Germanna Scholars Program launched at Daniel Technology Center

Germanna Community College launched its Germanna Scholars Program at GCC’s Daniel Center in Culpeper Friday.

Twenty-four students from Eastern View and Culpeper County high schools began their studies at Germanna.

 They’ll be able to earn associate’s degrees in May 2016, the month before they graduate from high school, through a combination of Dual Enrollment and co-enrollment classes taught by Germanna faculty members. Students in the program earn credit for classes that may be transferred to four-year colleges and universities.

 “Sounded like a pretty darn good idea,” said Brett Leake, a junior at Eastern View whose mother Sharon is a nursing faculty member at GCC.

 “I’m kind of excited to get my associate’s degree and graduate while I’m still in high school,” said Travis Jackson, another junior at Eastern View.

They’ll be able to accomplish this entirely at Germanna’s Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center, without leaving Culpeper County. They’re bused from their high schools to the Daniel Center in the morning, then back for afternoon classes at Culpeper and Eastern View.

 “We have an excellent group for our first Germanna Scholars cohort” said Germanna Dean of Student Development Pam Frederick. “I’m very impressed. They’re intelligent, motivated and well prepared.” 

The program begins with this group of 25 students. Plans are for a second 25 to enter the program in August 2015.

Germanna’s tuition, currently $139 per credit hour, is one third to half that of a typical four-year college, so families of students working toward a bachelor’s degree often see substantial savings.

 The Culpeper County Public Schools identified eligible students based on financial need and submitted those lists to the GCC Education Foundation. Eligible students receive financial assistance towards their tuition, fees, and books, in accordance with available funds.

Otherwise, participating students will pay the tuition and fees set for Germanna by the State Board for Community Colleges. The high schools will collect the tuition and fees from the students and the college will bill the schools on a semester basis.

The college will provide Culpeper County Public School officials with progress reports on each student. At the conclusion of each college academic term, the student will receive a college grade for each course in which he or she was registered and such grades will become part of the student's permanent college record.

The Germanna Scholars class of 2016:

Geri Lynn Beamer

Jennifer Elizabeth Bosserman

Emily Caroline Boutchyard

Wyatt Richard Coughlin

Brianna Nicole Deleon

Wiliiam Jeffrey Dietz

Alexis Brianna Green

Hadiya Nicole Hairston

Emily Rose Henderliter

Tramayne Rachell Huguely

Travis Eugene Jackson

Austin Troy Kauffmann

Rachel Elizabeth Kidwell

Brett Austen Leake

David William Nichols III

Maya Robyn Perez

Katherine Aileen Portillo

Emily Elizabeth Ray

Jessica Nicole Ritz

Teneshia Renae Robinson

Esther Afi Sewordor

Noah Linn Shealy

Rachel Katharine Smith

Matthew Owen Wall

###