Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Gateway to College program was selected as one of the top 10 Bellwether Finalists at the 2018 Community Colleges Futures Assembly conference held Jan. 28-30 in Orlando, Fla.

The University of Florida’s College of Education annually presents the Bellwether Awards to recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future.

MCCC’s Gateway to College program was selected as one of the top 10 national programs in the Instructional Programs and Services category. This category recognizes programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to foster or support teaching and learning.

Since its inception in 1994, the Futures Assembly has recognized pioneering college programs from institutions across the nation. This year’s 30 Bellwether Award Finalists, which were selected from more than 100 entries nationally, represent innovative organizational responses to emerging challenges. At the conference, the Bellwether Finalists presented their programs in one-hour sessions.

Part of a national network , MCCC’s Gateway program provides high schools students, who are not on track to graduate, with a pathway to complete their high school requirements, receive their diplomas and continue taking college courses—all with the guidance and support of MCCC’s dedicated staff and faculty.

Since MCCC launched the program in 2013 at its campuses in Blue Bell and Pottstown, 116 students earned their high school diplomas. Eighteen school districts collaborate with MCCC, referring students to the program. Additionally, community partners PECO, Wells Fargo, Univest and TD Bank have provided financial support for the program, as well as student scholarships.

“I believe the true success of the program is the tireless dedication of the entire team, and I cannot thank them enough for their work in supporting our students,” said Keima Sheriff, MCCC’s Director of Gateway to College. “We work together to make the goal of student completion the primary focus of the program.”

In March 2017, MCCC’s Gateway to College program was one of only eight programs nationwide to receive the Excellence Award from the Gateway to College National Network. The Network includes more than 40 programs at community colleges throughout the country. MCCC and the Community College of Philadelphia are the only two schools in Pennsylvania to offer the program.