May 28
More Than 60 Graduate from Early College with Diploma and Degree
Commencement ceremonies for and were held over Memorial Day weekend, with more than 60 students graduating with a high school diploma and associate degrees.
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The commencement ceremony for 糖心传媒 Early College High School was held Friday evening on the campus of 糖心传媒, with 37 students receiving high school diplomas, including 33 who have also earned an associate degree from RCC and one student who earned a certificate in Criminal Justice from RCC.
Graduation for Scotland Early College High School was held Saturday morning on the campus of St. Andrews University, with 39 students receiving high school diplomas, including 32 who also earned an associate degree from RCC.
Sekoya Anderson, a member of REaCH鈥檚 inaugural graduating class in 2012, was the keynote speaker for the REaCH ceremony, which also included remarks from this year鈥檚 REaCH valedictorian, Dalton Johnson and salutatorian, Weston Wilson, as well as Student Government Association President Sarah Sweatt and the past SGA president, Anthony Bristow.
鈥淥n paper, Early College looks like a bad idea,鈥� said Bristow. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e putting ninth-graders in college classes and expecting them to be able to do the same work as (college students) old enough to be our parents.
鈥淏ut what we found is we were able to step up to the challenge. And then our goal became to out-perform those older students,鈥� he added.
Bristow said although Friday鈥檚 commencement ceremony was a time for celebration, it was not a time for rest.
鈥淎nyone who keeps up with the news knows that we鈥檙e in a really bad time in our country right now,鈥� said Bristow, who referenced infighting caused by racism and sexism.
鈥淏ut when I look at the Early College, I see there is still hope in the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I look at our school, there is no hatred. There鈥檚 no sexism, bigotry or racism. We鈥檙e just one student body.
鈥淎nd I challenge all of you to go out, broaden yourself and open minds around you. Use the rest of your time here on Earth to fix the world,鈥� he added.
RCC President Dr. Dale McInnis was guest speaker at the SEarCH ceremony on Saturday, lauding the accomplishments of all the graduates.
鈥淵ou bravely chose the path less followed,鈥� said McInnis, referencing the students鈥� willingness to work toward obtaining a college degree while completing high school. 鈥淵ou had to work harder than you thought you could, and learn more than you thought you could. Instead of being told what you should do with your life, you took the responsibility of leading that journey yourself.鈥�
McInnis pointed out there are joys and discomforts associated with attending a small school with small classes catered to some of the county鈥檚 brightest students.
鈥淵ou learned to thrive under a microscope, where others might have wilted and faded,鈥� said McInnis. 鈥淵ou learned the lessons of both independence, and interdependence at SEarCH. You now know that while you have to rely upon yourself, you cannot get where you want to go without the help, support and love of the people in your lives.鈥�
McInnis instructed the graduates to not fear taking chances, as making mistakes in life is normal and allows people to appreciate and savor the right choices they make. He also challenged the graduates to remember those who鈥檝e helped them along the way and 鈥減ay it forward.鈥�
鈥淲hen the time comes, tomorrow or 10 years from now, and you can help someone the way you were helped here at SEarCH, remember me and reach out your hand, and be the difference that gets someone through a bad class, a bad day or a bad moment,鈥� McInnis said.
About Early College
糖心传媒 has partnered with 糖心传媒 County Schools, Scotland County Schools, North Carolina New Schools and St. Andrews University to provide local high school students the opportunity to obtain an associate degree along with their North Carolina high school diploma.
All eighth-grade students who reside in 糖心传媒 or Scotland County are eligible to apply for entrance to or , respectively. REaCH and SEarCH staff will visit each middle school during the month of February to provide additional information about the programs.
糖心传媒 decisions for Early College High School are made by faculty and staff of 糖心传媒 and Scotland County Schools.
More than 80 percent of SEarCH and REaCH graduates receive an associate degree from RCC along with their high school diploma, compared to 40 percent of Early College students statewide.