SNAP E&T Provides Bridge to Graduation for CT State Gateway Student

NEW HAVEN, CT - Teaching is a natural fit for Shydaia Cephas, so the path to earning her associate degree and certificate in Early Childhood Education seemed easy.

Yet when the Bridgeport resident steps on stage at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater next week to collect her diploma from CT State Gateway, she will be achieving a milestone more than 10 years in the making.

“Growing up, I was the neighborhood babysitter,” Shydaia said, adding that two of the children she babysat for years ago will be attending the graduation to celebrate seeing her walk across the stage. “This degree means so much to me at this point. It is a blessing to be able to do this. It was meant for me to come back,” Shydaia, 36, said.

After a difficult childhood, Shydaia attended adult education to earn her GED in 2013, then immediately enrolled at Housatonic Community College to work towards her degree. But once she committed to becoming a foster parent to her niece in 2016, she said she found the demands of work and parenting took over, and college had to be put on hold. Determined to get back on track, she re-enrolled and was making progress, but had to leave school again after giving birth to her daughter prematurely at 26 weeks in 2019.

Caring for her baby, Kennedi, one day during the COVID-19 pandemic, she wondered how a return to school could happen since her financial aid ran out. She was receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) benefits and saw information about a program called SNAP Education & Training (SNAP E&T) at CT State Gateway on social media and decided to inquire. The program prepares and assists students by offering vocational training, career activities, case management, and support services. Certificates can be earned for free, and a Child Development Associate Credential is among those available for SNAP participants.

Shydaia met with Kandace Murray, SNAP E&T coordinator, and was relieved to learn that she had almost finished her degree and could transfer all her credits. She needed only to complete curriculum and internship classes to finish. After she enrolled, she completed her internship at Bright Horizons in Wilton while also working as head teacher of The Learning Experience working with two to three-year-olds, also in Wilton. She credited Murray for showing her that her goal of graduating was within reach.

Shydaia said that her now five-year-old daughter would sit with her as they both completed homework some evenings, while during the late nights, sometimes Kennedi would wake up and say, “mommy you need to go to bed.” Through it all, she managed to enjoy the campus experience while partaking in activities and making friends.

She added that her faith helped her through the tough times, especially when Kennedi, who is now thriving, spent four months in the hospital after the delivery. She is excited for her daughter to realize what this achievement has meant, adding that this degree brings her one step closer to her goal of completing a master’s degree, and even a doctorate.

Murray said she is glad Shydaia heard about the SNAP E&T program at a time when it made a difference in her life and could share her story with others who might relate and benefit from realizing this help is available.

“Shydaia’s success is an example of what the SNAP E&T program was designed for, and we are thrilled that we were able to support her in achieving her goal. Shydaia showed a great deal of determination in completing her degree, the SNAP E&T Team is so proud of her,” Murray said.