Hyde Academy/Mattamuskeet School Celebrates Class Of 2024

The Class of 2024 at Hyde Academy/Mattamuskeet School, celebrated their high school graduation on May 24. The dual enrollment program allows students to take college courses while in high school, with 19 students presented with high school diplomas of whom five also received an associate degree or certificate through Beaufort County Community College.

The graduates who earned degrees or certificates participated in a larger ceremony with graduates from the college and other early college high school students on May 10. Students who did not complete a degree still have the option to finish at Beaufort CCC or transfer credits to a university. Hyde County residents are eligible for the Beaufort Promise Scholarship, offering free tuition and fees for qualifying students.

Elizabeth Craven, Amirea Gibbs, and Lesly Mendieta-Magana earned an Associate in Arts. Noah Stewart earned an Associate in Science. Esperansa Morales earned a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Lesly Mendieta-Magana also earned a Pharmacy Technician Certification.

Amirea Gibbs and Noah Stewart graduated with cum laude honors from Beaufort CCC. As salutatorian and valedictorian, respectively, both addressed the class, as did Gordon Sadler, the carpentry teacher at Mattamuskeet School and guest speaker.

Dual enrollment is popular among students who want to pursue a four-year degree or more because they can cut down on the number of credits they will need to take at a university. Rural communities can struggle to attract welders, health care providers, or business managers from other areas, so helping their own residents gain the skills they need to become the next generation of professionals ensures the prosperity of these communities.

Beaufort CCC also partners with Columbia Early College High School, Washington County Early College High School, and Beaufort County Early College High School. Qualified students from all area high schools can take free college classes through Career and College Promise.

Early college high school students go to high school classes for their first two years, later transitioning to taking college classes through broadcast, online or in person, just like any other college students at Beaufort CCC. At the end of their education, they can earn a high school diploma as well as an associate degree or certificates.

BCCC wishes all the best to its early college students.