Centre for Success and Adult Dual Credit students recognized at annual Completion Ceremony

Over 300 students have breathed new life into their academic futures after completing the Centre for Success (CFS) and Adult Dual Credit (ADC) programs at Durham College (DC).

The programs are a collaborative effort between DC and several school boards: Durham District, Durham Catholic District, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland, and Clarington Catholic. The CFS program supports secondary school students at risk of not graduating, while ADC is meant for adults working to complete their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students benefit from smaller class sizes in the college setting and participate in post-secondary courses, earning dual credits that count towards both their high school diploma and their post-secondary credential.

For all the students, the programs represent a second chance for both academic success and a fulfilling career.

“It’s life-changing for them,” said Sue Hawkins, Director, School College Work Initiative & Academic Upgrading at DC. “These are people who thought they would never graduate, and now they’re moving on to post-secondary education with confidence. It’s an amazing transformation to watch.”

This year’s students celebrated their success with a special ceremony at DC’s Oshawa campus last month. A number of students stepped up to the podium to share their thoughts on the momentous day, including Jada Jonkers, who spoke of her struggles with procrastination in high school.

“We had to face the harsh realities of our unique situations and determine which path we would be taking to make our futures better,” said the CFS student. “I’m so proud of all of us for choosing to make this commitment to become a better version of ourselves.”

ADC student Douglas Sleeper shared similar sentiments. The 24-year-old was inspired by the memories of his late father and uncle to put in the hard work needed to complete the program. In doing so, he found a new passion for the skilled trades and will attend DC this fall to study Mechanical Engineering Technology.

“The program was very insightful,” he said. “After my experience, I have better time management skills and studying tactics, along with a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in a college program and accomplish my goals.”