May 16, 2019
A graduation ceremony for students who completed East Mississippi Community College’s Gateway Program took place Thursday, May 16, at the Noxubee Civic Center in Macon.
More than 160 students have completed the program over the last year. Approximately two dozen students participated in the graduation ceremony.
“Every opportunity starts here,” Gateway Career Navigator Yulanda Haddix said. “We are the gate to your career pathways.”
The Gateway Program operates under the umbrella of EMCC’s Workforce and Community Services Division and is offered free of charge to residents of Clay, Lowndes and Noxubee counties who are not in school and are between the ages of 16 to 24 years old.
Students who did not graduate from high school are referred to EMCC’s Adult Education Department, where they earn their high school equivalency diploma before entering the Gateway Program.
Students in the Gateway Program are taught essential job skills, such as communication, social media use, teamwork, financial literacy and work ethics. They also complete their WorkKeys and receive SMART START training, which focuses on job skills training and testing.
After completion of the Gateway Program the students are placed in a paid internship and can also enter short-term technical training with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act assistance.
They also receive 12 months of follow-up job assistance after finishing the program. All services are free of charge.
For more information about the Gateway Program, contact Haddix or Gateway Career Navigator Morris Harris. Haddix can be reached at 856.220.0222 or by email at yhaddix@eastms.edu. Harris can be reached at 662.243.1847 or by email at mharris@eastms.edu.
"East Mississippi Community College has been an incredible launching pad for my future! I'm so grateful for the knowledge and experiences I've gained here!"
“I chose EMCC because it gave me the best opportunities coming out of high school. I got plenty of scholarships because the school offered so many. An Education is a very powerful tool.”
"EMCC isn't just a place to learn, it's home. Passionate instructors around every corner offered an opportunity to grow. Remember - there's a whole community invested in your success."
"At first no one was really concerned about me going to college. When I decided to go on my own it put a lot of pressure on me because I'm the first one in my family to go to college. This idea made it all the more reason for me to succeed."
"East Mississippi Community College has provided an exceptional foundation for my academic and personal growth. The professors' dedication has fostered my development into a stronger student. EMCC offered numerous opportunities for me to excel, both in academics and extracurricular activities. Here, I've built incredible friendships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. The knowledge I gained and the memories I made at EMCC will forever be a part of me when I embark on my journey to a four-year college."
1512 Kemper St., Scooba, MS 39358
662.476.5000
8731 South Frontage Rd., Mayhew, MS 39753
662.243.1900
Visit a Campus