BY DEBBIE PAGE

Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership (CCTL) seniors received their high school diplomas on Friday afternoon Mitchell Community College’s lawn, and 97 percent of the grads will have also earned their associate degree by the end of the summer as part of this unique five-year program.

In his welcome to graduates, parents, and guests, Marvin Duke urged his fellow grads to remember that accomplishment is a journey. Student speaker Zoey Clark told students to let their memories, knowledge, and friendships carry them forward with confidence.

Speaker Cheyanne Leger counseled his peers to continue to transform and evolve and look for their next opportunities. Percy Pearson reminded graduates that through failure, they will learn and grow, and seeing possible failure as a positive can help them see next their challenge as another opportunity to develop and advance.

Principal Teri Hutchens congratulated the 43 seniors for their efforts, 97 percent of whom also earned a digital media certificate and 30 percent of whom earned a diploma and associate’s degree in less than five years.

The class accumulated a total of 2,600 semester college hours and saved their families approximately $30,000 in college costs by earning their associate degree free of charge through this program.

Hutchins also praised the Class of 2024 for earning just over $3 million in scholarships and grants.

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