For the fifth consecutive year, the Gateway to College Program at Montgomery County Community College has earned the national Achieving the Dream (ATD) Program Excellence Award for helping students achieve academic success.

Gateway to College is an early college program that helps young people reengage with their education and launch postsecondary careers while completing high school diplomas.

The Program Excellence Award recognizes the positive outcomes for the participating students in the Gateway program at MCCC. ATD presents the award to  institutions that have exceeded all four performance benchmarks established by the Gateway to College network: first-term success, one- and two-year persistence rates, and three-year graduation rates.

Of the 28 colleges in the Gateway network, MCCC is one of only nine to have exceeded all four benchmarks to receive a Program Excellence Award in 2023.

Founded in 2000, Gateway to College is an early college program model supported by ATD that facilitates sustainable, revenue-sharing partnerships between local colleges and school districts.

Since MCCC launched the program in 2013 at its Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses, 256 students have received their high school diplomas, converting their pathways and redefining their futures.

“The Gateway program is transformative for students, who have the opportunity to not only complete their high school diploma while earning college credits, but also believe in themselves and their success,” said Michelle Kulla, Gateway Program Manager. “Receiving this award for five consecutive years illustrates Montco’s commitment to young people in the community and the ongoing work and dedication of Montco’s talented Gateway team.”

MCCC’s Gateway team includes Program Manager Michelle Kulla; Resource Specialists Esau Collins and Simeon McCray; and faculty Dr. Judith Higgins, Michael Baron, Karen Harding-Tasca, David Pica, Stephanie Wuertz, Susan Testani, Tracey Fida, and Dr. Victoria Vetro.

MCCC’s Gateway Program is one of only two programs in Pennsylvania and is among 28 national programs in 19 states across the country. It is one of the first colleges to be a Bellwether finalist, a national award that recognizes programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to foster or support teaching and learning.

A total of 21 school districts – Boyertown, Cheltenham, Colonial, Daniel Boone, Exeter, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Norristown, North Penn, Owen J. Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove, Souderton, Springfield, Spring-Ford, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, Upper Perkiomen and Wissahickon – and Montco Works, the County’s Workforce Investment Board, collaborate with MCCC, referring students to the program.

Additionally, partners Waste Management, PECO, Univest, TD Bank, the Kahn family, the Maguire Foundation, the Malik family, Ambler Savings, Thompkins VIST Bank, First Priority Bank and the Gateway to College National Network have provided financial support for the program and student scholarships.

For more information about MCCC’s Gateway to College Program, contact Gateway Program Manager Michelle Kulla at mkulla@mc3.edu.