by Lisa Proulx
PORTSMOUTH – Governor Hassan joined New
Hampshire’s Community Colleges recently to honor seven individuals from
high schools across the state who have been advocates for the Community
College System of NH’s Running Start program. Running Start enables
high school students to take courses at their schools for dual high
school and college credit. Great Bay Community College and the
Community College System of NH recently honored Seal Peschel ,
Director, Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center, Rochester.
By earning college credits while in high school, students get a head
start on their college education, can shorten the time to obtain a
degree and reduce college costs. Each course taken through Running Start
costs $150, a significant savings from the costs of a course taken
directly through a college. Running Start credits have been accepted at
more than 200 colleges in recent years, including all seven of NH’s
community colleges as well as institutions that include Stanford, Tufts,
John Hopkins, the University of Connecticut, Purdue, Ohio State, Penn
State, George Washington University, the University System of NH and
SNHU, among many others.
The Community College System of NH (CCSNH) created the Running Start
program in 1999, with an initial group of seven NH high schools. Since
then, the program has expanded to 100 schools. Course offerings range
from technical studies in software applications, automotive, and
engineering, to advanced chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology,
college composition and other humanities courses among others. Student
registrations have increased 25 percent over the last five years.
“Ensuring that students in New Hampshire have access to affordable
higher education is critical to their success in the 21st century
innovation economy and to building a stronger workforce in the Granite
State,” Governor Hassan said. “Because of CCSNH’s Running Start program,
New Hampshire high school students have the opportunity to pursue
college credits at significantly discounted rates, allowing them to get a
head start on their higher education. I commend our local high schools,
community colleges, and most importantly, this year’s Running Start
Advocates Award winners for working together to help prepare our young
people for success.”
“Running Start is an important way for NH families to save money on
college and get a real head start,” said Ross Gittell, Chancellor of the
Community College System of NH. Gittell also thanked Bank of America’s
Charitable Foundation for supporting the program through grants for
student scholarships and outreach activities.
This is the ninth year the community colleges have honored Running
Start high school partners. The 2016 award recipients include:
Susan Clark, Guidance Counselor, Woodsville High School
Tom Kelly, Teacher, Mascenic High School, New Ipswich
Christopher Dodge, Director, Salem High School CTE Center
(Gov. Hassan)
Lisa Yates, Teacher, Nashua High School South
Denise McGlone, Teacher, Plymouth Regional High School
Sean Peschel, Director, Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center, Rochester
Elizabeth Monaco, Teacher, Kearsarge Regional High School, North Sutton
