Montgomery County Community College celebrated 17 students who graduated with their high school diplomas from the Gateway to College program on the Blue Bell Campus on May 20. Photo by Linda Johnson
For the members of Montgomery County Community College’s Gateway to College Class of 2026, graduation day was a moment to celebrate the hard work and perseverance it took to achieve success in the classroom. The College recognized the achievements of the 17 graduates during a ceremony in the theater at Montco Cultural Center on the Blue Bell Campus on May 20.
The Gateway to College Program and its experienced faculty and staff help students who have disengaged from high school complete the requirements they need for their high school diploma and earn college credits. Since MCCC launched the program in 2013 at its Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses, 307 students have earned their high school diplomas, transforming their pathways.
MCCC’s Gateway Program earned the national Achieving the Dream Program Excellence Award for eight consecutive years for its success in helping students reach their goals. Gateway is part of the Achieving the Dream national network that promotes community college reform and student success.
Michelle Kulla, Gateway to College Program Manager, congratulated the graduates for
overcoming many obstacles this year to achieve their goals.
“Challenges including heart break, holding multiple jobs, keeping up on rent and bills, housing lapses, grief, anxieties and others,” she said. “These young people worked hard to rewrite the script on their education, and I could not be prouder. You fought for this and I hope you’re proud of yourselves.”
During her remarks, Dr. Vicki Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President, congratulated the graduates
for pursuing their dreams.
“You believed in yourselves even in the darkest of times,” said Dr. Bastecki-Perez, “You kept going when the road was bumpy and uncertain. And you found the courage to push past self-doubt, even on the days when it felt easier to stop. You showed up. Sometimes because someone encouraged or nudged you, but you did it, and that’s the heart of the Mustang spirit.”
Dr. Rosann Bar, MCCC Dean of Academic Innovation, reminded the Class of 2026 to remain
committed to achieving their dreams in the future.
“Set your goal, follow your north star and always move forward with positive direction toward it,” she said. “The corollary is grit. Stay determined and focused on your endgame, no matter what barriers you meet along the way.”
José Castillo, a former Gateway to College student and current MCCC Life Sciences (A.S.) major, told the graduates to be proud of all they had accomplished.
“You are not ordinary students,” he said. “You are thinkers, builders, dreamers who are already reaching beyond what is familiar. You are a wave of innovators pushing against the edge of what it known; hungry to explore ideas and possibilities that others might not fully understand.”
In her closing remarks, Cat Cave, Gateway to College graduate from Methacton High
School, said reflecting on her time in the program has allowed her to fully appreciate
all that she and her classmates have accomplished.
“It was such a gift,” she said, “and such a treat to be here. I’m so proud of all of us.”
The graduates include the following students from the participating school districts:
Cheltenham: Saeeda Haidari, Dayna Miller
Commonwealth: Therese Aaron,
Homeschool: Caitlin Campbell
Methacton: Cat Cave
Upper Merion: Corjae Butler, Gemy Cifuentes, Sanaye Lowry, Katie Prendergast, Jahira Thomas
Wissahickon: Devin Bell, Lillian Ebner, Kimoni Hall, Link Matozzo, Britt McKinney, Kyla Remar, Geoffrey Simon
A notable achievement among the graduates includes homeschooled student, Caitlin Campbell,
who received her Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from the College a week
before graduating from the program and receiving her high school diploma.
Seven graduates will continue their education at MCCC, three graduates will enter a trade program, two are undecided, one is transferring to a four-year institution, and four graduates are entering the workforce. In addition to receiving their high school diplomas, each graduate earned between 9 to 63 credits.
Five special awards were presented to several outstanding graduates. The Change of Heart Award was presented to Corjae Butler. The Most Determined Award was presented to Cat Cave. The Perseverance Award was presented to Britt McKinney. The PECO Rising Stars were Kimoni Hall and Dayna Miller. The Transition Student of the Semester Award was presented to Caitlin Campbell and Therese Aaron.
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 23 school districts – Abington, Boyertown, Cheltenham, Colonial, Daniel Boone, Exeter, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Methacton, Norristown, North Penn, Owen J. Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove, Souderton, Springfield, Spring-Ford, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, Upper Perkiomen and Wissahickon – collaborate with MCCC, referring students to the program.
Additionally, PECO has provided financial support for the program and student scholarships.
For the last 12 consecutive years, Gateway to College has received a $10,000 grant
from PECO as part of its “Building Exelon's Future Workforce” grant that assists with
local institutions that offer STEM and educational enrichment opportunities.
MCCC’s Gateway team includes Program Manager Michelle Kulla; and Psychology Senior Lecturer Michael Baron, English Senior Lecturer Tracey Fida, Theatre Regular Lecturer David Pica, Math Senior Lecturer Stephanie Wuertz and English Associate Professor Dr. Victoria Vetro.