On June 24, the ACCESS College Foundation held its annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon in Chesapeake, Virginia. Local student participation in this event was a first for the Eastern Shore as ten Scholars from Northampton County High School were recognized.  These students were acknowledged as a group at the beginning of the awards presentation, and it was a joyous time for those of us from the Shore to have the pleasure of acknowledging them and their accomplishments.  The Northampton County High School graduates have been accepted at the following institutions:  Christopher Newport University, George Mason University, Hampton University, Radford University, Randolph-Macon College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Wesleyan College, and Warren Wilson College.
Several of these students will be taking with them college credits – an average of 13 credit hours –  and thus a college GPA which they earned through dual enrollment course offerings at Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC). Dual enrollment offers several advantages for high school students, including introducing students to the rigors of college coursework early, and it allows students to start accumulating college credits, which may help them graduate on time or even early.  Recent studies have shown that students who participate in dual-enrollment programs are more likely to go on to get a college degree (source: StudyPoint: Dual Enrollment Programs: The Pros and Cons).

We at ESCC wish the ACCESS Scholars much success in their academic pursuits and are pleased to have played a role in helping them to be successful as they move forward in their academic careers.

Submitted by Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover, Ph.D.

President, Eastern Shore Community College.