Nathaniel Gordon, a graduate of Community College of Philadelphia's Gateway to College program, passed away at the age of 20 on March 23, 2024.

Mr. Gordon was the first graduate of Gateway to College -- a CCP program for Philadelphia School District students who had disengaged from traditional schools -- to make it to the Ivy League. He was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was studying economics and urban studies.

He was known as Nate by family and friends. Mr. Gordon moved to Philadelphia to live with his aunt at age 13 when family circumstances grew difficult. A year later, he was in the city’s foster care system and fell behind while enrolled in virtual school.

Mr. Gordon was bright and driven. On his own, Mr. Gordon found programs to help him achieve his goals and enrolled in CCP's Gateway to College, putting him on the path to earn his high school diploma while earning college credits. He excelled academically in the program and became involved on campus, participating in the college’s Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership. Mr. Gordon was known for making an impact in the community and inspired other students facing obstacles.

Mr. Gordon was the Gateway to College valedictorian in 2022, and the first Gateway to College student to go to an Ivy League university. He had already earned 36 college credits and had a grade-point average above 4.0. At Penn, he continued to stay involved, volunteering in the community and participating in Penn's Black cultural center.

Please join us in donating in Nathaniel Gordon's memory to support students in Community College of Philadelphia's Gateway to College program. With your gift in Nate's honor, Gateway to College students will receive scholarship support and will continue to be impacted by his remarkable life.