No-cost early college courses available for all Somerset County high school students

Judy D.J. Ellich, The Daily American
Updated ·3 min read

SOMERSET — A collaboration between a bank and two education partners provides no-cost early college courses for all Somerset County high school students for the 2023-24 academic year.

Partnership representatives gather in Somerset Trust Co.’s conference room. Sitting, from left: Suzanne Funa, executive director, Somerset County Higher Education Foundation; Sean Cook, CEO, Somerset Trust Co.; and David Jones, vice president, ACM advancement and community relations. Standing, from left: Miha Wood, ACM dean of Arts and Sciences; Jennifer Sheeler, chief financial officer, Somerset Trust Co.; Barb Zuchelli, coordinator, ACM early college and articulations; and Tiffany Boone, ACM college and career coach.

While current funding is designated for the upcoming academic year, this represents the second year this program has been subsidized by Somerset Trust Co. partnering with Somerset County Higher Foundation and Allegany College of Maryland (ACM).

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"Each year, a large percentage of our seniors graduate with college credits they have earned through the Allegany College of Maryland's Early College program, giving them a head start in their college careers," said Rockwood schools Superintendent Mark Bower. According to ACM Foundation Executive Director David Jones, last year the program assisted 383 students with tuition costs in the fall and spring semesters.

Now that the first county school district has opened its doors for the students, teachers, administrators and staff to flow through, this program is ready for consideration.

The collaboration means that "... every public, private, and homeschooled student in the county has the option to enroll in one, no-cost, early college course per fall and spring semester," Jones said.

Eligible courses are taught either within students’ high schools or at the Somerset County Technology Center. Students also have the option to enroll in additional early college courses at a discounted rate.

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The early college coursework supported by this program is solely offered by ACM to Somerset County students, Jones said.  The coursework is transferrable.

Allison Hoffman, vice president and, education and outreach officer for Foundation for Higher Education, said the foundation and Suzanne Funa, foundation executive director, are seeing increased interest in the program and attribute this to the affordability made possible by the contribution from Somerset Trust Co.

"The primary mission of the program is to help local students become college ready. Courses count toward high school graduation requirements, and at the same time, students experience college in a supportive environment: small classes with attentive, experienced instructors," she said.

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Somerset Trust Co., a strong supporter of education programs throughout the region, participated in Pennsylvania's Education Improvement Tax Credit Program, which provided $200,000 in funding to the Somerset County Foundation. The foundation then pays the county students' tuition, books and fees for early college courses through ACM.

“The more students we can support in achieving academic success, the greater our future looks in this area,” said Sean Cook, CEO of Somerset Trust Co.

The Meyersdale school counselor counts ACM as part of her professional success.

"As a Meyersdale Area High School student, I was provided the opportunity to start my college experience at a cost that was affordable to my family," said Cassie Arnold. "I can honestly say I've been full circle with Allegany College of Maryland as a dual enrollment student, traditional student and now an advocate and I have loved the journey every step of the way."

Barbara Zuchelli, coordinator of early college and articulations for ACM, said, “We hope more students will find their path to college through this partnership.”

One former student did just that.

"I really enjoyed the early college program.  Being able to take college classes while still in high school gave me the opportunity to get a head start on my college career and the confidence I needed to be successful," said Olivia Zuchelli, North Star graduate and now an eighth-grade learning support teacher. "My credits transferred to Waynesburg University without any problem. The college faculty were great. They were very knowledgeable and caring."

For more information about early college courses contact a school guidance counselor or ACM College and Career Coach Tiffany Boone at 814-445-9848 or tboone3@allegany.edu.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County high school students can take a college course free