GABRIELA
GHORAYEB
Academic Excellence,
National Recognition
Gabriela Ghorayeb, a sophomore at Lamar State
College Port Arthur, has been named to the Phi
Theta Kappa Honor Society All-Texas Academic
Team.
Ghorayeb, a General Studies major at LSCPA, is
president of the college’s chapter and former
vice president of the honor society group.
A 2014 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High
School, Ghorayeb is hoping to pursue Psychology after graduating with her associate’s degree
at LSCPA.
“I want to help people and psychology is an important field,” she said. “I’m excited to take the
next steps in my education and see where life
leads me.”
Ghorayeb, the daughter of Samir and Melissa
Ghorayeb, has been active in Phi Theta Kappa
since coming to LSCPA. She has also been active in the campus’ “Gamers United” organization, serving as that group’s vice president this
year. She graduated magna cum laude in the
Spring 2016 commencement.
“Gabby is a terrific student and a wonderful representative for this college,” said Dr. Barbara
Huval, LSCPA’s coordinator for Phi Theta
Kappa. “She works very hard and deserves the
success she has had in the classroom and in life.”
STUDENT SUCCESS
LSCPA, PAISD partner to offer
chance to earn college degree
WHO DO EARLY COLLEGE
HIGH SCHOOLS SERVE?
Port Arthur Independent School District students are on the precipice of
an exciting new opportunity that will not only provide them with a high
school diploma, but also 60 hours of college credit, all at no charge to
the students.
PAISD and Lamar State College Port Arthur partnered to provide an
Early College High School program that starts Fall 2016.
Early college high schools are committed to
serving students from backgrounds traditionally
underrepresented in higher education.
RACE AND
ETHNICITY OF
EARLY COLLEGE
STUDENTS
Early College High Schools are innovative campuses which allow students to obtain a high school diploma while earning an associate’s degree (60 college credit hours) toward a bachelor’s degree.
“This is an opportunity that has been in the works for quite some time
and we are so excited to partner with Lamar State College Port Arthur
to assist in providing students with a seamless
transition from high school to college,” Port Arthur ISD Superintendent
Dr. Mark Porterie said. “There has been an overwhelming
response to this program from the public and we look forward to having
our students set foot on their new campus in the fall. We want all of our
students to be successful and the ECHS is another way to provide our
students with the education they will need to be successful.”
Students entering their freshman year this Fall have the opportunity to
take part in the program, starting a process that will
continue over the duration of their high school experience. Once they
successfully complete the four-year process, students would be able to
enter a four-year university as a junior with just two years remaining in
a bachelor’s degree plan of study or enter the workforce.
“A college degree is important to a student’s future and is as equally
important to the success and prosperity of our community,” LSCPA
President Dr. Betty Reynard said. “This is an
opportunity to offer the young people of Port Arthur the chance to pursue a college education when in many instances, this
opportunity might not exist otherwise.”
The ECHS will be housed in the renovated Woodrow Wilson
facility on Lakeshore Drive right in the midst of Lamar State
College Port Arthur’s campus. Students will receive academic and social assistance through counseling and tutoring, helping to
ensure a long-term success for each individual in the program.
L
FAMILY INCOME
OF EARLY
COLLEGE
STUDENTS
ECHS STUDENTS GRADUATE AND
ATTEND COLLEGE AT HIGHER RATES
90 PERCENT of early college high school
students graduate high school vs. the
national rate of 78 percent.
30 PERCENT of graduates at early college
high schools have earned an Associate’s or
college certificate along with their high
school diploma.
71 PERCENT of graduates enroll in college
vs. the national rate of 68 percent.
THE AVERAGE GRADUATE earns 38
college credits, saving 30 percent off a
Bachelor’s degree, or 60 percent off an
Associate’s degree.
2015-2016 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY |PAGE
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