The Bill Gates Foundation provided funding to spearhead a unique opportunity for the residents of Nevada County. Nancy Palmer proudly explains the Ghidotti Early College High School program. “They select these young people in the 9th grade. They take high school classes in the morning and college classes in the afternoon.” These students work alongside adults from the area taking college level courses. “The first year is a learning process for them, but they grow so much, and they expand because they see what these adults are doing. They think ‘I can do anything’ and they do.”
When they graduate, some of the students receive both their high school diploma as well as their two-year degree at Sierra College. The remainder of the graduates have enough college credits to be accepted into a university. Some are qualified for scholarship equaling $25,000 – $35,000.
The first year [of Ghidotti] is a learning process for them, but they grow so much, and they expand because they see what these adults are doing. They think ‘I can do anything’ and they do.
Nancy Palmer, Sierra College Trustee
Nancy has personally attended every graduation since the program’s inception. “What amazes me is they come from all walks of life, and some of these students are the first ones in their family to graduate.”
There aren’t too many of programs like Ghidotti Early College High School in the United States. But the young students of this program have proven that not only can they receive a high school and college education simultaneously, they excel in doing so.
