For the eighth consecutive year, Durham College (DC) celebrated the academic achievements of secondary school students from the Centre for Success program on June 16.  The program, hosted on campus through the School College Work Initiative, helped 160 students who were experiencing difficulties in graduating from secondary school to complete their diploma 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 DC, attributes the continued success of the program to its ability to be an alternative route for secondary school students.

“These are secondary school students who were not successful in their previously attended high schools for many reasons – financial, academic, attendance or mental health issues,” said MacKenzie. “When students come to Durham College, they feel they have a fresh start and are treated as adults in an adult learning environment. They live up to these expectations and achieve the kind of success they never thought possible.”

Most of the students are also successful in completing a college credit or dual credit encouraging them to complete their secondary school diploma requirements, while boosting their confidence about applying to and going to college.

The project, which boosts an average of a 92 per cent success rate, has grown significantly over the years from the first pilot project in 2006 with 14 students to the current program that will see over 300 students enrolled between September and June 2015 at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

In addition to the DC 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.