Gateway to College Celebrates First Graduates

10/21/2009 11:33:00 AM

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Gateway to College Celebrates First Graduates
Although they are from separate worlds, Thomas Swanson and Amber Cronk have more in common than might first be obvious. He's from New York City; she's from Effingham County, Georgia - both left high school early without graduating, both struggled, both found their way to the Gateway to College program at Savannah Technical College where they both excelled - earning straight As in their foundation courses (a sequence of four classes required for Gateway students in their first quarter) and now, both will be celebrated on Friday, October 23 at 11 AM as the first Gateway to College graduates from Savannah Technical College.

Thomas, a mature 19-year-old from New York, found that the Gateway to College brought the stability he needed to finish high school. He had moved a lot during his time in middle and senior high school and never graduated. He attended the Savannah Gateway Academy for three quarters and is now living with family members in New York and planning to continue his education.

When 20 year-old Amber Cronk came to the Gateway to College program in January of this year, she had survived a car accident in her senior year of high school and long, difficult recovery that had left her unable to graduate with her classmates and had tried living on her own but was unable to support herself with limited skills and education. "Gateway was the first program that allowed me to get a high school diploma rather than a GED," says Amber. "It was better for me - more convenient and the people were very understanding and helpful. They helped me to finish." Amber attended the Effingham Gateway Academy and plans to continue her education by enrolling in the nursing program at Savannah Technical College with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric nurse.

Gateway to College is a member of a national network of programs for 16-20 year olds who have either dropped out of high school or on the verge of dropping out and are interested in returning to school and completing their high school diploma. Students simultaneously accumulate high school and college credits, earning their high school diploma while progressing toward a certificate, diploma or associate degree.

Through a partnership with Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools and Effingham County Public Schools, Savannah Technical College has initiated two charter high schools for Gateway participants- Savannah Gateway Academy and Effingham Gateway Academy. Through these academies, students will take all of the classes needed to complete their high school graduation requirements on the Savannah Technical College campus.

The Gateway to College program began at Savannah Technical College in fall of 2008 and currently enrolls 97 students. The next enrollment period will be in January 2010 for the Winter quarter (applications are available now). For information, please call 912.443.5777 or e-mail gateway@savannahtech.edu .

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