Class Of 2024 Celebrated at Washington County Early College High School Graduation

Washington County Early College High School celebrated the Class of 2024 at its sixth commencement in Creswell, N.C. The dual enrollment school, which allows students to start taking college courses while in high school, saw 17 students presented with high school diplomas, 13 of whom also received associate degrees through Beaufort County Community College.

Students who also earned degrees through Beaufort CCC had participated in a larger ceremony with graduates from the college and other early college high school students on May 10. The graduates are headed off to universities or other community colleges. At least three of the students plan to continue their education at Beaufort CCC to complete their degree or complete an additional degree.

As the salutatorian and the valedictorian, respectively, Ainya Fitzgerald and Rachel Price delivered speeches to their class, and Dr. David White, Washington County Schools interim superintendent, and Dr. Dave Loope, Beaufort County Community College president, both delivered inspirational speeches to their graduates.

Brandon Lewis, Beaufort CCC’s high school liaison to Washington County Early College High School, handed out recognitions to the students who earned degrees through the college. Darmarie Andrews, Marquice Bell, Zaccheaus, Carmack, Josiah Escobar, Ainya Fitzgerald, Aubrey Lloyd, E’Naysia Lucas, Hannah Perry, Josiah Price, Rachel Price, and La’Trell Purvis all received an Associate in Arts through Beaufort CCC. Luckedra Jackson and Mariela Santos earned an Associate in Science. Rachel Price earned both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science.

Beaufort CCC also partners with Columbia Early College High School, Hyde Academy, and Beaufort County Early College High School, and qualified students from all area high schools can take free college classes through Career and College Promise.

Early college high school students go to high school classes for their first two years, later transitioning to taking college classes just like any other college students on the Beaufort CCC campus. At the end of their education, they earn a high school diploma, and most of them also earn one or more associate degrees.

Beaufort CCC wishes all the best to its early college students.