Early College holds Open House at VGCC Warren Campus

Warren Early College High School held its first Open House on Thursday, August 7 on the Warren County campus of Vance-Granville Community College. Nearly 95 percent of the families were in attendance, according to Danylu Hundley, the principal of the high school. Hundley and Alice Park, the high school’s administrative assistant, greeted students and family members, passed out schedules and answered questions before a “floating” meet and greet session with faculty. Warren County Board of Education member Dr. Charles Grady also visited during the open house. “An atmosphere of excitement about this new opportunity was noted throughout the building,” said Hundley.

Early College programs allow high school students to take both high school and college-level credit classes. At the end of a five-year period, students will graduate from WECHS with both a high school diploma and a two-year college degree. VGCC has partnered with the Warren County public schools on WECHS and with the Vance County public schools on a similar Early College high school on the college’s main campus.

“The early college is an exciting partnership because it provides even more opportunities for our high school students to be successful,” VGCC President Randy Parker said. “Vance-Granville is proud to work with both the Vance and Warren school systems to bring the early college concept to our area.”

Those in attendance at the open house heard from world history teacher Simon Conway, earth/environmental science teacher Kathryn Dodson, English teacher Ryan Hurley, mathematics teacher Betty Anne Shearin, computer facilitator Rowena Lynch, school counselor Loree Harris and VGCC liaison Beth Brockhaus about the vision and expectations of the program.

In addition, students and families toured the facility and completed VGCC applications with the help of VGCC Warren County Campus Director Shelly Taylor and administrative assistant Elisa Rodwell.

Students and their families ended the evening with a reception featuring a large cake welcoming the first WECHS class. The school currently has 62 students, all in the ninth grade.

Above: Simon Conway (standing), the world history teacher at Warren Early College High School, talks with students at the school’s Aug. 7 open house on the VGCC Warren County Campus. (VGCC photo)