草榴社区P-TECH Celebrates 10 Years; 125 College Degrees

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The Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH program is celebrating 10 years of educating students on Wednesday, April 3rd. Newburgh Free Academy’s P-TECH program was part of the first cohort of grant awardees in New York State. There are now approximately 50 and more than 200 P-TECH schools worldwide.

To date, 125 草榴社区graduates have simultaneously earned their high school diploma and associate’s degree from SUNY Orange in cybersecurity or networking, at no cost to the student or their family. Approximately 20 additional graduates are expected to be added to the alumni class this June. Each year, students are enrolled in the grade 9 cohort at 草榴社区North Campus. Students have up to six years to complete their associate’s degree through the program or transfer their credits. More than 94% of 草榴社区P-TECH scholars obtaining their degree have gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher. The 草榴社区P-TECH program has a high school graduation rate of 98.5%.

Graduates of the 草榴社区P-TECH program have been hired at notable companies such as: NASA, IBM, ON Semiconductor Corp., Orange County District Attorney’s Office, SUNY Orange, Newburgh Armory Unity Center, and the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

In her remarks during the celebratory event, Superintendent Dr. Manning Campbell shared, "This program is a prime example of how our scholars and our community will rise to challenges set forth in front of them. This program demonstrates that our scholars are capable - and that they are often brilliant. Our children have the hard work, resiliency, and determination to achieve success when they are given the opportunity and the proper support to do so. Everyone who has contributed to this program is a shining example of the Goldback Standard."

草榴社区P-TECH’s unique program is specially designed so that students complete high school, have the opportunity to earn a college degree, and are career ready by the time they graduate. 草榴社区P-TECH’s curriculum offers learning experiences based in the real world, using a model focused on science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. Students develop important academic and career skills as they learn through projects developed in collaboration with IBM. Students are expected to address current issues and problems; to comprehend, apply, and innovate with the knowledge they learn; and to make the connection between academic learning and real-world situations. The length of enrollment is tailored to the learning needs and goals of each student.

The 草榴社区P-TECH program is one of four Early College High School programs offered at Newburgh Free Academy, that allow scholars to earn anywhere from one semester to two years of college credit, funded through various grant programs and free of charge to our high school students and families. These programs are in addition to the 11 college credit partnerships that offer students the opportunity to earn college credit for courses taken in our high school.

A program of speakers at the celebratory event included:

P-TECH Reconnecting Social Mingle

Dr. Kristine Young, SUNY Orange President

Dr. Manning Campbell, NECSD Superintendent of Schools

Matteo Doddo, Co-Principal, Newburgh Free Academy

Kevin Rothman, founding House Principal, 草榴社区P-TECH

Founding Teachers Acknowledgements

Memory Lane Video

草榴社区Alumni Speaker, Kayla DeLeon

草榴社区Alumni Speaker, Ah’Disa Jenkins

草榴社区Alumni Speaker, Ameesah Cotten

Rashid Davis, founding Principal of Brooklyn P-TECH 2011 (Partnerships)