COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA PROGRAM CELEBRATES GRADUATION OF 21 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS—EACH WITH A HEAD START ON AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 2009 — The Advanced Tech at College program at Community College of Philadelphia will celebrate the graduation of 21 students at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 10 in the College’s Bonnell Auditorium, 17th and Spring Garden streets. The ceremony will bring the total number of high school students who have matriculated through the program over the past five years to 110 students.

Advanced Tech at College (ATC) allows high school students to earn college credits while completing their final two years of high school at the College’s Main Campus. Students celebrate two graduations—their high school graduation, where they receive a diploma, and an ATC graduation, where they receive 30 or more college credits.

The program, which began in 2004, has a high completion rate. Of the 110 students who have completed the two-year program and received their high school diplomas, 96 percent have gone on to attend college. By comparison, nearly half of the students in the public school system drop out.

Some ATC students graduate and then transfer their credits to a four-year college; others remain at Community College of Philadelphia, earn an associate’s degree and later transfer to another institution.

ATC students like Samuel Hardyanto and Evangelia Malahias—the valedictorian and salutatorian for the ATC Class of 2009—overcame many roadblocks that could have derailed their education. Both came to ATC from Horace Furness High School in South Philadelphia.

Hardyanto is remarkably mature for his 18 years. His parents immigrated to Philadelphia from Indonesia. Hardyanto, then eight years old, was left behind with relatives until his parents could get established in America. But his father died unexpectedly four years later, and Hardyanto rushed to Philadelphia to care for his mother who was in poor health. He spoke only a little English when he arrived in Philadelphia. His mother spoke even less English. He has served as her only caregiver and interpreter since his arrival. It is a lot of responsibility for one so young, but Hardyanto sees no alternative. “Our culture expects us to take care of our parents when they need us,” he said.

He admits that juggling his responsibilities at home with his studies has been a struggle. "I don’t know how I do it. I just do my best," he said. Hardyanto will graduate with a 3.9 grade point average and 37 college credits. He has been accepted at Temple University, where he plans to study Mathematics.

Evangelia Malahias, 18, the ATC salutatorian, shares a similar work ethic. Malahias has earned 44 college credits at the College. The hardworking teen works part-time at Estia, a Greek Mediterranean restaurant in Center City, and at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. However, the bubbly young Greek-American feels privileged rather than overburdened by the "amazing opportunities and experiences" that have come her way since she and her mother moved to South Philadelphia from Mountain Top, a small town in the Poconos.

Malahias will graduate with a 3.8 grade point average and has been accepted at Temple University, where she plans to earn a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. She dreams of a career in molecular biology or the relatively new field of bioinformatics research.

Hardyanto and Malahias also were selected as the valedictorian and the salutatorian, respectively, for their class at Furness High School.

ATC Director Linda Hansell said all 21 members of the 2009 ATC Class plan to continue their college education. Some will continue to attend classes at Community College of Philadelphia and earn an associate’s degree before transferring to a four-year school. Others, like Malahias and Hardyanto, are transferring to four-year schools this year.

Hansell said the program has succeeded in its mission to prepare high school students for a seamless transition to college. "Part of the reason for the program’s success is that we have developed an enriched academic content that is complimented by mentoring, tutoring and special senior projects that the students do," Hansell said. "We have shown that with the appropriate resources and support, it is possible for students who are at-risk of dropping out to complete high school and make a smooth transition to the world of higher education and work."

One of the program’s primary goals is to teach students how to learn, so that they will be successful as college students. "We don't just teach them the academics, but nurture the soft skills like responsibility, punctuality, organization and self reliance," Hansell said.
As a result, 90 percent of ATC graduates enrolled in college immediately after graduating high school. Four program graduates already have obtained associate degrees and Hansell said at least five of her former students are on track to receive their bachelor's degrees in June 2010.

ATC admits about 30 students a year from low-performing high schools in the School District of Philadelphia. To qualify, students must have at least a 2.5 grade point average, and they must have maintained an attendance record of at least 90 percent in their freshman and sophomore years. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is a partnership between Community College of Philadelphia and the school district.