For 17 young people in Montgomery County, May 20 wasn’t just graduation day; it was proof that a detour doesn’t have to mean a dead end.
Montgomery County Community College honored the Gateway to College Class of 2026 during a ceremony in the theater at Montco Cultural Center on the Blue Bell Campus, celebrating students who overcame significant personal obstacles to earn their high school diplomas and college credits simultaneously.
“You believed in yourselves even in the darkest of times,” said MCCC President Dr. Vicki 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.”
What Is Gateway to College — and Why Does It Matter?
Launched at MCCC in 2013 across its Blue Bell and Pottstown campuses, the Gateway to College Program serves students who have disengaged from traditional high school. Through experienced faculty and individualized support, the program helps participants complete high school diploma requirements while simultaneously earning college credits.
Since its founding, 307 students have earned their high school diplomas through the program — transforming not just transcripts, but life trajectories.
Gateway to College is one of only two such programs in Pennsylvania and is part of a national network of 28 programs across 19 states. The program has earned the Achieving the Dream Program Excellence Award for eight consecutive years and was among the first college programs to be named a Bellwether finalist, a national honor recognizing innovative approaches to student learning and success.
Overcoming Real-World Obstacles
Gateway Program Manager Michelle Kulla didn’t shy away from acknowledging what these graduates faced on the way to the stage.
“Challenges including heartbreak, 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.”
Dr. Rosann Bar, MCCC Dean of Academic Innovation, urged the graduates to stay the course beyond this milestone. “Set your goal, follow your north star, and always move forward with positive direction toward it,” she said. “Stay determined and focused on your endgame, no matter what barriers you meet along the way.”
Former Gateway student and current MCCC Life Sciences major José Castillo offered a powerful message to his fellow alumni: “You are not ordinary students. 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 is known; hungry to explore ideas and possibilities that others might not fully understand.”
Graduate Cat Cave, from Methacton High School, closed the ceremony on a note of gratitude and pride. “It was such a gift and such a treat to be here,” she said. “I’m so proud of all of us.”
Meet the Class of 2026
The 17 graduates represented school districts from across Montgomery County:
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 standout achievement among the class: homeschooled student Caitlin Campbell received her associate’s degree in Liberal Studies from MCCC just one week before earning her high school diploma through the Gateway program.
Each graduate earned between 9 and 63 college credits alongside their diploma. Seven graduates will continue their education at MCCC, three will enter trade programs, one is transferring to a four-year institution, four are entering the workforce, and two are still deciding their next step.
Special Awards
Five awards were presented to honor exceptional graduates: the Change of Heart Award went to Corjae Butler; the Most Determined Award to Cat Cave; the Perseverance Award to Britt McKinney; the PECO Rising Stars Award to Kimoni Hall and Dayna Miller; and the Transition Student of the Semester Award was shared by Caitlin Campbell and Therese Aaron.
Community and Corporate Support
Gateway to College is made possible through collaboration with 23 Montgomery County 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.
PECO has supported the program for 12 consecutive years through its “Building Exelon’s Future Workforce” grant, providing $10,000 annually to assist with STEM and educational enrichment opportunities.
Find out more about MCCC and its Gateway to College Program. Founded in 1964, MCCC has grown with the community to meet the lifelong learning needs of Montgomery County residents, visitors, and businesses.
