Success News

Temya Jackson Long, a student at GateWay Community College is one of 60 high-achieving community college students selected to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The highly competitive national scholarship aims for Cooke Scholars to complete their undergraduate educations with as little debt as possible. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide Long with as much as $55,000 a year to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Skilled trades professionals build extensive hands-on experience and practical expertise over the course of their careers. Through the credit for prior learning program at GateWay Community College, that experience can translate directly into college credit—helping working professionals finish a degree faster while building on the expertise they already have. Robert Holcomb demonstrates how this pathway can work.

Two academically outstanding GateWay Community College (GWCC) students, Elisa Camou Josytewa and Samantha Kapanak, were honored among 71 students, representing Arizona’s 10 community college districts, during the 2026 All-Arizona Academic Team Recognition Ceremony held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Both were recognized for their exceptional achievements and accomplished leadership skills. 

At this time last year, Juniper, aka Joseph Mamola, was a busy GateWay Community College student and Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) leader collaborating with other students to host a Toy Drive as their community service project. But that was only one of the many things Juniper has accomplished since their time at GateWay.

Creativity took center stage at the GateWay Community College (GateWay) Deer Valley campus, where beauty school students showcased their exceptional talents in the highly anticipated Hairextravaganza competition. This dynamic event celebrated the artistry of cosmetology, featuring a bold fusion of hair, fashion, nails, and makeup in an avant-garde-themed showcase.

Every year on November 8, first generation college students are celebrated at colleges across the country. According to FirstGen Forward, the day commemorates the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, an act that created federal financial aid programs including TRIO Student Support Services, which help provide postsecondary access and extra support for first-generation college students. A first-year student at GateWay, we talked with Ruth about her educational experience thus far.