PATH TO THE FUTURE
19 students of Gateway to College earn high school degrees
Nineteen students from 14 school districts proudly received their high school diplomas following completion of the Gateway to College Program at Montgomery County Community College. Their families, friends and supporters applauded as they crossed the stage and moved their tassels.
“Graduates, you should be proud of yourselves today and every day. Your perseverance to change the course of your lives is admirable,” said MCCC President Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez. “You can trust that your education through the Gateway to College Program has given you a solid foundation to confidently continue your journey, whether you are pursuing further education, heading into the workforce or developing other plans.”
The Gateway to College Program and its dedicated faculty and staff help students stay on track to complete the requirements they need for their high school graduation and earn college credits. Since MCCC launched the program in 2013 at its Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses, 231 students have earned their
high school diplomas, transforming their pathways. Gateway is part of the Achieving the Dream national network that promotes community college reform and student success.
The recent graduates include Taofiq Adedokun, Colonial; Latavia Andrews, Pottsgrove; Noelle Baehr, Wissahickon; Marquis
Bartlett, Daniel Boone; Braden Calabretta, Wissahickon; Asarel Carroway, Upper Merion; Aiden Coughlin, Wissahickon; Alexandre Edelstein, Cheltenham; Theo Estes, Phoenixville; Carolina Fajardo, Pottsgrove; Shane Fowler, Colonial; Angela Holmes, Upper Perkiomen; Gabriella Martinez, Wissahickon; Taylor Miller,
Spring-Ford; Tyler Moccaie, Daniel Boone; Aidan O’Connor, Perkiomen Valley; Arnaya Pendergrass, Wissahickon; Dariana Rojas, Upper Merion; and Kirsten Wnuk, Phoenixville.
Fourteen of the graduates will be continuing their education at either MCCC or another college, and five will be entering the workforce.
Students who earned a 3.5 high school GPA and/or 3.0 college GPA received a certificate from Achieving the Dream and Gateway to College National Network. Recipients are Taofiq Adedokun, Noelle Baehr, Braden Calabretta, Aidan Coughlin, Carolina Farjado, Alexandre Edelstein, Gabriella Martinez and Arnaya Pendergrass.
Special awards were presented to several graduates. The Most Determined Award, which is presented to a transition student who maintains enrollment in all courses despite challenging academic courses and/or life circumstances, went to Asarel Carroway.
The Change of Heart Award, which is awarded to a student who changes their approach to learning and becomes a successful learner, went to Tyler Moccaie.