Achieving the Dream’s Gateway to College program at Shasta Community College has received a Program Excellence Award in recognition of exceeding all four benchmarks used to assess the performance of Gateway to College programs nationwide. Through Gateway to College, students behind in credits and at risk of not graduating, complete their high school diplomas in college-based programs while simultaneously earning credits toward a postsecondary credential. Shasta College has hosted a Gateway to College program since 2013, and the program enrolled 50 students during the academic year when they received the award.
This marks the sixth Program Excellence Award for Shasta College’s Gateway program. Shasta College’s Gateway Program Director, Cat Morton, was presented the award at Achieving the Dream’s K-College Institute in Denver on July 25, 2025.
“Gateway to College programs provide a critical second chance for vulnerable high school students and a powerful testament to the importance of wraparound supports and creating a sense of belonging in college. Nearly 75 percent of program graduates nationwide continue their postsecondary education,” said Emily Froimson, Executive Vice President of Achieving the Dream.
“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the Shasta College Gateway to College team,” said Cat Morton, Shasta College’s Gateway Program Director. “With strong support from the Shasta College campus community, and a solid partnership with the Shasta Union High School district, over 350 students who were not on track to graduate have now earned their high school diplomas through the Gateway to College program. We are proud to offer this unique learning environment for Alternative Education students in our community. When I asked one of our incoming students why he wanted to be a part of Gateway to College, he said it was because he wanted ‘to do something with his life that he could be proud of’. That’s the kind of opportunity and hope this program offers.” Morton said.
ABOUT ACHIEVING THE DREAM
Achieving the Dream (ATD) leads a growing network of 277 community colleges committed to helping their students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas. ATD, along with 75 experienced coaches and advisors, works closely with Network colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia, including 35 Gateway to College programs in 18 states, to reach more than 4 million community college students.
