FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2006
Media Contact: Michael Corby
904.632.3310

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Early College High School program to graduate first two Lee High School students tonight at FCCJ Kent Campus

The first two Lee High School students to graduate through the Early College High School program at Florida Community College’s Kent Campus will graduate with their high school diplomas — and their associate in arts degrees Thursday, December 14 at 6 p.m. in the Kent Campus Auditorium, Bldg. D, Room 120.

According to Kent Campus Dual Enrollment Coordinator Naita Guine, graduate Brittney Johnson will continue her education at the University of Florida in the fall, while Ibnijah Ross will continue his business program at University of North Florida in January 2007. Both students will address the audience and their fellow classmates tonight. Although Johnson and Ross are the first two students to graduate through this program, 15 more students are due to graduate in May. The program at Kent currently has 114 sophomores, juniors and seniors with 92 freshmen waiting to enter the program.

The first ECHS class, based at Lee High School, was established in the fall of 2003. In the fall of 2005, a second site was established at Ribault High School and is affiliated with the North Campus. When both programs are fully operational, it is anticipated that as many as 800 students will participate College-wide each year.

ECHS is a unique initiative that involves a partnership between Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) and Florida Community College. Initial funding for the ECHS program came from seed money awarded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program now is fully supported by the partnership between DCPS and the College.

The ECHS collaboration between the College and DCPS seeks to identify students who typically might not pursue higher education after high school. It offers college-level curriculum and instruction under a distinctive dual-enrollment model. The goal is both to mentor students who often forgo higher education to attend college and to provide these youths with the background and skills needed to succeed in that environment.

The graduation program will begin at 6 p.m. with remarks from Kent Campus President Margarita Cabral-Maly and College President Steven Wallace. Keynote speaker is Board of Trustees Chairman N. Wyman Winbush II.

Kent Campus is located at 3939 Roosevelt Blvd.