On the Cover: Education Pioneers

     David Starnes, Suki Conrad, and Krystal Woods all have one thing in common—they don't want to waste time. All three high school students attend The Collegiate High School at Okaloosa-Walton Community College. This dual enrollment program for 10^th through 12^th graders, the first of its kind in the state, allows students to get their Associate of Arts degree while earning their high school diploma.
     Throughout the 1990s, OWCC averaged 400 to 600 dual-enrollment students annually, with some graduating from college before they even finished high school, says Sylvia Bryan, OWCC's marketing and community relations director. President James Richburg and administrators then proposed the charter school to the Okaloosa County School Board. "We felt there was a niche and need there," Bryan says.
     Starnes and Woods both attended Niceville High School before coming to OWCC. Woods says she heard about the new school through a brochure in the mail, and Conrad says her mom saw an editorial about the school in the local newspaper. "We went to some parent meetings and liked what they had to offer," Conrad says.
     Conrad says Fort Walton Beach High was against her leaving to attend OWCC. "Administrators asked mom why she pulled me out of school," she says. Conrad and her mother even lobbied the school board. "We started going to all the meetings and talked to the school board about accepting the program."
     The Collegiate High targets a mature audience. "We're set up to serve the student that's academically serious. That same student we want to serve, the schools don't want to lose, so those students did receive some strong counseling not to come," Cotton says. "Public schools are under a lot of pressure for test scores, so they see us as competition."
     OWCC's collegiate school started in Fall 2000 with a full class. "We had more than 300 students apply, plus had a waiting list of 100." Bryan says building "P" houses counselors, a deck, and a computer lab just for the high school students. "But they're not segregated from the rest of campus. When they take a class, there are with the rest of the college students," Bryan says. "We actually have some high school students who are involved in the college Student Government and other activities."
     Starnes, senior, maintains a 3.93 GPA and is treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa and a member of the Brain Bowl, both of which are college activities. He also serves as president of the youth ministry group at Elgin Air Force Base and participates in church service projects. "We built a fence at the Catholic Relief Center for the homeless," Starnes says.
     Woods, a senior, is a senator in OWCC's high school Student Government Association, which she helped jumpstart. "I was the voice of what everyone else wanted," she says. "It's neat being the first class, we can start things." She's active in the Collegiate High School Chorus and B.L.A.S.T. (Believers Loving and Serving Together) and also volunteers with the Special Olympics.
     Conrad, junior, serves as head teen volunteer for the Zoo Teen Volunteer Program, which she indirectly helped start. "It was started because of me going to the zoo program for several years," she says. "There were problems letting me do certain things, no volunteers my age [under 18], so [the volunteer coordinator] created a teen volunteer program so I could help." Conrad also serves as a student assistant for all faculty and staff, tutor and mentor for other high school students, and a member of the National Honor Society and Brain Bowl team.
     OWCC's Collegiate High offers lots of benefits, academically speaking, compared to high school. By the time students finish high school, they also could have a college degree. It's also cost effective because students get college credit and their books for free. Armed with the A.A. degree, they've guaranteed admission to a Florida university.
     However, the school doesn't offer the same athletic opportunities as most public high schools. "We don't have football and soccer, so we lost students because of that," Cotton says. However, "they participate fully in SG, and a lot of them are taking advantage of dance and theatre." They also sponsor a prom and produce a yearbook.
     "We do a lot of personal counseling with these kids," says Cotton, noting that the school provides two guidance counselors. "We get a progress report on students, then we as a staff decide what to do" about individual cases, Cotton says. When students need help, they have access to labs, study groups, and tutors. Starnes says he takes advantage of the facilities. "When you don't have class, you have time to go to labs, the library, and work on things [homework]," he says.
     So how do the students like the collegiate school? "Classes are smaller, instructors are better trained. It's a much more conductive learning experience," Conrad says. Starnes says he appreciates the open schedule. "I'm not in class every 50 minutes like high school." Woods says the collegiate school is more mature and laid-back. "[High school] students are immature. It wasn't fun anymore. I was running for leadership council and losing to cheerleaders," she says. "It was a popularity contest."
     Starnes, who plans to dual major in computer and electrical engineering at the University of Florida, says he sought out the school because he wanted to get ahead. "I want to be finished before I'm in my late 20's," he says. "I still want to be young and out in the work force."
     Conrad's interests were similar. "First because I was bored, then I knew it would cut some years." She plans to attend UF and get a bachelor's degree in zoology and a master's in veterinary medicine. Conrad says she'd like to work for Disney's Animal Kingdom or Animal Planet as a wildlife veterinarian.
     As for Woods, she says she wouldn't mind being a Christian pop singer but wants to study veterinary sciences at UF. Although her major may change, Woods says she will minor in music.

For additional information on The Collegiate High School at Okaloosa-Walton Community College, visit www.owcharterhigh.org. Contact Charla Cotton at 850-729-4949 or at cottonc@owcc.net.