Mountain
House, CA, USA -- The graduating class of 2021 could be facing
tuition costs as high as $339,000 for four years of higher education.
However, thanks to the Early College Pathway Program, some graduates
of Mountain House High School (MHHS) will have a leg up on college
since they will have both a high school diploma and an Associate of
Science (AS) degree, while others will graduate with the credentials
they need to begin a career. The Pathway Program, developed in
conjunction with San Joaquin Delta College Mountain House Campus, the
gives high school students access to college classes so they can
acquire two or more years of college credit upon graduation.
The
Pathway Program was co-created by the Lammersville Unified School
District, San Joaquin Delta College Mountain House Campus. MHHS first
opened its doors in fall 2014, and the Pathway Program began spring
2016, with 38 students. Since then, two more cohorts have been added,
with plans to expand to 150 students within two years. The first
cohort graduates in May 2019 with an Associate of Science degree and
a high school diploma. Students can apply to the Pathway Program as
high school freshmen and commit to two classes per semester in order
to earn their AS degree.
"Gerry
was instrumental in bringing the Delta College Mountain House Campus
to Mountain House and in helping us create the Pathway Program,"
said Dr. Jessie Garza-Roderick, Associate Dean of San Joaquin Delta
College Mountain House Campus. "This is the kind of program that
enriches both the community and the college, promoting diversity in
education at the same time it gives high school students an
opportunity to earn their AS degree."
Any
student interested in San Joaquin Delta College Mountain House Campus
courses can apply for admissions. What makes the program successful
is the proximity of MHHS to the Delta College Mountain House campus.
Pathway Program classes are incorporated into the high school
curriculum and students attend college classes after school hours on
the college campus.
"Being
an exurb of Silicon Valley, parents are focused on preparing their
kids for college, but the Pathway Program also provides vocational
training in fields such as computer networking," added Dr. Kirk
Nicholas, Superintendent of the Lammersville USD. "Our high
school is ranked as one of the top 100 high schools in California
partly because our goal is to meet the educational needs of all
students, including those who are college bound and those seeking
career training. The Pathway Program is just one way we help our
students become more competitive in applying for university
admissions.
"Families
move to Mountain House because it's one of the most affordable well
designed communities in the East San Francisco Bay area market, and
because of the quality of education," said Gerry Kamilos, CEO of
Kamilos Companies. "Part of my vision for Mountain House has
always been to offer local retail, recreation facilities, and one of
the best school systems in the State, which includes the partnership
between K-12 and the community college. With the support of San
Joaquin Delta College Mountain House Campus, we are able help
Mountain House High School students head start on their education.
These types of community enrichment programs are what make Mountain
House attractive to young professionals and families."
According
to CollegeData.com, the average cost of an in-state public college is
$24,610 per year and the average cost of a private college is
$49,320. Even within the state of California, state university costs
are $22,000 per year and higher. At a cost of $46 per unit, parents
of Pathway Program students can save $25,000 or more of college fees.
San
Joaquin Delta College established its Mountain House Campus in July
2009 with the help of a $14 million advanced payment provided by
Kamilos Companies. As a result, students are able to attend classes
locally, without having to commute to Livermore or Stockton. Having
the college as a local resource also is attracting the attention of
area businesses. Tesla, for example, recently established a plant in
Livermore and is interested in working with the Mountain House
Campus.
For
more information about the Mustang Early College Pathway Program,
visit http://mhhsearlycollegepathway.weebly.com.
About
the Pathway Program
The
Mustang Early College Program Pathway is a partnership between San
Joaquin Delta College Mountain House Campus and the Mountain House
High School to help students gain experience in taking college level
courses, earn dual credits at both schools, and earn a high school
diploma and an Associate of Science degree while in high school.
Graduates of the program have a real advantage in applying for
college, and realize a huge financial savings having completed two or
more years of course work.
About
Kamilos Companies
Headquartered
in Gold River, California, Kamilos Companies has been undertaking
major real estate development projects throughout Northern California
and the Central Valley since 1990. Kamilos Companies has a proven
track record developing large-scale, master planned community
projects, including successful project entitlements and coordinating
with multiple land owners, as well as working with local, state, and
federal agencies. The firm has extensive experience in infrastructure
implementation and funding, creating sustainable communities,
endangered species, habitat, conservation, cultural resources,
transit design, water supply management and wetland issues related to
large development projects. Kamilos Companies has managed
entitlements and developments for more than 17,000 acres, which will
ultimately yield more than 8,000 acres of commercial/industrial land
and 35,000 residential lots.
Contact:
Tom
Woolf, Director of PR
Gumas
Advertising
(415)
621-7575
