Scholarships in hand, Granville Early College graduates move on to next level
This month, many members of the Granville Early College High School Class of 2015 are continuing their education at the four-year level after earning up to two years of college credit at Vance-Granville Community College. The 42-member graduating class received a total of more than $186,000 in scholarship money from a variety of universities.
Three of the largest scholarship awards were received by Shalondra Brown of Oxford, Brandi Celia of Creedmoor and Gabrielle “Gabby” Johnson of Oxford. All three graduated from GECHS with not just one but two college transfer degrees from VGCC: an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science .
Brown is off to Salem College in Winston-Salem, with support from the institution’s Heritage Scholarship, which is awarded each year to a student who has demonstrated excellent academic achievement as well as significant extracurricular involvement. The scholarship is worth $76,000 over four years.
"My experience with Vance-Granville has been incredible,” Brown said. She remarked on the bonds she had formed with VGCC instructors and highlighted the support she had received from VGCC liaison Reba Bullock and her high school counselor, Olivia Banks. “They worked endlessly to help us achieve our goals and get where we need to go,” Brown recalled. “They encouraged us and pushed us to our limits, treating us as if we were their very own children.”
Academically, Brown feels that her experience has prepared her well for the next level. “I know going into a four-year institution what to expect mostly, and now, I know that I can do it,” she said. “Early College was my savior. It became available to me at the perfect time. It provided me with the environment that I needed, which is a quiet, small, personal and independent space. I think I knew at least 90% of the school by name, and I loved that. I also loved the fact that I could earn an Associate in Arts degree as well as an Associate in Science degree without having to pay for it.”
Most of Brown’s VGCC credits transferred to Salem, meaning that even though she is a first-year student there, she has the equivalent standing of a junior. She plans to graduate by 2018 with a B.S. in Biology focusing on Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a minor in Spanish, and then move on to N.C. State School of Veterinary Medicine to study primatology. “I don't think I would be where I am today without Early College and all of the people I encountered there,” Brown said. She encourages all middle school students to “take a chance” on an Early College program, which, she pointed out, will involve hard work, but also “a fulfilling sense at the end, being able to say, 'I made it.’”
Celia has transferred to Wingate University, where she is a pre-pharmacy major. “That will take two years, and then I plan on going to Wingate's School of Pharmacy to become a pharmacist,” she said. She has received Wingate’s Trustee Scholarship, worth $20,000 per year, plus $2,000 per year from Wingate for a transfer scholarship specifically designated for members of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges. She was inducted into VGCC’s chapter of PTK in 2014.
“As I transition into the four year setting, I've realized how VGCC prepared me,” Celia said. “I already have learned the best study skills for myself, learned how to talk to instructors, manage my time, and register for classes, which many freshmen can't say.” She calls enrolling in GECHS the best decision she ever made. “How many people can say they graduated at 17 with their high school diploma and two associate’s degrees? VGCC gave me a great start into the college life,” Celia added.
Johnson, meanwhile, is enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which has awarded her a “Carolina Covenant” scholarship worth approximately $24,320. The Carolina Covenant ensures that eligible UNC students graduate debt-free, while also providing mentoring and support programs to help guide students to graduation. Johnson said she is a Global Studies and Pre-Med student. She plans to go on to medical school and pursue a career as a surgeon or anesthesiologist.
“Participating in the Early College program has helped me in so many ways,” Johnson said. “Taking classes at VGCC helped me to prepare for college-level thinking and testing, and the program has given me the chance to become more independent and prepared for not only college, but the real world. I’m so glad that I was able to be a part of Early College, and I'd definitely recommend this program to any student.”
Granville Early College High School is a partnership of VGCC and the Granville County Schools system .
Above, from left: Shalondra Brown of Oxford, Brandi Celia of Creedmoor and Gabrielle “Gabby” Johnson of Oxford, all pictured on VGCC's Main Campus. (VGCC photos)
