My Gateway story

For the last 16 years as your college president, I took pride in sharing the many inspiring and encouraging stories of our students, faculty, staff and community partnerships. 

As my journey at Gateway comes to a close, I am reminded of my own story here at the college. I am proud of our collective impact throughout the tri-county region, including a strong and focused effort to strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion so that all members of our community are welcomed at Gateway. 

This work will serve as a cornerstone for future service models and programs, as well as continued community and workforce growth. Sustaining the vision of expanded access needs to include a positive response from our regional employers. In 2021, Wisconsin employers responded with a 98 percent positive satisfaction rate for new technical college graduates.

Adding new pathways in liberal arts will highlight the abilities of Gateway graduates to advance their academic careers directly into bachelor degrees and grow educational attainment for all of Southeastern Wisconsin.

In my nearly two decades here at Gateway, I have grown as a friend, colleague and community partner. 

Thank you Gateway for inspiring me to serve on your behalf in the mission of one of America's first and strongest technical colleges. 

Sincerely,

Partnership results in 300 free student bus passes

Several Gateway students have benefited greatly through a partnership with RYDE Racine to provide 300 free annual bus passes, giving recipients a dependable and inexpensive way to attend classes and finish their degree or diploma.

Many students say a city bus is their main method of transportation to Gateway, but have also said they’ve struggled to find the finances to pay for it. Finding reliable transportation remains one of the biggest challenges many students say they face.

“Access to reliable transportation is an issue for many of our students,” says Stacy Riley, Gateway Technical College vice president, Student Services and Enrollment Management. “The partnership with RYDE Racine has helped to remove a hurdle students experience every day.”

College expands annual trunk-or-treat event

Gateway Technical College held its second annual trunk-or-treat event, a free community function to provide a safe and fun way for children to have some Halloween fun and get some candy. 

The outdoor event featured several different stations on the campus where children played a game and trick-or-treated for candy or other fun items. A different Gateway program was at each stop and gave children a way to engage in fun activities and gather treats.

Gateway to hold annual Women in Manufacturing event

Gateway Technical College will hold its fifth annual Women in Manufacturing event 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Oct. 22, at its SC Johnson iMET Center, 2320 Renaissance Blvd., Sturtevant. 

The event provides a way to explore career fields not traditionally held by women, but have great earning potential, such as computer numeric control operator, advanced manufacturing technician, mechanical technician and electrical service technician. Information technology, construction trades and apprenticeship careers will be explored this year too.

“This event is very important because it helps increase awareness of the opportunities for women in manufacturing – not only to open their eyes to what kind of jobs are available and what skills are needed to be successful, but also to open their minds to the idea that these jobs are accessible and in reach,” says Chris Perez, Gateway Technical College dean of the School of Manufacturing, Engineering and Information Technology. 

Culinary students offer lunches with international tastes

Gateway Technical College’s Culinary Arts students have begun holding their traditional Fall Semester weekly International Lunch series at the SC Johnson Student Life Center in the Lake Building on the Racine Campus, 1001 S. Main St.

Students provide a five-course meal 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. most Thursdays in the semester, which can be purchased for $8 by staff and the public. Each meal includes a main entree, bread, vegetable, soup, salad and dessert.

Culinary instructor Adam Larkin says the experience of having to focus on planning and preparing food from a different region each week provides students with a broad knowledge base that they will need once they enter their career.

Gateway grad represents two-year college student voice nationally

Gateway Technical College Professional Communications graduate Megan Bahr was one of three college students who spoke about the importance of free speech and civics education on college campuses at a recent event held by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Bahr was the voice for two-year college students at the event.

This is the second time this year Bahr has been invited to a national event to represent two-year college students. She also spoke at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute’s fifth annual Reagan Institute Summit on Education (RISE) at the Ronald Reagan Institute and Conference Center in Washington, D.C., in July.