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Trinity Celebrates Inaugural Trinity-Coolidge Early College Academy Student Recognition Ceremony
Thursday, March 23, 2023. Media Contact: Ann Pauley, Trinity Media Relations, pauleya@trinitydc.edu 202-884-9725

Trinity hosted a special celebration on Thursday, March 23, when the first Trinity-Coolidge High School Early College Academy Students were recognized: All 36 Early College students were officially accepted to Trinity to complete their bachelor’s degrees. This spring, they will officially earn their high school degrees from Coolidge Senior High School and their associate of arts degrees from Trinity.

At the ceremony, Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean of Trinity’s College of Arts and Sciences announced that Trinity is offering every single one of these 36 students a $17,000 special Trinity scholarship to complete their bachelor’s degrees. That’s $17,000 each year, for up to three years. Additionally, as D.C. residents, they will be eligible for DC TAG, DC-CAP and the Mayor’s Scholarship, getting them very close to covering their full tuition rate of $25,860/year (in 2023-24).

This innovative program improves high school graduation rates for D.C. Public Schools and gives D.C. high school students a head start on their bachelor’s degree by completing their associate of arts degree this spring. There are three other cohorts following this first cohort and Trinity is just now accepting the fifth cohort.

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“This is what today’s universities should be doing,” said Trinity President Pat McGuire. “We should all be partnering with public schools to ensure high school completion and put students on a fast track to complete their bachelor’s degrees. This is what communities need as they seek educated workforces. As one of just three private universities in the nation that is both a Predominantly Black Institution and Hispanic Serving Institution, Trinity believes strongly that partnerships like these are essential for the future of higher ed, K-12 education and a well-prepared work force.”

The Trinity-Coolidge High School Early College Program is one of several initiatives that Trinity has created in partnership with D.C. Public Schools and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE).

These are exceptional students: Of the 36 students, 23 have been named to the Dean’s List. There are eight young men in the program and they can enroll in Trinity’s undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. These students plan to major in STEM; Nursing and Physical Therapy; Business; Global Affairs/Political Science; Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice; Education; and Journalism and Media Studies. Trinity is developing academic plans for each student, to assist them in navigating the successful completion of their bachelor’s degrees.

D.C. Chancellor Lewis Ferebee told WTOP news radio, “Knowing that our students have an edge on earning a livable wage is a key part of the vitality of the city. They’re a step ahead in their journey of establishing themselves in their careers and their education, which we think is important.” Notably, he met these students at Coolidge High School in fall 2019 when they began their first year in the Coolidge-Trinity Early College Academy Program. Dr. Antoinette Mitchell, Assistant Superintendent of Postsecondary and Career Education, also spoke, as did President Pat McGuire, two students, Diarou Bayo and Elvin Pena; Coolidge Principal Semanthe Bright; and Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean of Trinity’s College of Arts and Sciences and the exceptional leader of all of our innovative DCPS/early college partnerships. They will all be available for interviews.

“This is an amazing achievement,” said Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean of Trinity’s College of Arts and Sciences and who oversees Trinity dual enrollment and early college programs. “These exemplary students have reached this point through consistent hard work, perseverance, and incredible commitment to learning. Their selection, participation and completion of this program have moved up the timeline of them earning a college degree. We have been committed to ensuring that they have a smooth transition to college. These students have developed higher levels of academic and social competencies and they are well prepared to intellectually engage with diverse issues and challenges facing today’s society. I am confident that as they begin the next phase in their lives, the path they will pursue will continue to make Trinity proud. we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish after graduation. We are grateful to both Coolidge High School and D.C. Public Schools for this partnership. “

Program

Hope Witherspoon, Director of Dual Enrollment and Early College Programs at Trinity
Media Contact: Ann Pauley, Trinity Media Relations, pauleya@trinitydc.edu 202-884-9725

Speakers, left to right: Semanthe Bright, Principal, Coolidge Senior High School; Trinity President Patricia McGuire; Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Chancellor of D.C Public Schools; Dr. Sita Ramamurti, Dean, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Antoinette Mitchell, D.C. Assistant Superintendent of Postsecondary and Career Education.