LCCC offers opportunity for high school students

Lorain County Early College High School program is a great opportunity for students to jump start their college careers.

Lorain County Early College High School program on Lorain County Community College’s campus is a great opportunity for eighth-grade students to earn both a high school diploma and a two-year associate degree at the same time, according to LCCC.

“Each year at the College’s commencement ceremony, I am proud to recognize all of the Early College High School graduates who march across the stage with the LCCC graduating class as they receive their associate degrees,” said LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger. “To be able to earn two degrees by age 18, at no cost to their family and experience life on a college campus, is simply an amazing experience for these students.

“They often have no history or tradition of college in their family, but the small learning community that (Early College High School) gives them provides the support they need to succeed.”

Early College High School began at LCCC in 2003 through a partnership between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Jobs for the Future.

Since then, more than 500 students — about 70 a year — from Elyria, Lorain and around the county have graduated from the program, according to the release.

Collectively, Early College High School students have earned more than 30,000 college credits, which adds up to a cost savings of more than $7 million for local families, the release said.

Now enrolling for fall 2020, priority registration is for students who will be the first in their family to earn a college degree.

They will enter the Early College High School program as ninth-graders through Lorain or Elyria high schools or as an openenrolled student through Elyria.

Students attend all four years on the LCCC campus and take high school and college courses earning dual credit, many students graduating with an associate degree and their high school diploma.

Tuition and books are free.

Mason Repas, of Elyria, graduated from Early College High School last year and is on her way to a bright future, the release said.

When considering enrolling, she says “I saw how LCCC supports student growth, and I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities it afforded students, before, during and after high school,” Repas said.

Repas’ success at Early College High School led her to the Honors College at Cleveland State University in fall 2019, confident she was well prepared, thanks to the associate of arts degree she had earned at LCCC, the release said.

And because she had a leg up on the general education credits that most students spend their first two years in college earning, she has the time and freedom to explore her interests through a variety of experiences, taking a course load that aligns with her passions, according to the release.

“I’m super excited,” Repas said. “I’m ecstatic to be able to study things that interest me and enter a world that, hopefully, I’m going to enjoy spending the rest of my life in.”

Repas’ goal is to complete an English major and theater minor with an eye toward completing CSU’s Master of Urban Secondary Teaching program immediately thereafter.

She said her LCCC experiences have fully prepared her for the demands of college course work.

“All of the Early College academic success coaches and faculty have been instrumental in guiding me over the last four years,” she said. “Those at LCCC truly want students to succeed.”

Several current Early College High School students agree with Repas.

“Early College gives you the opportunity to experience the rigors of college life prior to graduating high school,” said Kaitlyn Armstrong of Lorain.

Malik Jones, also of Lorain, said, “Early College is a challenging and fun environment where everyone cares about you and is willing to help you succeed.”