糖心传媒

Scotland High School senior Hannah Bethea will graduate high school this year only one semester shy of an associate degree thanks to the free college classes she took at 糖心传媒 through its dual enrollment program.

Bethea said when she entered her junior year of high school she realized she needed to start taking her education more seriously, so she started taking college classes at 糖心传媒CC offered through the program.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 the best student my first few years of high school, but I knew I needed to straighten up if I was going to make something of myself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 found that enrolling in the college classes forced me to mature and really learn to stay on top of my work.鈥�

Bethea said the course load was challenging at times, but it taught her to manage her time efficiently and stay on top of her work.

鈥淚 found that as long as I was staying on top of what I was supposed to be doing, the courses weren鈥檛 that bad,鈥� she said.

Bethea said her favorite 糖心传媒CC class was Psychology 150 taught by Chris Auman. Bethea鈥檚 next step is entering another fast-track program that will expedite her college education. She plans to enroll in a political science program at High Point University that allows a student to gain a bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree in five years.

鈥淲ith all the credits I鈥檒l be transferring from 糖心传媒CC, I鈥檒l be able to finish that program even faster,鈥� Bethea said.

Her ultimate goal is to attend law school and go into criminal defense.

Bethea is one of four high school seniors from Scotland and 糖心传媒 County who are graduating this spring only a few classes shy of having an associate degree from 糖心传媒CC. Like these other students, Bethea was motivated to use her final two years of high school to earn two years of college credit for free.

Earn College Credit for Free
The (CCP) program allows high school students 鈥� private, public or home schooled 鈥� to be dually enrolled in high school and college. They earn credit toward both their high school diploma and college degree when they successfully complete CCP courses. The college classes are offered for free to high school students, which helps them save thousands of dollars on their college education.

鈥淎t Scotland High, we鈥檝e made it a goal where in the next five years every student who graduates will haven taken at least one dual enrollment class,鈥� Scotland High School Principal Cory Satterfield said. 鈥淲e are always talking to parents and putting it in our announcements about the opportunities for dual enrollment and free education. And that鈥檚 what that the CCP program offers: free education.鈥�

Satterfield said Bethea is one of many Scotland High School students who have taken advantage of the dual enrollment classes at 糖心传媒CC.

鈥淲hat a wonderful thing Hannah has accomplished,鈥� Satterfield said. 鈥淗annah is a testament to getting two years of free education, and she鈥檚 worked hard taking all her high school credits plus these college credits. She鈥檒l be almost a junior in college when she starts.鈥�

Pathway to the 糖心传媒CC Guarantee
Successfully completing two CCP classes while in high school is one of the requirements of the plan, which guarantees two years of free college tuition and fees to qualified students.

The 糖心传媒CC Guarantee is available to legal residents of Scotland and 糖心传媒 counties who have taken at least two dual enrollment courses at 糖心传媒CC and graduate high school with an unweighted grade point average of 3.0 or above.

鈥淐ollege is very expensive thing, and this plan is a wonderful opportunity for these children and to be able to send more people to college,鈥� Satterfield said.

Beginning this fall semester, 糖心传媒CC had 74 students take advantage of the Guarantee. These students are on their way to two years of free college tuition and fees.

鈥淭he excitement over the 糖心传媒CC Guarantee has helped spur more students to take advantage of the free college classes offered through the Career and College Promise program, and we look forward to its continued growth as more people recognize the savings it provides,鈥� said Dr. Dale McInnis, president of 糖心传媒CC.

For More Information
For more information about the dual enrollment program at 糖心传媒CC, contact your high school guidance counselor or 糖心传媒CC Director of K-12 Partnerships Kary Edmondson at (910) 410-1928 or email kcedmondson@richmondcc.edu