Eastern Gateway Graduates Largest Class in Its History

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Eastern Gateway Community College held its 2021 graduation ceremony Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium, presenting diplomas to the largest class in the school’s history.

The class also was the most diverse with a record number of women and minorities graduating, according to Michael Geoghegan, president of EGCC.

“What we are most proud of, is how accomplished our graduates are. The number of honors graduates, the grades our students achieved, the number of courses they completed, and their persistence through a global pandemic just blew us all away,” he said.

“Of the more than 3,700 graduates, we have one from every state in the country and territory. We truly are the Gator Nation,” Geoghegan said, referring to the community college’s mascot.

Up until a few days ago, Eastern Gateway was uncertain any graduation ceremony could be held for the Class of 2021 without mask requirements, he noted.

Geoghegan credited Youngstown State University, who he called “an incredible partner,” for making its football stadium available.

EGCC operates campuses in Youngstown and Steubenville. Since it was established in 1968, at the time as Jefferson County Technical Institute, more than 59,000 students have taken it classes.

In October 2009, the school was renamed Eastern Gateway Community College and its service district was expanded to include Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Pictured at top: EGCC president Michael Geoghegan congratulates a graduate during ceremonies Saturday at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.