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The Dispatch | First year of career academy exceeds expectations
May 24, 2013 - Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy freshman Trey Roach said the school opening in Davidson County this school year was a blessing in disguise - not only for students but also for the community.
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"This school could be a good opportunity to bring work to the area," he said. "I definitely feel like this school is preparing us for future jobs. We focus a lot on creating new things and advancing (and) moving forward. I'm glad I came here. I don't see this as work. I see it as a great time."
Roach joined an inaugural class with 46 other students representing all three local school systems who attend the academy that is on the campus of Davidson County High School on Holly Grove Road.
"It's unusual to have the mix we have," said Roach, who is from the northern part of the county. "We have fresh teachers (and) students. I appreciate everything we're learning. It all revolves around a business concept. What we learn in the classroom is shown how it will be applied to the real world. My favorite part is the closeness. I'm not a number here."
The doors to the academy opened in August as an innovative approach to education and the business industry.
"We mirror a business environment," said James Fitzgerald, principal/chief executive officer of the academy. "Anytime you open a trailblazing and innovative institution there's going to be hills and valleys. Overall it's been a successful year." -
The Daily Dispatch | Inaugural class at early college high school celebrates
May 24, 2013 - A group of pioneers would best describe the 2013 graduating class of Vance County Early College High School, a partner with NC New Schools. Forty-two of them graduated Friday night, with over half receiving associate degrees.
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"It's amazing how much we have grown, and what we have become," said Tamara Daniela Chavarin Flores, class valedictorian. "I got really nervous that first day of school. It was also a really special day. We met all the teachers that would stress us out, work the mess out of us, encourages us, and love us."
Flores said it was often difficult for her and other classmates to cope with the challenging courses at their school while friends attended traditional high schools. But she doesn't regret her decision of attending Vance County Early College High School.
"I would choose this path again," Flores said. "We couldn't have done it without each other. Congrats to not only to the Class of 2013, but to the one and only first graduating class of the early college high school."
Vance County Early College High School and Warren County Early College High School became VGCC's first early college partnerships in 2008, followed by Granville County Early College in 2009 and Franklin County Early College High School in 2010. -
Mount Airy News | Early College graduates get diplomas
May 24, 2013 - Surry Early College High School of Design's Commencement Ceremony had the traditional trimmings including pomp and circumstance, but it also had the atmosphere of a family sharing proud memories around the supper table.
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The Sampson Independent | Sprunt holds graduation ceremonies
May 24, 2013 - One hundred and forty three graduates walked across the stage during James Sprunt Community College's 2013 commencement exercises held Thursday, May 9, in the Duplin County Events Center in Kenansville. They were among a total of 296 graduates receiving 391 degrees, diplomas, and certificates, including 15 Duplin Early College High School students. Duplin Early College High School is a partner with NC New Schools.
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Philanthropy Journal | Business leaders join board of directors
May 22, 2013 - Four Triangle business leaders have joined the board of directors of North Carolina New Schools, a public-private partnership that promotes education innovation aimed at developing the highly skilled workforce that North Carolina needs to thrive in the 21st century. The new members are filling newly created seats on the 15-member board, which is led by Chairman Bob Greczyn, CEO Emeritus of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The new members are: Ed Auslander, president and CEO, LORD Corporation; David Pulman, former president of global manufacturing and supply, GlaxoSmithKline; Richard Stevens, counsel, Smith Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan; and Matt West, founder and CEO, Intangibles.
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Richmond County Daily Journal | Tassels turn at early college graduation
May 22, 2013 - Saturday's rain showers didn't dampen the spirits of students graduating from the Richmond Early College High School program this weekend. Many years of hard work were paid off as 58 graduates gathered at Cole Auditorium in Hamlet on May 18 to mark their achievements in an emotional commencement ceremony.
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In addition to receiving a high school diploma, 55 of the 58 students left the Early College with associates' degrees. Richmond Early College partners with NC New Schools. -
Triad Business Journal | State of Davidson: An education focus as mega park moves forward
May 21, 2013 - Even as Davidson County works to develop a megapark, community leaders said Tuesday morning that continuing to enhance education and provide a qualified work force are likely even more important for wooing business and industry.
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Those comments came during a panel discussion as part of The Business Journal's State of Davidson breakfast event at Davidson County Community College. The panel was comprised of Newell Clark, the mayor of Lexington, Robert Hyatt, Davidson County manager, and Fred Mock, superintendent of Davidson County Schools. -
The Laurinburg Exchange | SEarCH awards diplomas
May 20, 2013 - The second official Scotland Early College High School (SEarCH) graduation ceremony at St. Andrews University saw 39 students receive diplomas. SEarCH is a partner with NC New Schools
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In addition to a high school diploma, 20 of the graduates, left the program Saturday with a two-year associate's degree from Richmond Community College to show for their five years of study. All students graduated with some level of college credit, and many are expected to finish their associate's degrees later this year at RCC.
"There are some very happy people on graduation day," said Joe Critcher, SEarCH principal. "It is a huge accomplishment, as they're doing six years of education in five - we had three people do it in four this year. It's a great feeling to watch them when they get here and they're full of energy. Then you see them start to struggle a little bit when they start college classes because even the smartest kids have to study." -
Hickory Daily Record | Challenger 'family' graduates 87, ready for the 21st century
May 18, 2013 - Local high school graduation season kicked off with the commencement ceremony for the Challenger Early College High School Class of 2013 at the Catawba Valley Community College Tarlton Complex on Saturday morning.
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"It's overwhelming," said graduate Kassie Smart after the ceremony. "It seems kind of surreal. It hasn't really hit me yet."
David Velazquez graduated summa cum laude and delivered an address to the graduates. His remarks were filled with humorous anecdotes and inside jokes that referred to shaved eyebrows, a broken wheelchair and an unusually large lower lip.
"Our journey through high school wasn't an easy one, but having teachers like you made life bearable," Velazquez said, looking toward the faculty assembled across the aisle from the graduates. -
Salisbury Post | 'Journey is far from over' - Rowan County Early College High School graduates 61
May 18, 2013 - Graduation is a milestone for any high school student, and any college student. Most members of the second graduating class of Rowan County Early College High School took the stage Friday having already graduated from college. Rowan-Salisbury School System Superintendent Dr. Judy Grissom congratulated them on the many milestones they had achieved.
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Last Saturday, many of them received associate's degrees from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - the payoff for four years of accelerated college work. Cindy Misenheimer, principal, told the Post that 56 of the 61 graduates earned associate of arts or associate of science degrees. And she shared some remarkable numbers with parents and families during her address, statistics that show the breadth and depth of those students' accomplishments.
"Six are first in their families to graduate from high school," Misenheimer said.
The class of 2013 earned a total of 4,311 college credits - courses that would have cost them $297,459 to take, had they paid out of pocket instead of taking them as part of the curriculum.
And, Misenheimer said, as of Friday, members of the class had been awarded $515,600 in scholarships so far.
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Go- More than 1,000 Graduates of NC Early College High Schools Earn Associates Degrees or Two Years of College Credit
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