CT State Community College Gateway celebrated the commencement of its inaugural class of 553 graduates at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. 

The sun shone down May 23, 2024, as Gateway’s graduation speakers offered their congratulations and counsel to the first graduates of CT State Community College Gateway. Speakers included CT State Community College President John Maduko, M.D.; Gateway’s Interim CEO Scott Kalicki, Ph.D., and Alumna Stacy Walker, an inspirational speaker and tenured Gateway professor. 

Cristian Montanez, Student Government Association Vice President was Gateway’s Student of the Year. 

The Dorsey L. Kendrick Community Service Award was awarded to Ena Williams, PhD, MBA, RN, CENP, FAAN, Yale New Haven Hospital’s Senior Vice President, and Chief Nursing Officer. Dr. Williams attended Gateway and later became the Johnson and Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellow. 

In the Class of 2024,

·      219 students graduated with high academic honors – a grade point average of 3.4 or higher. Overall, 68% of the class graduated with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher

• 16 are military service veterans
• 9 students are from the Hamden Engineering Careers Academy
• 513 graduates earned their Associate Degree and 40 earned workforce Certificates. 
• 198 students earned credentials in Social and Behavioral Sciences,
• 158 in Nursing and Allied Health,
• 93 in Business and Hospitality,
• 61 in Engineering and Technology,
• 35 in Arts and Humanities, and
• 11 in Science and Mathematics.
• 375 identify as women, 178 are men
• The youngest graduate is 17 and our oldest is 74
• 57% are 25-years-old or older
• AND significant to note, 229 (41%) are the first in their family to earn a college degree!

Gateway Community College Foundation Board member Ruby H. Melton invited each of the graduates to join the Gateway Alumni Network at Alumni Network – Gateway Community College Foundation (gatewayfdn.org)