THE CATALYSTS CELEBRATION WAS A POWERFUL NIGHT!

On April 23rd, 2026, the CollegeTracks community gathered for the inaugural Montgomery County Catalysts Celebration, an evening dedicated to honoring our scholars and the individuals and partners who help ensure their success from high school through college, into the workforce, and ultimately into the lives they want for themselves and their families.

It was a powerful night. More than 240 leaders, advocates, and community members came together in support of this work, and together we raised over $210,000 to help expand opportunity for students across Montgomery County.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening was hearing from CollegeTracks Alumna and Catalyst Award Recipient, Kathia M. Chévez, and reflecting on her journey. She shared what it was like to arrive in the United States from El Salvador without a clear path to college, and how CollegeTracks helped her navigate what once felt impossible. Her experience reflects that of so many of our scholars. Every day, we serve thousands of students across Montgomery County who are navigating similar barriers and working toward the same goals. That is the work the entire CollegeTracks community is making possible.

You can read more about Kathia and all of the amazing 2026 Catalyst Honorees HERE.

We are also deeply grateful to the leaders who helped bring the evening to life, including Dr. Tiffany Ray-Patterson, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Montgomery College; Dr. Thomas Taylor, Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools; Nancy Leopold, Co-Founder of CollegeTracks; Kevin Beverly, CollegeTracks Board Chair; Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González; Capital One; Zelalem Alabo, CollegeTracks alumnus and Technology Consultant at Accenture; and Linda Youngentob, Catalyst Honoree and education equity leader.

Since the Celebration, a group of CollegeTracks supporters has come together to establish a $30,000 matching gift to help expand this work and reach more students and families across our community. If you're interested in contributing, we would be honored. And if you know someone who would be inspired by CollegeTracks’ work and may be interested in helping us meet this match by May 15, we would be grateful if you shared this opportunity with them or let us know.