Talk about starting ahead of the curve! Five high school seniors in Philadelphia have accomplished something truly remarkable: they’ve earned their associate degrees from the Community College of Philadelphia, all before even receiving their high school diplomas. This incredible achievement is thanks to their dedication and participation in the Boys’ Latin Middle College program.
Accelerated Learning, Expanded Opportunities
These five students—Jeremiah Roach, Dylan Adkins, Aidan Marion, Khalif Barakat-Cooper, and Marquise Floyd-Reid—successfully completed 60 college credits. This means they’ve effectively finished the first two years of a university education, completely free of charge. The Boys’ Latin Middle College program is designed to provide young Black boys in underserved communities with early exposure to college-level academics, significantly shortening their path to higher education and future careers.
William M. Hayes, CEO of Boys’ Latin, expressed immense pride in the students’ accomplishments. He highlighted the benefits of this accelerated path: “These young men will enter their next college as juniors or late sophomores. That shortens time to graduation, lowers debt and builds confidence.”
Balancing Rigor and Achievement
The journey wasn’t easy, as student-athlete Jeremiah Roach explained. Balancing his role as quarterback for the school’s football team with a demanding college course load required meticulous planning. “It took a lot of time management and studying,” Roach shared, “But my teachers kept telling me to stick with it.”
Khalif Barakat-Cooper echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of staying organized and proactive. “Do your work early and connect with people,” he advised. These strategies clearly paid off for the ambitious students.
Looking Ahead to Higher Education
Come fall, these five 18-year-olds are set to embark on the next chapter of their academic careers at various universities. Khalif Barakat-Cooper has earned a full scholarship to Temple University, while Marquise Floyd-Reid will be attending Morgan State University. Dylan Adkins is heading to Winston-Salem State University, and Aidan Marion is considering continuing his studies in Europe, though he hasn’t finalized his university choice yet.
What do you think about early college programs like the Boys’ Latin Middle College? Share your thoughts on how we can create more opportunities for young students in the comments below!