Earn college credit before graduating high school? Check.

Learn a technical trade and build a resumé while still studying for the SATs? Check.

Save money on higher education while finding out if that dream job is really for you? Check.

The New Castle Career Center provides these opportunities to high schoolers from all every corner of Henry County and beyond.

Through the efforts of NCCC staff and teachers, the career center has earned an “Early College” endorsement from the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at University of Indianapolis.

The CELL Early College program in Indiana is specifically designed to help open educational pathways for kids who are the first generation in their family to go to college.

CELL Director of Early College Sandy Hillman announced the endorsement Monday during the New Castle School Board meeting.

CELL began the Early College initiative in 2003. In 2013, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education recognized CELL as the sole organization in the state to train, support and endorse Early College High Schools.

According to CELL, Early College high schools and career centers break down “the barriers that prevent students from attending college and replaces them with bridges to post-secondary success.”

Hillman said the Early College focus is growing in Indiana, with 30 endorsed Early College programs and 130 schools in the state network.

“New Castle Career Center is one of only four endorsed career centers in the state, which is quite an accomplishment,” Hillman said. “There are eight areas that they have to commit to and follow with fidelity. And they have done that and done a great job.”

The career center began pursuing the CELL endorsement in 2013 under the leadership of former NCCC Director Bob Hobbs and former Assistant Director Soni Jones.

Part of the CELL endorsement process includes building collaboration and partnerships with higher education and local businesses.

The New Castle Career Center became an official Early College site for Ivy Tech Community College in January 2016. The partnership with Ivy Tech means Henry County students can graduate high school with industry certifications.

NCCC is also developing partnerships with local employers through the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate (WEC) program.

In order to receive the CELL Early College endorsement, New Castle Career Center also had to graduate students from the program with at least 15 transferable college credits.

“They’ve done that. They’ve done more than that,” Hillman emphasized.

In the 2016-2017 school year, 17 students earned Ivy Tech credential from NCCC. That number increased to 60 students this recent school year.

“That’s really tremendous,” Hillman said. “It means that this staff (is) committed to ensuring that all students can earn a credential or degree leading them to a high in-demand, high wage job.”

Hillman also credited the leadership of NCCC Director Chris Lamb and Assistant Director Mackenzie Jackson for setting the tone and setting the bar high to make the career center a pillar of pride in the community.

– Story excerpt by Travis Weik at The Courier-Times. Read more local stories at www.TheCourierTimes.com. Email Travis at TWeik@TheCourierTimes.com.