GateWay Community College is graduating more than 1,300 students enrolled in trade and technical training, professional and technical education, and university transfer programs on May 9.
The GateWay Early College High School will be graduating 10 students this year with associate degrees, before they graduate with their high school diplomas. Combined, these students have earned $500,000 in scholarships to continue their studies at a university.
Below are a few of their stories.
Seraphine Niyokwizera, who was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and moved to the US when she was six years old, is the oldest of 10 children, she actually completed her Associate in Arts degree in December, while working part time and taking care of her siblings. She is a Dell Scholar, the first the high school has ever had. She will receive a mentor, laptop, and most importantly $20,000 per year toward her education. She is all set to move to ASU-West Campus to study Business Administration.
Emerald Elanzo, who will attend Barrett, The Honors College at ASU, plans to study biology in the hopes of continuing on to medical school and becoming an internist. Because Emerald was born in the Marshall Islands, he learned at an early age that residents there have the highest rate of diabetes in the entire world. Because he has family members who are dealing with diabetes, he knew that he wanted to spend his life researching diabetes and helping his people. He is graduating with an Associate in Arts degree.
“I always dreamed of earning my associate degree prior to my high school diploma,” says Elanzo. “I can’t believe my dream is becoming a reality.”
For details on Graduation and to watch the live stream of it, visit gatewaycc.edu/graduation.