Durham College celebrated the academic achievements of approximately 150 Durham Region secondary school students from the Centre for Success program on June 17.  The program, hosted on campus through the School College Work Initiative, helps students graduate from secondary school by engaging them in a college environment as well as demonstrating that they can be successful in post-secondary education. 

Gail MacKenzie, manager of Strategic Initiatives at Durham College, attributes the continued success of the program to its ability to be an alternative route for secondary school students.

“The change of venue, to get them out of their traditional high school environment where they haven’t been successful for a number of reasons and all of a sudden put them on a college campus where they feel like college students, they instantly mature and become responsible for their own learning and success,” said MacKenzie.

This year’s event marked the seventh successful year of the educational initiative.  The project has grown significantly over the years from the first pilot project in 2006 with 14 students to the current program that will see almost 300 students enrolled between September and June at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

Adriana McDonough, co-ordinator with the Durham Catholic District School Board points to the yearly success of the program for its longevity.

“It has been a hugely successful program right from the start. We have had success rates anywhere from 80 to 92 per cent,” said McDonough. “These are students that have struggled with credit completion in high school and they come here and they seem to thrive and succeed and see a bright future ahead of them.”

In addition to the Durham College administration and staff, students were joined by their families, teachers and representatives from the partnering school boards:  Durham District School Board, Durham Catholic School Board, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board.