2 Jun 2010
Thirty-five Students Graduate With an Associate Degree
DALLAS—Thirty-five high school seniors who recently received an associate degree from Mountain View Community College are preparing to be awarded their high school diplomas as Trinidad "Trini" Garza Early College High School celebrates its first graduating class. Graduation services begin at 7 p.m., Sunday, June 6, at Ellis Davis Field House, 9191 S. Polk St.
The senior class is composed of 76 students, all of whom have earned multiple college credits.
"I am so proud of the opportunity to serve the students as their principal," said Janice Lombardi. "These students' achievements are quite impressive. On average our students have accumulated 51 college credits by the 11th grade. That's a tremendous accomplishment. These students are the best!"
At its inception, the mission of Trinidad "Trini" Garza Early College High School was to give students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree. Through academic effort and motivation, Garza ECHS students can earn and accumulate enough dual credit or college credit at Mountain View College to graduate from high school and community college.
"Leadership, life and learning—that's what this graduating class is all about," said Lombardi.
Garza Early College, recently named for Trinidad "Trini" Garza, the first Hispanic to be elected to the Dallas ISD School Board of Trustees, opened its doors in August 2006, with under 100 students. Today, nearly 400 students attend.
Trini Garza will participate in the ceremony along with his son, former District 7 Trustee Jerome Garza.
"Dallas ISD is pioneering a college readiness warning system and we are proud to lend our support to it," in announcing a $3.77 million grant.