, she "saw that by doing something little, she could make a big difference." She later participated in other campus events organized by the college community, including the alternative spring break trip to Philadelphia to clean up a run-down neighborhood and paint a mural. Montgomery College staff were so impressed by her sense of responsibility and reliability, they hired her to work in the Gateway office.  

Through her service learning activities, Zita developed a confidence and sense of purpose in her school work, in particular in her fine arts classes. She completed her graduation requirements in May 2011 with 36 college credits and a 3.02 GPA. Zita continues to study art at Montgomery College and hopes to transfer to a four year institution in the future.   

Mount Wachusett Community College -  25 graduates

Bryan

Graduate in the spotlight: Bryan 

Bryan enrolled in Mount Wachusett Community College's Gateway program in the fall of 2010. He graduated this spring with a GPA of 3.67 and gave the valedictorian speech at the Gateway commencement ceremony. During the two semesters he was enrolled in Gateway, Bryan earned 25 college credits toward an associate's degree. He plans to continue at Mount Wachusett Community College and study broadcast engineering. Through his research project for his Career Research, Development and Portfolio Design class, Bryan received an internship at FATV, a local television studio.  

Palo Alto College - 42 graduates

Portland Community College -  56 graduates

Pueblo Community College - 22 graduates

Riverside City College -  23 graduates

Sarah

Graduate in the spotlight: Sarah

Sarah began the Gateway to College program in fall 2008. She persisted with her education despite frequent setbacks with health and attendance issues that led her to repeat three classes. Sarah earned As the following semester in all three of these classes. She graduated in June 2011 with a 3.625 GPA and 33 semester credits towards an associate's degree. Sarah plans to complete an Associate in Math and Science degree at Riverside City College before transferring to Hollywood's Elegance International School of Professional Makeup.

San Antonio College - 33 graduates

Savannah Technical College -  5 graduates

Craig

Graduate in the spotlight: Craig

Craig entered Gateway to College as a seventeen year old with 16.5 high school credits. Initially, he found the rigor of the classes overwhelming; however, he quickly became a model student. Craig says, "I am more responsible and more mature." Craig, who graduated in June 2011 with 53 college credits, plans to pursue a job as an electrician.     

Spartanburg Community College - 4 graduates

Kendra

Graduate in the spotlight: Kendra 

Kendra enrolled in the Gateway to College program at Spartanburg Community College in fall 2010 and immediately demonstrated her academic ability by earning a 4.0 GPA during her first semester. She continued to excel in the program while balancing the challenges of being a single mother of three, working part-time, and taking full-time classes. Kendra's positive attitude and determination led her to graduate in May 2011 with a 3.4 GPA. She plans to pursue an Associate in Nursing degree this fall.

St. Louis Community College -  3 graduates

Tri-County Technical College - 10 graduates

Hannah

Graduate in the spotlight: Hannah

Hannah, a single mother, enrolled in Gateway in summer 2010 and championed her way through her first semester with all As, winning a "Shining Star" award for her academic diligence. She continued to thrive in the college environment and even tested out of an entire semester of algebra by excelling in one of Tri-County's "jumpstart" math courses. Before graduating from Gateway, she earned 27 college credits and a GPA of 2.78 while planning her wedding. She plans to continue taking classes at Tri-County to complete the remaining courses required for a dental hygiene associate's degree before transferring to Greenville Technical College.  

2011 Peer Learning Conference Focuses on The Power of Persistence       

Sponsored in part by:   

Three hundred people from across the country gathered in Philadelphia on July 18-20 for Gateway to College National Network's 7th annual Peer Learning Conference. Participants included faculty and staff from Gateway to College, Project DEgree, and Innovation Collaborative partner colleges, K-12 leaders, Gateway and Project DEgree students, and National Network board members and staff.  

Dr. Hrabowski gives his keynote address

The conference kickoff included welcome remarks by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and a keynote presentation by Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, III, President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Dr. Hrabowski's research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He spoke passionately about the importance of thinking big about new approaches to empowering students to succeed and backed it up with stories from students at his institution. Above all, Dr. Hrabowski left us with the message that we, as a Network, are on the right track with our approaches to teaching, learning, and support and inspired us to take our practice to the next level.

Participants had additional opportunities during the conference to hear from guest speakers with expertise in the education field. The second day plenary session featured Dr. Angela Oriano-Darnall from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Oriano-Darnall presented data from the student and faculty surveys administered by CCCSE and highlighted the most salient practices that may help improve outcomes for community college students. Rachel Singer from Kingsborough Community College offered several workshops on developing effective, sustainable learning community programs. Additionally, 35 program directors/leads from Gateway and Project DEgree programs attended a pre-conference training on Communities of Practice. The training, facilitated by Dr. Peter Noonan, assistant superintendent for instructional services at Fairfax County Public Schools, focused on how the tenets of Communities of Practice (Professional Learning Communities) can be employed to support a culture of excellence and student achievement.

Participants engage in an interactive workshop

Peer-to-peer learning is a key component of the conference. This year, 23 workshops were led by faculty and staff from Gateway and Project DEgree programs covering a variety of topics related to instruction, student support, and effective program management. The National Network's instructional coaches also delivered numerous workshops on solution-focused approaches and learner-centered instructional strategies.    

Networking and community-building are also central to the Peer Learning Conference experience. Participants had opportunities to connect with peers during meal times, social events, and a series of "job-alike" sessions where participants in similar roles shared their experiences, ideas, and goals for the coming year. On July 18, the National Network and the Community College of Philadelphia co-sponsored a reception on the decks of the Moshulu, a tall ship from the early 1900s that has been converted into a restaurant moored on the banks of the Delaware River. The following evening, Lois Orner and Kris Barnum of the National Network led 30 participants on a walking tour of historic Philadelphia. 

Students explain how GtC has changed their lives

To ensure that the student perspective is represented, Gateway and Project DEgree programs are encouraged to bring one to two students or recent graduates to the Peer Learning Conference. Twenty students participated this year, meeting and interacting with peers from across the country and lending their voices to important discussions. During a lunchtime student panel, six young people candidly shared their challenges, experiences, and aspirations for the future. The panel was incredibly inspiring and, according to attendees, a highlight of the conference.

Each year, the National Network and its partner programs invest considerable effort into planning the Peer Learning Conference. Judging from participant feedback, the conference is a worthwhile investment.

"As always, the PLC was very well organized, informative, energizing, and inspirational for me and for our team. Thanks for your hard work in making it so!"

"This was my first PLC. I was impressed by the quality of the content and integrity of the community."

"The PLC is a very inspiring place to learn, re-energize, and come up with new ideas to improve student outcomes."

"I always gain valuable learning tools and feel rejuvenated to go back and use the 'best practices' at home. It's good to see old and new faces coming into the network. Thank you for another great conference."

Our sincere gratitude to all who helped make the conference a success, with special thanks to the Walmart Foundation for their generous sponsorship and the Community College of Philadelphia for serving as the local program host. 

 

In 2011, the National Network launched a new initiative for colleges interested in innovative approaches to increasing student success in developmental education. The Innovation Collaborative goals are as follows:

• pilot strategies for effectively scaling innovation in developmental education,
• provide training and support for faculty to act as catalysts of change and innovation in developmental education,
• implement and sustain learning communities for institutional impact,
• and provide a forum for academic and student services staff to identify new ways to collaborate for students' benefit.   

Gateway to College National Network provides each participating college with a start-up grant of $25,000, plus several two-day trainings, and customized support from an instructional coach.

During the first phase of the initiative, participating faculty members work in pairs using project-based learning to integrate their curriculum and create a learning community. In the second phase, the initial faculty members receive training on how to lead their peers through the curriculum integration process, so they may scale learning communities within their institution.

Chattahoochee Technical College (GA), Community College of Philadelphia (PA), Hinds Community College (MS), Mesa Community College (AZ), Pima Community College (AZ), and Scottsdale Community College (AZ) were selected in January 2011 to participate in the Innovation Collaborative. These colleges will begin implementing their learning communities this fall. 

An additional six colleges were selected in April 2011:  

• Cayuga Community College
  Auburn, NY

• Community Colleges of Spokane, Institute for Extended Learning
  Spokane, WA

• Corning Community College
  Corning, NY

• Gateway Community and Technical College
  Covington, KY 

• Monroe Community College
  Rochester, NY

• Mountain View College
  Dallas, TX

Project DEgree and Gateway to College Students Double Their Efforts, Double Their Impact 

Beverly, a Project DEgree student, spends time with an R.N. Harris student

Durham Technical Community College is one of five schools across the country that offers a Gateway to College and Project DEgree program. While both are part of Gateway to College National Network, the programs are distinct enough that a healthy and friendly rivalry recently developed around a unique community service project.   

Students from the Durham Tech Gateway and Project DEgree programs collected box tops, bottle caps, and juice pouches to raise money for nearby R.N. Harris Elementary. Between the two programs, the students amassed approximately 3,600 items. Through programs such as Box Tops for Education, Labels for Education, and TerraCycle, these items were traded in for cash that will allow R.N. Harris to purchase needed school supplies.

The Project DEgree students proudly claimed victory in the competition, but it's difficult to find any losers. Students from both programs expressed satisfaction with being able to make a difference, and thanks to the Durham Arts Council, the money they raised will be matched dollar for dollar in grant funding.  

In the February newsletter, we hinted that an additional Gateway to College partner may join the network before the end of the academic year. We are pleased to announce that Florida State College at Jacksonville will join Camden County College, Highline Community College, El Paso Community College, and South Texas College as our newest Gateway to College partners.

All of these colleges have been working with our support staff to prepare for the 2011/2012 school year. We are proud to partner with Florida State College at Jacksonville and look forward to sharing their successes in newsletters to come.    

Staffing Update from the National Network 

This summer, four new staff members joined the National Network team. In July, Emily Rico was hired as the Partner Support Assistant to work directly with the Gateway to College and Project DEgree initiative support teams. She received a BA in Music from the University of Portland in 2008 and has several years of administrative experience through positions at the Archdiocese of Portland and the University of Portland.   

Jahsulynn Ault started the same day as Emily, and together they staff the reception area. As the Organizational Development and Evaluation Assistant, Jahsulynn supports the Communications and Organizational Development team as well as the Research and Evaluation team. Since completing her BA in History from Lewis and Clark College in 2010, she's worked at Free Geek as a non-profit apprentice and volunteer coordinator, held a nine month internship at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, and completed a certificate in Independent Publishing from the Independent Publishing Resource Center, making her well suited to bridge the broad scope of work performed by both teams.

Daniel Couch is the newest member of the Communications and Organizational Development team, coming on board as the Organizational Development Coordinator in August. He assists with communications, strategic planning, and development projects. He completed his MA in English at Portland State University in 2009 and teaches writing at Chemeketa Community College on the weekends.

Herman Kahaloa, the Program Evaluation and Data Systems Training Coordinator, rounds out the new additions. He will train staff at partner colleges on gathering and using data to support the continuous improvement for which we all strive. Herman is currently completing his Bachelor of IT Project Management at ITT Technical Institute. He previously worked at Portland Public Schools and brings a valuable classroom and administrative perspective to the Research and Evaluation team.