Class of ’15 – no excuses!

For many Clarendon County ninth graders the prospect of getting a college education is rather dim.

Perhaps finances are a problem. Perhaps those perfect grades just can’t be achieved. Perhaps the lure to drop out is greater than the challenge of staying in school and getting a high school diploma.

But thanks to an innovative and somewhat experimental program, Clarendon’s current ninth graders have an opportunity to have all those obstacles swept away.

Dr. Tim Hardee, president of Central Carolina Technical College presented the college’s Clarendon Scholars program at the 2012 Clarendon Chamber of Commerce retreat in Greenville.

“Several years ago, I heard a presentation in Tennessee where educators there had determined that a better educated workforce could measurably improved the economic health of a community,” Dr. Hardee said.

“I realized that the average age of our student base was 28 years old. I knew that at 28, students had gained the maturity and real world experience to know the value of two or four years of college. We knew that many kids with ‘just’ a high school diploma were working in lower rate jobs with really no marketable skills but were coming back 10 years later. I wanted to see what we could do to encourage kids to come to us directly out of high school.”

Hardee said he recognized that CCTC had already developed a good partnership with both the public and private high schools in the county. With the approval of the CCTC board, Hardee proposes to offer the Class of 2015, this year’s ninth graders, something they really can’t (or at least shouldn’t) refuse …

A free, two-year college education in any program that CCTC offers at any of its campuses.

Here’s the deal:

Scholarship recipients must finished school on time – this year’s ninth graders must graduate in 2015;

Maintain a “C” average;

Test ready for college level work via the SAT, ACT or Compass test.

That’s it!

Students who can achieve those relatively simple criteria will be afforded a full scholarship to CCTC, currently valued at about $1,690 a semester.

Hardee said this opportunity offers students and their parents a great deal.

“When we looked at the average Clarendon County student, about 70 percent are eligible for some sort of financial aid. Combine that with lottery assistance scholarships, and whatever the balance is, CCTC will make up the difference,” he said.

That difference, Hardee said, would vary according to the student’s status; but he felt secure the plan was highly feasible.

“Even if students want to go on to earn four-year degrees, this is a good plan for families,” Hardee added.

“The average in-state, public four-year college costs parents and students about $5,000 a semester. Students who stay here to get their first two years in, can live at home, save money and be better prepared to face the added expense of going away to college at a much high tuition rate.”

The program is a win-win for local economic development, said John Truluck, executive director of the Clarendon Development Board.

“We know that the majority of the jobs that are being created in the world today require a two-year higher education degree, but not necessarily a four-year degree, but certainly more than a high school diploma. Tim’s plan to provide a guaranteed two-year degree is pretty significant,” Truluck noted.

“The jobs we see in manufacturing are requiring more technical skills than they ever have before. The tech college system was formed to meet the need of employers across to state and this is a perfect example of CCTC trying to do that.”

Truluck said that one of his continuing challenges in attracting industry – and jobs – to Clarendon County is trying to prove that the county has the necessary trained workforce available.

“This is a unique program and gives us something that no one else currently has in their marketing program to industry. It sends a great message to industry about our community and our college: that we are seriously addressing the education of our workforce. It’s tremendous,” he added.

Hardee said that the grade attainment level was set at the “C” level to open up a wider pool of eligibility.

“We know not every student can be an ‘A’ student,” Hardee said. “But we also know that a ‘C’ average student with the appropriate technical education, also has outstanding potential for learning a good-paying trade.”

Clarendon will be the pilot county in this program and as such, the offer is currently offered only to the Class of 2015.

“All future offers will be based on how this pilot project goes in the next four years,” Hardee stated.

Information is being prepared to send home with the county’s ninth graders and meetings will be held in all five high schools across the county for parents and students alike to come, ask questions and hear about the Clarendon Scholars program and how a FREE college education might be available for them.