Alex Piña Vigueras, left, and Manuela Trujillo, right, graduated with their associate degrees a week before receiving their high school diplomas, earning them a special recognition.
Trujillo and Piña Vigueras, along with 10 other GateWay Early College High School students, graduated with their Associate degrees from GateWay Community College in early May. And for many it's a huge relief to have been able to get a step up on their higher education.
“I have no words to express my feelings,” said Trujillo. “It’s a big weight off of my shoulders.”
Piña Vigueras is the first in his family to graduate from college.
“It’s something that I’m proud of because growing up I didn’t have anyone to set the bar for me, now I have the opportunity to set the bar for the younger people in my family,” said Piña Vigueras.
GateWay Early College High School provides students with the opportunity to earn college credits while enrolled in high school classes, which may be used toward an associates degree.
Piña Vigueras and Trujillo spent much of their time in class and studying. Their schedules included many Saturday morning classes and summer school. Both say time management and prioritizing was a key to their success.
“I learned that I have to put my school first,” said Trujillo. “I know that if I’m able to accomplish this while I’m in high school, I can end up doing so many other things later in life.”
Piña Vigueras agrees. “I told myself, ‘You got to focus on school and in a couple of years when you get that degree it’s time to have fun and start a career.’ It was stressful, but a good kind of stressful because now I’m happy,” said Piña Vigueras.
Trujillo plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University and earn a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Piña Vigueras is set to attend Arizona State University in the fall and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business. Maricopa Community College graduates of the Associate of Business (ABus) are guaranteed admission into ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business through a university transfer agreement.
GateWay Community College’s commencement ceremony theme this year was perseverance.
Commencement speakers Miguel Galvez and Brenda Perez discussed their own journeys. Both students emigrated from Mexico and were unsure how they would be able to afford college; however, both never gave up their dream.
Galvez had these words of advice for fellow students, “No matter what your challenges are, work hard because hard work pays off. Keep hope alive. Don’t get discouraged when facing adversity.”
Perez had similar words of encouragement. “I remember crying day in and day out because I didn’t think I would be able to go to college, yet here I am trying to write a great commencement speech that I will deliver with a friend,” Perez says.
“We want the audience to know that no matter what you are going through, no matter how many times you fall down or want to give up, only you set your own limitations,” says Perez. “With perseverance, those limitations you once feared are now gone.”
Piña Vigueras and Trujillo joined nearly 300 students in receiving degrees and/or certificates at GateWay's graduation.
Want to write your own graduation story? Join us for a campus tour by visiting gatewaycc.edu/tour or calling (602) 286-8050.
Campus tours for Healthcare and Nursing programs are available on Mondays, from 4 to 5 p.m., and for Business and Information Technology, Industrial Technology and General Studies programs on Thursdays, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Spanish Campus Tours are available the last Wednesday of the month, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tours meet at Enrollment Services in the IE Building.