Dual Credit Saving Students Time and Money Annice Brave: Teacher
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Dual Credit Saving Students Time and Money Annice Brave: Teacher
Dual Credit Saving Students Time and Money Lewis and Clark’s High School Partnership program offers students at 18 area schools the opportunity to start earning college credits before they leave high school. For some, that means getting the opportunity to start college as a sophomore, taking less intimidating course loads, or even graduating early. The program, accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, saw a 15 percent increase in the number of students receiving dual credit in 2010 and a 30 percent increase in the number of credit hours taken. Because the courses are free (no charge for tuition or books) and many can be transferred to other colleges and universities, dual credit “This fall’s credit opportunities equate to hours taken by high substantial savings for area families in a school students struggling economy. represent a savings “This fall’s credit hours taken by high of $1,122,264 for school students district parents.” represent a savings of $1,122,264 for district parents, and that number is based only on Lewis and Clark’s low tuition rate,” Vice President of Enrollment Services Kent Scheffel said. Riley Hale, a Godfrey resident and senior in Journalism 2 at Alton High School, said working as the photo editor for the RedBird Word student newspaper has not only been a fun learning experience, but also a nice head start as she plans to pursue an education in journalism, possibly at Southeast Missouri State University. She’ll have 18 college credits before she even sets foot on campus. “It’s saving me money. I have to go to college three and a half years instead of four,” she said. The Edwardsville School District reached an all time high by offering 46 dual credit courses this fall – the most ever offered by a high school in the dual credit program. “We were amazed to see such a large number of courses and students from one school district who are taking advantage of the dual credit offering,” Scheffel said. “I believe that more parents are realizing the value of their student earning college credit – at no cost to them – while they attend high school. I am sure this college savings is even more significant given the current economy.” Annice Brave: Teacher of the Year 2011 Illinois’ Teacher of the Year for 2011 Annice Brave is an instrumental force for Lewis and Clark’s dual credit program at Alton High School. Chair of the AHS English Department since 2000, and journalism advisor since 1995, Brave teaches a wide spectrum of classes across many academic levels, from English and Journalism honors classes to night school English. As advisor to the RedBird Media Group, she oversees the RedBird Word, a monthly student newspaper; Calliope, the fine arts magazine; WLCA 89.9-2 HD, broadcasting three days a week; and Channel One News, broadcasting news and public service announcements every school day. Many of her junior and senior level courses count as dual credit at Lewis and Clark, which can be transferred to other colleges and universities. “I am very proud to be a member of the dual credit partnership with L&C,” Brave said. “To have the opportunity to help kids achieve their dreams is the biggest payoff there is.” Brave is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher at Alton High School, and is currently one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year 2011. Reprinted from Lewis and Clark Community College’s Summer/Fall 2011 Discover In Their Own Words Chris Kratschmer Marquette Catholic High School Class of 2008 Notre Dame junior (expected grad in 2012) Accounting and History major Will be able to sit for CPA exam after only four years of college It takes most students at least a partial fifth year in college to collect the 150 college credits needed to sit for the CPA exam, but thanks to dual credit courses he took while at MCHS and summer school at Lewis and Clark, Kratschmer will be able to take it after only four years at Notre Dame. “Normally, students would graduate with just more than 120 credits, but I’ll be at 150 at graduation,” said the Godfrey native. “You can save a lot of money through dual credit, and it’s really convenient.” He’s planning to spend his Spring Semester this year studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Alton High School Class of 2010 Pittsburg State University sophomore (expected grad in 2014) Biology and Commercial Graphics major Started first year of college as a sophomore with 36 dual credit hours With 36 college credit hours earned from AHS, Joseph will be able to earn two bachelor’s degrees in only four years instead of five or six. “It’s a great deal because I would have had to pay more money to come here for more years. Plus, I got several classes out of the way, including Public Speaking. I took it in a smaller class where I knew everyone, and now I don’t have to take it in college,” she said. “There was definitely a different atmosphere and more work to do, but my dual credit classes were a lot more like college courses. I think the teachers did a good job teaching us not only the material, but what to expect in a college classroom.” Joseph, a dancer from Godfrey, now dances for Pitt State. Brett Ostrander Sara Joseph Edwardsville High School Class of 2007 (Valedictorian) Stanford University senior (expected grad 2011) Human Biology major, planning on attending medical school Took more comfortable course loads at Stanford, thanks to dual credit Instead of graduating early, Ostrander took advantage of his earned dual credits by reducing his courseloads at Stanford University to a comfortable level. “Not having to take as many units as other people gave me a little more flexibility,” Ostrander said. “The thing that helped me the most was my Spanish transfer credits. Stanford requires a full year of foreign language, but I was fortunate enough to already have that done.” Ostrander said the dual credit courses were on par with honors level courses for him, but well worth the effort. “If you’re planning on going to college, you’re probably going to have to take some of these classes anyway. If you take them in high school, you can save the money on tuition and books and the time. It would be really beneficial,” he said.