Along with earning their high school diplomas, 19 high school students received their two-year associate degrees as graduates of Clark State Community College. The students enrolled at Clark State through Ohio’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program and graduated with the class of 2019 at spring commencement.
“College Credit Plus students are determined, driven and hardworking,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State. “This year we are exceptionally proud to have a record 19 high school graduates also earning their associate degrees. These graduates have a head-start on their futures, and Clark State is honored to have made that possible for them.”
The state-funded CCP program allows students to earn college credits while in grades 7-12 at no cost. Students can enroll in courses at Clark State and receive credit for high school requirements and for college credit. These credits may be used at Clark State or for transfer to another college or university after high school graduation. This state-funded program covers tuition, books and fees.
Students may choose to: take courses on one of Clark State’s campuses or online; take courses at their high school; or take courses during the summer semester.
During the 2018-2019 academic year,Clark State saved CCP students $3,460,598.90 in tuition; and since the inception of the formal CCP program in the fall of 2015, Clark State has saved students $11,134,616.64 in tuition.
In the spring 2019 semester alone, more than 2,427 high school students were enrolled at Clark State taking 13,378 credit hours.
Springfield’s Global Impact STEM Academy topped the list of high school enrollees with 558 students taking 1,827 credit hours at Clark State.
“College Credit Plus has benefited over 500 Global Impact students this year alone,” said Jamison Truebenbach, chief academic officer at Global Impact STEM Academy. “Students have had the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of teaching styles and an array of content that will prepare them for their future endeavors. I could not be more pleased with our relationship with Clark State and the success of our students.”
2019 Clark State graduate Rachel Judy was a student at Ohio Virtual Academy; she began taking classes at Clark State in 2015. Judy received her high school diploma, Computer Programming certificate and an associate degree in Technical Studies. She plans to transfer to a four-year college and earn a bachelor’s in computer engineering.
“CCP has given me the chance to take advanced coursework and take college courses early,” said Judy. “The transfer credit will hopefully cut off at least a year on my bachelor’s. In particular, CCP gave me the opportunity to work with great professors who encouraged and helped me to choose my career path.”
Judy is also a member of Alpha Nu Lambda – Clark State’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society – and served as a tutor in the Student Academic Support Center on Clark State’s Springfield campus.