Early college credit program grows at NEIT

Forty-five students were honored last week in a completion ceremony for the New England Institute of Technology’s Early College Program – a group more than three times larger than the inaugural program’s 12 students last year.

The program allows high school seniors to earn college credit while completing their final year of high school with a focus on career readiness. This year’s graduating cohort was so large that the completion ceremony had to be split into two sessions to accommodate each student and their family members, a further testament to the program’s growth.

“Last year, you made a bold commitment to leave the familiar hallways of your high school and embark on a unique opportunity to complete your first year of college while finishing your senior year of high school,” Amy Grzybowski, vice president of workforce development and community relations at NEIT, told students at the ceremony on Thursday, May 29.

“You built a community here at New England Tech, one that you will always be part of, said Grzybowski. “And it’s truly been a privilege to have you here on our campus.”

Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green praised the students for challenging themselves by participating in the program.

“Our state can only be as great as it is and continue to grow because of you, your leadership, your dedication and your focus,” Infante-Green said. “Each and every one of you has a bright future … you began to lay that path within this program.” 

Douglas Sherman, NEIT’s senior vice president and provost, himself a graduate of Cranston High School West and a first-generation college student, also commended the students.

“We're here to celebrate your ambition,” he said. “We're here to celebrate your resilience. And we're here to celebrate this outstanding accomplishment. You should all be very proud.”

The program’s graduating seniors said their time at NEIT taught them how to handle the rigors of a college education.

“It was hard being a high school student here, because everyone else in my class was grown,” Abby Khounvichith, a graduating senior at Pilgrim High School, said in an interview. “I made some good friends here … they've helped me with my classes, my work, and they helped me get through this.”

Khounvichith said she plans to complete a Licensed Practical Nurse certificate at NEIT. 

“It really gave me some good experience in getting my stuff together,” Alexandra Hart, a graduating senior at Cranston High School West, said in an interview. She said that the program helped her with “getting on top of deadlines and due dates and really giving me an experience that is similar to the one I'll hopefully experience in the workforce.” Hart, whose studies focused on software engineering and web development, will continue her education at NEIT.

Across entire cohort, students earned more than 2,300 college credits. Participants hailed from 18 high schools across with 80% planning to continue their studies in post-secondary education. Other students plan to enter the workforce, completing an apprenticeship or enlisting in the military. The program will induct a third cohort of high school seniors to pursue studies at NEIT for the coming academic year.