Caitlin Campbell, a student in the Montgomery County Community College Gateway to College program, received her associate's degree in Liberal Studies before graduating high school. Photo by Linda Johnson.
While many teens disregard parental advice, Caitlin Campbell wholeheartedly accepted it.
In doing so, Campbell, 18, of Lower Gwynedd, graduated in May from Montgomery County Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies – before receiving her high school diploma.
“My mom went to Montco a year early, back when she was in high school,”” Campbell said of her mother’s support of her educational journey
By enrolling in MCCC’s Gateway to College program, Campbell was able to finish high school and her first two years of college simultaneously. The program held a graduation ceremony on the Blue Bell Campus May 20.
“She found the program for me,” Campbell said of her mom. “I thought it was a good idea for me and went through with it.”
Campbell, who was homeschooled for her high school studies, will continue her college career at the Harrisburg Campus of Penn State University this fall, before transitioning to Penn State’s Main Campus thereafter.
“I’m really excited,” she said. The Liberal Studies designation “would best suit my career path in business,” providing her with “more transferrable credits.”
Campbell has dreamed of being a pilot for longer than she can recall. Initially, she had planned to join the military and become a pilot through her service. She has since decided to focus solely on piloting a commercial airline.
“I love traveling and I would love to do that for my job,” she said.
Still, having a backup plan is important, which is why Campbell intends to work toward a bachelor’s degree in business. “It’s just good to have.”
Through the Gateway to College program, which MCCC launched in 2013, faculty and staff from the College help students from 23 area school districts who have disengaged from high school complete the requirements they need for their high school diploma and earn college credits. Since launching at the 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.
For Campbell, the program helped her to “get ahead of everything.”
“It allowed me to get ahead of all my other classmates who are just graduating high school,” she said. “I was able to get a bunch of my gen ed classes out of the way.”
The workload was challenging, but possible. Campbell enrolled in five MCCC courses per semester and took two classes over the summer as well.
“It was a lot, but I got it done,” she noted.
What would she say to someone contemplating Gateway to College?
“I would say it’s a little intimidating at first, but it is definitely worth it,” Campbell said. “The people there are some of the most supportive people I’ve ever met.”
MCCC’s Gateway to College Program Manager Michelle Kulla helped Campbell “through everything.”
Campbell had a course with Math Senior Lecturer Stephanie Wuertz during her first semester and “kept coming back for help afterward.”
While taking calculus, Campbell sought out Wuertz for tutoring assistance.
“We would make time to go over things,” Campbell said. “She just explains everything beautifully. It just makes sense.”
Speaking of calculus, Campbell enjoyed both of the calculus courses that Math Associate Professor James Muscatell taught.
“It was a small class, but he was super supportive,” Campbell says.
Similar to the educational support she received from her mom, Campbell credits Gateway to College with connecting her to “a very supportive group of people
that were really trying to help me succeed in college.”
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.
For more information about the Gateway to College program, contact Gateway to College Program Manager Michelle Kulla.