Kathy Rhodes, Durham College professor and facilitator for the Centre of Success, addresses the crowd as certificates of completion for the Centre for Success program were handed out to 66 high school students.
Durham College's Centre for Success celebrated its most recent graduating class of 66 high school students on January 16, another milestone for a program that is designed to help lower high school dropout rates and create pathways to post-secondary education.
Supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' School College Work Initiative, the Centre for Success engages students by offering an opportunity to study outside of the high school environment and consider their post-secondary options.
The event, which took place at the college's Oshawa campus, marks yet another significant milestone for the program, which has grown exponentially since it began in 2006 as a pilot project at J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate in Ajax. The program has more than tripled its enrolment numbers and received support from numerous school boards, colleges and universities.
Kathy Rhodes, a Durham College professor and Centre for Success facilitator, believes it's important to provide high school students with post-secondary options that will suit their individual needs, opening their eyes to choices and experiences that they might not have otherwise known about.
"For many reasons, high school students can become disengaged from the classroom experience and become at risk of not achieving their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)," said Rhodes. "The Centre for Success enables students to get a very real sense about what life at college is all about while encouraging them to obtain their OSSD and graduate with their peers."
Rhodes also notes that the program would not be possible without support from partners, including parents, teachers, administrators and school boards. The Centre for Success helps students gain a front-line view of why the student experience comes first at Durham College, including having access to student support systems and amenities, small classes and hands-on teaching.
According to recent statistics, it's apparent that programs such as the Centre for Success are having a direct impact on the number of high school students who drop out before graduation.
Statistics Canada reports that post-secondary school dropout rates have declined significantly over the last decade and a half. In the 2004-2005 school year alone, the rate fell to 9.8 per cent from a staggering 16.7 per cent in 1990-1991. These encouraging numbers have not been lost on Rhodes.
"We all know how important it is to have a high school diploma," stated Rhodes. "It's a stepping stone to post-secondary education and sends a strong signal to prospective employers."