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BE2 in the Myrtle Beach Herald
It was all smiles on Tuesday at Horry-Georgetown Technical College as a $10,000 check was presented to the Early College High School program by Bank of America. From left, Shep Guyton, HGTC President Neyle Wilson, Bank of America executive Clark Vereen, ECHS Principal Joan Grimmett, and Fank McIntyre of Bank of America.
Horry-Georgetown Tech’s Early College High School gets a raise
October 18, 2007 - October 24, 2007 Myrtle Beach Herald
By Steve Porter
Conway—The Bank of America had a pleasant surprise for the fledgling Early College High School program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College on Tuesday. The bank, for the second year in a row, presented a check to the school to be used in continuing the funding for the program. This year, it was double the amount that it gave the school last year.
The $10,000 ceremonial check was presented during a luncheon at HGTC’s Fowler Dining Room at the Culinary Arts center.
The meal was prepared by Culinary Arts students and was a step above what is usually served at luncheons on the Grand Strand. Attendees had the option of a double crab-cake platter or filet mignon with a mushroom sauce.
Students, school officials and guests had a chance to compare notes on the first year of the program. They discussed the students’ summer intern work at a number of local companies including the Marriott Hotel, the Bellamy Law Firm, AVX, Horry Telephone, Burroughs & Chapin, and even the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s office, as well as other local companies who have provided counseling and intern opportunities to the students in the program.
The check was presented to HGTC President Neyle Wilson and ECHS Principal Joan Grimmett by Bank of America executive Clark Vereen.
The ECHS system that was launched last year began with a core of about 100 students but has grown now to about 200 freshmen and sophomore students.
Each begins his or her high school at the technical college campus in Conway. In the first year, the student takes mainly a basic high school curriculum. As students move into the second year they can begin to choose courses that will prepare them for graduation from not only high school after the usual four years, but also provide them with a two year technical college degree, which they receive on graduation from high school.
Along the way, they have the option of following an education track that will allow them to come out of the school fully trained in a skill that will lead them immediately into work, or they can choose a more academic direction that will give them the opportunity to transfer as junior class members into virtually any major university in the state with an eye toward getting a full four year bachelor’s degree.
What is different from most special programs of the ECHS ilk is that it does not seek to recruit highly motivated students who would normally do very well in high school anyway. Instead it seeks out students who display academic skills but perhaps don’t have the home support or other motivation to study hard enough to get a college degree.
The program provides not only traditional education in high school and college courses, but also individual mentoring and intern opportunities that are not often found in high school.
In return the students must show that they are motivated to meet the school’s goals in order to remain in the program.
In the background of the program on a national scale are some of its prestigious financial supporters including the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
