26 Coatesville Area Senior High School Students Receive Delaware County Community College Associate Degrees Prior to Receiving Their High School Diplomas
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • June 1, 2022)—The largest number of High School Dual Enrollment students from one school at one time in Delaware County Community College’s history received associate degrees this year at the College’s Commencement on May 19, prior to graduating from high school.
To mark the momentous occasion, the College hosted a light dinner banquet and a special recognition ceremony for the Coatesville Area Senior High School (CASH) students and their families yesterday at the CASH auditorium. The event included medallions that the College made especially for the students and certificates of achievement in honor of their remarkable accomplishment, including achievement certificates from Pennsylvania State Senators Carolyn Comitta and Katie Muth. The students will graduate from their high school on Thursday, June 9.
The students started this Structured Pathway as 10th graders, taking classes at the College’s Exton Center, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday through Friday, and then returning to the high school in the afternoon. One of three High School Dual Enrollment delivery models offered by the College, the Liberal Arts Structured Pathway program includes a prescribed set of courses offered over three years that allow high school students to earn 62 college credits toward the completion of the associate degree. On average, the students earned a 3.53 grade point average.
Many of the CASH students have been able to transfer their college credits to area four-year colleges and universities, saving them money and shortening the time it takes for them to attain a baccalaureate degree. Also, ten (10) students reported receiving a total of more than $200,000 in scholarships. For example, CASH High School Dual Enrollment student Lilly Kirchhofer received a $40,000 Academic Achievers Award to West Chester University and Jaleah Bowman-Blanton received a full scholarship to attend Cheyney University.
“Structured Pathways enables Coatesville Area Senior High School students to take high quality, college-credit classes while still in high school, saving them money and time toward earning a college credential, and most importantly, helping them become acclimated to college-level coursework prior to entering college,” says Delaware County Community College President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black.
The 26 CASH High School Dual Enrollment students who received associate degrees before graduating from high school include: Jaleah Bowman-Blanton, Stephanny Calle, Chaelee Crane, Alaina DiVirgilio, Cassidy Evans, Elizabeth Fuentes, Jordyn Gehris, Sophia Given, Paola Gonzalez, Abigail Howard, Jack Johnston, Lilly Kirchhofer, Emma Kline, Keara Last, Sophia Long, Samuel Miller, Marc Moncrief, Elise Rubert, Jenna Rutledge, Kaitlyn Spitz, Jacob Stewart, Bryan Taylor, Kori Thomas, Claudia Vara-Alvirde, Kylie Wooden and Niya Zurcher.
Photo Caption (above): The 26 Coatesville Area Senior High School (CASH) dual enrollment students who earned associate degrees prior to graduating from high school are pictured with Delaware County Community College President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black and Coatesville Area School District Interim President Dr. Richard Dunlap Jr., both seated in the middle of the students.
President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black with CASH High School Dual Enrollment student Lilly Kirchhofer, who plans to attend West Chester University where she received a $40,000 Academic Achievers Award scholarship.
President Dr. L. Joy Gates Black with CASH High School Dual Enrollment student Jaleah Bowman-Blanton, who plans to attend Cheyney University and has received a full scholarship.
