Early College Program holds event to promote dual credit for youths
Students from all across the Coastal Bend recently met up to learn more about the dual credit Program at Del Mar College.
Held at the CED on Feb. 20 for all high school students interested, Dual Credit Night was a chance to learn more about the program and the varying paths students could take with it.
Offered at around $100 per class, the dual credit program offers an inexpensive way for high school students to get ahead. They can obtain up to 24 credit hours through core classes with the program or begin other programs such as culinary or cosmetology.
Rito Silva, vice president for student affairs, kicked off the event by highlighting that dual credit is a “great opportunity to get ahead and learn. Students should take advantage of it if they can.”
Nicole Kindzirsky, a coordinator for the Early College Program, led a presentation detailing all of the ins and outs of the program and what students would need to do to participate in the program. While some were sure they were going to join, others at the event were there out of curiosity for the program.
Many of the fields students could join for the dual credit program had booths set up where students could talk at length with officials.
Maria Ybarra went with her son Joshua, a sophomore from King High School, to get a better understanding of the program.
“I wanted to learn more the program and what it could do for my son,” Ybarra said. “I’m not sure what we will do, but it’s good to know more.”
Clarrissa Garcia, a junior at John Paul II High School, was primarily interested in the culinary program.
“I’ve always been interested in baking and so I think that being able to start getting ahead in my career early would be great,” Garcia said.
Her mom, Yolanda, seemed impressed.
“Financially, this is great opportunity and it’s also a way for (Clarrissa) to get ahead,” she said.
Kindzirsky said that overall, the event was greater than it had been in previous years.
“We had over 100 people from schools all around come and more eighth-graders and their parents have an interest to start early,“ Kindzirsky said. ”Plus, we had more participation from programs at Del Mar than ever before.”
Kindzirsky said the event was “mostly to educate people about this wonderful opportunity to get ahead and save money.”
