FLOYD COUNTYS ELITE 8 TO GRADUATE COLLEGE WEEKS BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL
Imagine graduating high school with an associate degree.
Scratch that.
Imagine graduating college with an associate degree two weeks before your high school
graduation.
Thats the reality of a group of students from the Floyd County School District appropriately
called the Elite 8.
Eight high school seniors from across Floyd County will participate in Big Sandy Community
and Technical Colleges commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 9, at the Mountain Arts
Center, weeks before getting their diplomas at their respective high school graduations.
This will mark the inaugural class of the Floyd County Early College Academy.
Its a unique experience, said Blake Baldridge, 18, of Blue River. The Prestonsburg
High School student will graduate with an Associate in Arts degree from BSCTC. He
plans to attend the University of Kentucky next year and major in mine engineering.
This is an opportunity that I thought I would never have.
Criteria for earning a spot in the Floyd County Early College Academy is stringent.
Students must not only meet the criteria for admission to BSCTC, but also meet GPA
requirements, and community involvement and extra-curricular activities.
This has really stressed the importance of the ACT test to our students as freshmen
and sophomores, said April Steele, coordinator of the Gifted and Talented program
and Floyd County Early College Academy liaison with Floyd County Schools. This has
been one of the best things to ever happen in our school district.
The Floyd County Early College Academy started two years ago as a partnership between
Big Sandy Community and Technical College and the Floyd County School District. Because
of the partnership and strong working relationship, students do not incur any cost.
We wanted to extend learning and provide students the tools to be successful, said
Dr. Henry Webb, superintendent of Floyd County Schools. We are very thankful for the
partnership with Big Sandy Community and Technical College. We had a big dream and
none of this would be possible without their continued support.
Students are fully immersed in campus life at BSCTC. They are transported daily to
the colleges Prestonsburg campus and take 17 credit hours a semester.
College is more about what you do with the opportunity, said Haley Howell, 18, of
Prestonsburg. The Prestonsburg High School student plans on attending Morehead State
University and become a nurse practitioner. I think we have handled it well, but it
was an adjustment.
Troy Williamson, 18, of McDowell, is a student at South Floyd High School and will
graduate with an Associate in Arts degree from BSCTC. He said high school offered
him limited curriculum and attending BSCTC him to develop and open my perspective
to a new level.
Williamson, who will graduate with an Associate in Arts degree from BSCTC, will attend
Columbia College in Chicago in the fall where he will major in vocal performance and
art management.
Brooke Hatfield, 18, of Prestonsburg, will continue her studies at BSCTC in the fall
where she hopes to pursue a career in nursing.
Its amazing that I could have the opportunity to start nursing school right out of
high school, said Hatfield, a student at Prestonsburg High School. I feel fortunate
to have this opportunity to get two years of college for free.
Hatfield, who will earn an Associate in Science degree from BSCTC, hopes to earn a
baccalaureate degree from Morehead State University in nursing before entering the
workforce.
Austin Bailey is one of youngest of the graduates. The 17-year-old Prestonsburg High
School student has already been accepted in the nursing program at Morehead State
University this fall. He will graduate with an Associate in Science degree from BSCTC.
Im very grateful for the opportunity and thrilled I am in the nursing program at Morehead
State, he said. I couldnt have asked for anything better.
Ashley Crager, 17, of Martin, is a student at Allen Central High School. She plans
to study pre-dentistry at Morehead State University.
In high school, you get a lot of study guides, said Crager, who will graduate with
an Associate in Science degree from BSCTC. Its a lot different in college, but Im
very thankful to the faculty who always extended a hand to help us through this.
Joslyn Isaac, 18, of Hi Hat, will graduate with an Associate in Science degree from
BSCTC. The South Floyd High School student plans on attending the University of Kentucky
and majoring in biology. Her goal is to eventually go to medical school and become
an emergency room physician or orthopedic surgeon.
This has been the best experience of my academic life, said Isaac. I dont see anything
comparing to this other than medical school.
Ashleigh Hayton, 17, of Oil Springs, also wants to be a physician. The Prestonsburg
High School student will attend Morehead University where she plans to major in biology
and attend medical school.
The faculty here at Big Sandy were so helpful, she said. They truly care about your
success.
Dr. Tom Vierheller, a professor of biology at BSCTC, said he found the Floyd County
Early College Academy students extremely gifted and motivated when they entered his
class.
I have had the pleasure of seeing these students grow in maturity and better study
skills through this program, he said. The Floyd County Early College Academy offers
students challenging classes that will help them be better prepared for future college
work as they complete their Associate Degrees with us at Big Sandy.
Dr. George D. Edwards, president and CEO of Big Sandy Community and Technical College,
said the partnership with the Floyd County Early College Academy demonstrates a commitment
to student success.
This partnership allows high school students to experience college with the support
of a high school environment, said Dr. Edwards. Were very proud of the students and
honored to partner with the Floyd County School district in this exciting endeavor.