Warren Early College students honored for “Earning the Green”
Warren County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College held a special ceremony on Jan. 19 to recognize the achievements of students at Warren Early College High School (WECHS). The first-ever event, held in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus, was entitled the “Earning the Green” celebration. The honorees of the evening were 18 WECHS students who have earned at least 26 hours of college credit. The Early College partnership allows students to simultaneously complete both a high school diploma and a two-year VGCC degree (or up to two years of college-transferable credit) over a five-year period. The students being recognized were among the pioneering first students to enroll at the high school, and will complete the program in 2013.
As WECHS Principal Laurie Baker explained, “All Warren County Schools have school uniform policies, and Warren Early College students may wear black, white, light blue and navy shirts. Because VGCC’s colors are green and gold, students will now have another shirt they can wear: new, green shirts that reflect their great achievement of making significant progress toward earning their associate’s degrees. Thus, students have earned the green.” The green polo shirts are emblazoned with the high school crest and the VGCC Vanguards logo.
The 18 honored students, who also received certificates and embroidered VGCC bags, included: Samantha Carter, Caitlin Conn, Michael Cooper, Kiara Fogg, Cheyenna Francis, Shirlecia Hunt, Kenneth Kearney, Jr., Gary Massenburg, Jr., Jessica Maynard, Tiffany Morgan, Yazmin Obregon, Cristina Paynter, Jennifer Quick, Rey Reyes, Haley Short, Elizabeth Smith, Victoria Sondgeroth and Khadijah Tucker. George Henderson, the Dean of VGCC’s Warren County Campus , commented, “These 18 students have already completed many rigorous college courses along their journey, such as Anthropology and Western Civilization. They are to be commended for their perseverance. Tonight’s program has been years in the making and it is our hope that these students will serve as a shining example for others who will follow in their footsteps.”
WECHS student Michael Cooper brought words of welcome from the rising senior class. “Today we not only recognize the leaders of the future, but the present ambassadors of change,” Cooper said. “It is an honor that we share this accomplishment with you. We make a promise that although this is the first of this type of celebration, it will certainly not be our last. We have only just begun.”
VGCC Interim President Dr. Angela Ballentine, who formerly served as VGCC vice president of instruction, was directly involved in the establishment of Warren Early College High School in 2008. Ballentine noted the level of maturity she has observed over the years with WECHS and its students. “These students have shown persistence, determination and commitment to their education,” Ballentine said. “We know they will go out into the world as fine representatives of Warren County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College. As members of this first class of Warren Early College High School, you have a unique opportunity and have a head start on many of your peers. Make the most of your Warren Early College experience and remember to appreciate all of the support and encouragement you have received.”
Donald Seifert, Sr., Chairman of the VGCC Board of Trustees, spoke on the extended partnership VGCC continues to maintain with Warren County Schools. “On January 28, 2008, the Board of Trustees approved a proposal to begin offering Early College programs in partnership with Warren County Schools and Vance County Schools beginning that fall,” Seifert said. “The students we are honoring this evening are among those pioneers who signed up in 2008 and started a new chapter in the history of Vance-Granville Community College. Their success encouraged us to expand early college partnerships in Franklin and Granville counties. We now have four high schools under the Vance-Granville Community College umbrella. We are so proud of the students who are earning the green and we are deeply proud of the partnership they represent, which has earned positive recognition for the college and the school system on the local, state, and national levels.”
Dr. Charles Grady, Chairman of the WCS Board of Education, made further remarks about the rewarding partnership the school district has with VGCC and extended his personal congratulations to the honored students. “These young people represent the future of this country,” Grady said. “I have a lot of confidence in young people today and I believe these students sitting before you are those people who are willing to take charge when their time has come. The future is in great hands. I would also like to thank the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees for all of their help and ongoing assistance. I hope they will continue to be invested in the success of our students.”
Warren County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ray Spain commented, “Vance-Granville Community College and Warren County Schools have a great working relationship…We started out with this class being 62 students, and the students who we are honoring are the ones who have stuck with it. One of the reasons for having this program is to let them know how special they are to Warren County. They have proven something by their presence on VGCC campus as well as their efforts to receive an associate’s degree. It’s amazing to even consider high school students receiving college credits. This proves that we have bright young students in our school district who are very capable and we are proud of them.”
Student Victoria Sondgeroth spoke on behalf of her classmates on their experience at WECHS by describing the journey as a rewarding “roller-coaster” ride. “Our educational experience in the past four years has been that of a roller-coaster,” said Sondegeroth. “Over the years much has taken place as we grew as high school students, but more so college students. We have all been impacted individually as well as a family. Getting to where we are now was not easy. After talking to my classmates, many have pointed out that the thing they get most out of this program and going to this school was the bond that was created between each other and those around us. The freedom of being able to choose our classes of interest has helped us become more interested and motivated to pass. We could not have made it this far without the support of each other, our teachers, principals, parents and many more around us.”
The guest speaker for the event was De McKenzie, a former public school educator who currently serves as program director for the N.C. New Schools Project, which helps develop Early College high schools across the state. “Statistics say that once students have achieved 21 college credits, they typically go on and complete a four-year college degree,” McKenzie said during his remarks. “You’ve already achieved that milestone.”
Above: Warren Early College High School students honored at the Earning the Green celebration included, seated, from left to right: Yazmin Obregon, Khadijah Tucker, Cristina Paynter, Cheyenna Francis and Victoria Sondgeroth, Kiara Fogg; standing in back, from left to right: Jennifer Quick, Caitlin Conn, Haley Short, Shirlecia Hunt, Gary Massenburg, Jr., Kenneth Kearney, Jr., Samantha Carter, Michael Cooper, Tiffany Morgan, Elizabeth Smith and Rey Reyes.
