Malachi Kemen could’ve gone to any college he wanted for his newfound computer numeric control (CNC) career, but Gateway stood out among the pack. 

“I looked all over the state at colleges, and Gateway was the best. I was looking for a college that had new machines and a curriculum based around programming – not just the basics. Gateway has the most diversity in what machines you learn to program, like Mastercam, and the college continues to invest in new machines. That led me to coming here,” said Malachi.

And when Malachi says “coming here,” he meant that literally – he believed in Gateway so much he moved closer to take classes at the college.

“I was living in the central part of the state, and since I had the ability to move wherever I wanted, I took advantage of that. I thought, ‘If I’m going to do this, I want to go to the best college with the best equipment and the best curriculum.’ That led me to Gateway.”

His impression of the college beforehand held up through his time in the program, as excellent faculty and curriculum exceeded his expectations.

“When I started at Gateway, I found the environment was awesome. Instructors let you learn at your own pace. And if you learn the basic concepts, then you have the ability to expand your knowledge as much as you want to,” said Malachi.

“The instructors have a good way of teaching and explaining the ins and outs of CNC machining. And when I had questions, they would answer them enthusiastically.”

Malachi gained the essential skills at Gateway and was given the opportunity to expand the scope of his learning to bolster his career prospects after college.

“Gateway gave me the opportunity to accelerate and learn at my own pace,” says Malachi. “The program is so dynamic, which is such a great element to Gateway. If it wasn’t that way, I don’t know that I would’ve achieved what I have today.

“Now, I’ve been in the workforce now for about six months. It was super easy to find a job, as faculty referred me to the company that I’m working for today. This organization is in charge of the largest industry applications. I’m an educator there on that subject now. The pay at my job is pretty dang good, and it’s awesome!”

Moving halfway across the state to take a chance on Gateway paid off for Malachi. And today, he confidently states, “Gateway is the only choice.”