Montgomery County Community College was not on David Light’s radar when he was a senior at Pope John Paull II High School. The Norristown native was looking to attend a four-year college when he did the math and began seriously considering Montco. With smaller class sizes, financial advantages and close proximity to his home, Light, now graduating with the Montco Class of 2019, views his time at Montco as “the best choice that I made.”

I want to thank Montco for providing a great experience. If I could speak to anyone on the fence about attending, there’s so much that Montco offers. Go to an open house, learn more about the school and just give it a try."

Light majored in Secondary Education with a focus on Math, citing a passion to become teacher that dates back to elementary school. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Light wants to create a space for LGBTQ youth to feel safe in his classes.

“I want to be a teacher and make an impact in someone’s life,” Light said. “I want to provide this space that I didn’t have when I was in high school.”

As a dedicated, full-time student with a part-time job off campus, many of Light’s fondest memories at Montco are of his classes in the Education Program. “Every single one of my education professors has impacted me in a different way,” he said.

In his final semester, Light took Teaching English Language Learners with instructor Dr. Donna Detommaso-Kleinert, who taught him the importance of being a facilitator for students’ abilities. Detommaso-Kleinert instilled the lesson that teachers “have to set expectations for every single student because every student has the potential to do wonderful things.”

Light’s dedication to his schoolwork led to his induction in Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges. As a member of PTK, he participated in the College’s International Night in April and worked on community service projects, such as making goodie bags for students and community members fullofschoolsupplies and health itemsthat they might not have.

On April 29, Light was awarded the GAMMA of Pennsylvania Award of Excellence, which is given to the PTK members who are continuing their education, and personify the hallmarks of PTK–leadership, scholarship, fellowship and service.

Light is humbled by the honor and appreciates the recognition. “It means that I’m working in the right direction and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” he said.

He will continue his education at Temple University’s College of Education in the fall of 2019, with the ultimate goal of becoming a math teacher. Light is grateful for his time at Montco, and he hopes that prospective students “give it a shot.”