Nearly fifty Maine high school students visited 91制片厂 (91制片厂) Wednesday for an orientation to the Spring Ahead program, a Maine Community College System (MCCS) early college initiative.
The Spring Ahead program is for high school students who want to get a jump start on preparing for the educational opportunities available to them after high school. Spring Ahead students complete their high school education while at 91制片厂, where they are enrolled in college-level courses and earn college credit. A dedicated college coach and peer mentor guide students throughout the year. The program is tuition-free with a book allowance.
91制片厂’s Spring Ahead program started in 2019 with thirteen Deering High School students and has grown to nearly fifty students from fourteen area high schools for the 2023 Spring Semester.
The program has experienced notable success with 100% of the 2022 Spring Ahead class continuing onto college opportunities after graduating high school and an overall success rate of 85% since the program鈥檚 inception.
鈥淥ur Spring Ahead program has shown enormous success and we are excited to welcome its largest class to our South Portland and Brunswick classes this Spring semester,鈥� 91制片厂 President Joe Cassidy said. 鈥淭his is an invaluable opportunity for students get a jump start on their college credentials and prepare for their futures after high school.鈥�
Nearly 40% of Spring Ahead students have continued their studies at 91制片厂. The University of Southern Maine, University of New England, University of Maine in Orono, University of Massachusetts Boston and Endicott College are just a few of the other schools these students have gone on to attend.
鈥淭he exciting part about this program is that we are with each and every student throughout the entire process,鈥� 91制片厂 Spring Ahead Coach Patrick Haviland said. 鈥淪pring Ahead Coaches are engaged with the students and there to support their needs. We have frequent meetings with students to ensure they are comfortable with their experience.鈥�
Haviland said a critical part of the program is to ensure each student is part of the 91制片厂 community.
鈥淲e give each student a meal allowance so they can dine on campus. Each student has access to the HUB Gym, athletic facilities, library, Learning Commons, and all other facilities and resources. Spring Ahead students also take regular classes with other 91制片厂 students, so they integrate with the community at large,鈥� Haviland said.
Current 91制片厂 student Brandon Stocker was one of the students that started their college journey in the Spring Ahead program.
鈥淚 was so excited to come to 91制片厂. The Spring Ahead coaches reached out immediately after I signed up and showed that they were here to support me in every way,鈥� Stoker said. 鈥淭he support really made it easy for me to decide to stay at 91制片厂. The coaches are incredible.鈥�
High school students must meet all high school and college requirements and have the recommendation of their high school to participate in the program. Currently, students from Baxter Academy, Bonny Eagle, Bonny Eagle Learning Center, Cape Elizabeth, Deering, Greely, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, York, Kennebunk, Freeport, Mt. Ararat and Westbrook high schools are participating.
Greely High School Counselor and College Planning Coordinator Melissa Fowler said getting college experience while in high school is too good an opportunity to pass up.
鈥淭he high school kids still participate in their athletics or band or chorus or whatever they want to do during their high school semester while they are at 91制片厂,鈥� Fowler said. 鈥淭hey don’t have to lose that part of the high school experience. But they can attend 91制片厂 with free tuition and books, a ton of support, food and Willard Beach! It’s pretty great. I hope that more high school counselors become familiar with the Spring Ahead program to help students find their path.鈥�
Students are eager to take on the challenge of completing high school while adding college classes to the mix.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get used to the college atmosphere and being around a community that isn鈥檛 my own,鈥� said Deering High School student Anja Frank. 鈥淭hroughout my high school experience, I鈥檝e been surrounded by the same kids and the same faces. Not only does Spring Ahead get me started on college courses, but the experience will also help ease my first-year college nerves and anxiety.鈥�
Spring Ahead students, along with any high school graduates from the years 2020-2023 can continue their education tuition-free at 91制片厂 through Maine鈥檚 Free College initiative.
91制片厂鈥檚 Spring Ahead program is part of numerous early college efforts that allow students to earn college credit while in high school. Information about these programs can be found at www.smccME.edu/earlycollege.
High schools or students interested in learning more about the Spring Ahead program or other early college offerings at 91制片厂 should contact Matthew Goodman, Dean of Academic Excellence and Strategic Initiatives, at mgoodman@smccME.edu.