Gateway to College at STCC propels student toward success

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Daniel Doby joins Springfield Technical Community College as a full-time student this fall with a head start thanks to Gateway to College.

Doby, a Springfield resident, earned 23 college credits. He will need 62 credits to graduate with an associate in business transfer, which means he’s more than one-third of the way to his goal.

“I’m glad I chose Gateway,” Doby said. “You get more opportunities than in regular high school. You have opportunities to take college classes. I got 23 credits for free. If you don’t like the traditional high school experience, I would recommend Gateway.”

Before finding Gateway, Doby was enrolled in a private school. In March 2020, he and his mother were concerned about how the school was planning classes at the beginning of the pandemic. Doby wanted to study online from home, which Gateway offered.

“I wasn’t a fan of the way the school I was attending was handling the situation, and a lot of things were up in the air,” Doby said. “My mom always pushed me to go to an alternative school. She always thought I could benefit from it.”

When Doby enrolled at Gateway in the fall of 2020, he admits it wasn’t an easy start. He missed his friends at his old school. “At first, I was reluctant to do it,” he said. “It was like a new environment in my senior year.”

But a month or so into the semester, he found his footing at Gateway. He enjoyed the opportunity to make his own schedule and grew to love the program and draw inspiration from the staff and faculty.

“I had a great support system with Anita and Katara,” Doby said, referring to Anita Gallers, the academic counselor at Gateway, and Katara Robinson, the director of the program.

I'm glad I chose Gateway. You get more opportunities than in regular high school. Daniel Doby, STCC student

Gallers and Robinson are both proud of Doby for his perseverance and achievements at Gateway.

“Daniel is the perfect example of a student who took advantage of the resources and opportunities provided by Gateway, which resulted in him earning a significant number of college credits and setting him ahead,” Robinson said. “He did a great job figuring out time management, tracking assignments, and utilizing the supports offered to him, such as tutoring and academic advising. His time at Gateway has paved the way, giving him a chance to experience college, and setting him up for future success on the path to his degree. We're extremely proud of him.”

Doby graduated as salutatorian (student with the second highest GPA) for all the alternative high schools in Springfield.

“Daniel came to us having successfully finished out the year when the pandemic hit in March 2020 but was looking for another way to do things,” Gallers said. “He came to us and got a real jump on college which was great for him. He ended up as salutatorian of all the alternative schools in Springfield, which is amazing, but also he’s starting college ahead because he has quite a few credits.”

Finding out he was salutatorian for all alternative high schools in Springfield was a thrill for Doby and his mother.

“It definitely caught me off guard,” Doby said. “It was a big thing. My mom was happy. I was surprised. It made me feel like I did everything right. I put my best foot forward, and it felt good.”

Gateway welcomes students with a variety of backgrounds and challenges. Some choose the program because they experienced bullying in high school, medical issues, or other personal challenges. Others contact Gateway because they don’t find the right fit with the conventional high school experience for various reasons, including homeschoolers and charter school students.

Through the Gateway to College scholarship, students have the opportunity to complete their high school graduation requirements in a college-based program while simultaneously earning college credits. Students earn their high school diploma and college credits at the same time. Some also continue on to finish certificate programs, associate degrees, and transfer to four-year colleges.

Doby took a real estate class while enrolled at Gateway and received a certificate. His next step is to take a state exam to pursue his real estate license. His goal is to work in finance and real estate after he finishes college.

After obtaining his degree at STCC, Doby hopes to transfer to a four-year college or university. While he excelled taking online classes, he’s looking forward to walking into a classroom this fall at STCC. He’s taking a mix of online and in-person classes.

Interested in applying to Gateway to College at STCC? Visit stcc.edu/gateway for more information. For questions, email gateway@stcc.edu or call (413) 755-4581.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequalled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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