The Yadkin Early College will graduate its second class of graduates on May 17 at Peace Haven Baptist Church in Yadkinville at 6:30 p.m.

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The Yadkin Early College will graduate its second class of graduates on May 17 at Peace Haven Baptist Church in Yadkinville at 6:30 p.m.

The county’s alternative high school will bid farewell to the 36 students that make up the Class of 2013.

This year three of early college graduates will receive degrees from Surry Community College along with their high school diploma.

Jacob Cline, Chase Gambill and Kara Pardue will earn an associate in arts degree and associate in science degree.

Four students will accept one associate’s degree from Surry Community College along with their high school diploma.

Zach Brown, Chelsea Gary and Tiffany Parker will earn an associate in arts degree and Vivian Garner will graduate with an associate in science degree.

Senior Forest Meads will earn the transfer core 44 diploma, which means that he will graduate with his high school diploma as well as the 44 credit hours required before starting coursework for a bachelor’s degree in his chosen field.

“We have a real diverse group and a lot of high achievers,” Principal Tracy Kimmer said. “They met our expectations and then some. They were a charismatic and social group and they liked to interact with each other and the instructors.”

Kimmer said the class stood out in many ways. The graduating students averaged 40 college credits each, an increase from last year’s class which averaged 30.

The Class of 2013 was also instrumental in the creation of the media center for early college students.

As a whole the class received approximately $200,000 in scholarship monies. Lena Jones will graduate with a full scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill and Kara Pardue will graduate with a full scholarship to NC State University.

This is the sixth year for the Yadkin Early College, which is one of 76 early colleges in North Carolina.

The school offers high school students the opportunity to earn a free associate’s degree if they choose to stay up to five years.

“Within the first three years the students can have their core high school classes completely done,” Kimmer said. “What they would do at a traditional high school is take electives to try to find out what their career was going to be; here you take college classes.”

Students can choose to take core college classes that will prepare them to move into their chosen field of work or they can take more career-oriented classes by commuting to Surry Community College’s campus in Dobson.

Reach Lindsay Craven at 679-2341 or at lcraven@civitasmedia.com.