Fleming College

Ginny Stammers was unsure what her future held after dropping out of high school. For two years she struggled until making the life-altering decision to attend the Centre for Success at Fleming College.

“I made the decision to go back to school for myself, for me,” said Ginny at the Completion Ceremony held on June 15 at Sutherland Campus. “I continue to do this for me, to be the person I was meant to be.”

Ginny, who received her Ontario Secondary School Diploma from Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute at the ceremony, told her fellow graduates that going back to school is the first step towards achieving your goals.

“Each and everything we do adds up to those big moments,” she said. “This high school diploma will lead to college.” And for Ginny it already has, as she will be starting Fleming College this fall for the Mental Health and Addiction Worker program.

Ginny isn’t the only one planning to attend college this fall. 28 students from the Centre for Success have been accepted into a college program for September 2017.

The Centre for Success has been hosted at Fleming College for eight years and is supported through the School College Work Initiative. It gives high school students the opportunity to participate in college-level courses while completing requirements for their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

On Thursday, June 15, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board held the Centre for Success Completion Ceremony at Fleming College’s Sutherland Campus. 48 graduates received their Ontario Secondary School Diploma at the event, with 28 planning to attend college this fall and 19 entering the work world or an apprenticeship; 8 will be continuing their efforts in the Centre for Success to earn their diploma. Overall, 74 college credits were earned this school year and 282 secondary school credits were achieved.

Hailey Harman, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School graduate, is excited for what her future holds. “Being the first kid and grandkid to graduate grade 12, it is such an accomplishment and it’s an honour to have my family and friends here to support me today,” she told the crowd at the Completion Ceremony.

And the Centre for Success participant knows this path can lead to great things. “Through my time here I have met a lot of people, some of which are still my friends,” said Hailey. “As they graduated, I watched them move on with their lives – applying to college, getting accepted into college, choosing their life paths – and it’s great to see.”

Hailey’s classmate, Dezyree Warner, agrees. “This Fleming program opened my eyes to how much we can accomplish,” said Dezyree at the event. “I am finally on my way […] This is where the adventure begins.”