Discovery High School students earn college credit and make connections at STCC

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Students from Discovery Polytech Early College High School are taking an exciting leap into higher education by earning credits from Springfield Technical Community College.

This innovative partnership offers students a head-start on their college journey, giving them the opportunity to take college-level courses, gain valuable academic experience and save on future tuition costs.

As part of the “wall-to-wall” early college program, high schoolers ride a bus to the STCC campus two days a week – Tuesdays and Thursdays – to take STEM-focused classes together in cohorts. The only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC is one of six area colleges and universities that offer an opportunity for Discovery students to earn at least three to six college credits per semester.

Discovery is one of the schools operated by the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP). The SEZP has collaborated with STCC since 2020 when students at Springfield High School of Commerce started taking college courses to earn credit.

Discovery is one of several in the "family" of Commerce schools. These schools have distinct identities and leadership teams that serve their student and family communities while still reflected as part of Commerce at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Springfield Empowerment Zone is a partnership between the Springfield Public Schools, the state and Springfield Education Association.

Discovery students started coming to STCC in the fall of 2023. They are taking classes focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and are enrolled in the following pathways at STCC:

• Business
• Cybersecurity
• Healthcare
• Optics and Photonics
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Technical Arts

Students in the Cybersecurity pathway take courses in the newly opened Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity of Excellence at Union Station in Springfield.

STCC President John B. Cook said the partnership with Discovery gives students a valuable opportunity to get exposure to a college environment and take classes in programs that cannot be found elsewhere in the region.

"The students are gaining a significant head start, and the experiences they have here will help prepare them for the next steps in their academic and professional lives," he said. “We are thrilled to welcome Discovery students, and we are proud to work with the Springfield Empowerment Zone.”

SEZP collaborates with STCC staff, including Melanie Laurin, Director of Early College Initiatives. The academic pathways align with the Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint, said Kelley Gangi, Chief of School Innovation for SEZP.

“Melanie and I and others on the STCC team have been strategic on which pathways are optimal for high-wage, high-growth career areas,” Gangi said. “We’re so blessed to be one of the first on the ground at the STCC cyber range (at the Neal Cybersecurity of Excellence Center).”

The wall-to-wall early college program means all students taking college classes are on a pathway to earn an associate degree or 60 credits toward their bachelor’s degree for free, said Declan O’Connor, principal of Discovery. They begin classes on the STCC campus or other college campuses starting in the spring of their freshman year.

“We’re a STEM high school,” O’Connor said. “Our kids pick us because they want to be in a STEM environment. They’re gamers, they’re coders, they’re interested in digital media and managing social media. No student would come to us that didn’t have an interest in a STEM field.”

Gangi said some Discovery students may obtain a degree from STCC while others might take classes at STCC but obtain a degree from another partner institution depending on their major.

The students are gaining a significant head start, and the experiences they have here will help prepare them for the next steps in their academic and professional lives. Dr. John B. Cook, STCC President

For many students, this program provides an unparalleled opportunity to explore a field of study that interests them and prepare for the academic rigors of college. It also fosters a sense of independence and responsibility as they navigate college courses, manage their time and engage with STCC’s diverse student body and faculty.

“They are definitely learning how to be on a college campus,” O’Connor said. “Nobody is sitting in on their classes. They’re walking to their classes. They’re experiencing college life.”

Izabella Martinez, a senior, has earned about 42 college credits so far.

“I take two classes at STCC, and my professors have been very helpful. During the first few weeks, they always welcomed us into class. The professors are easy to email. They brought supplemental instructors into class to help us. We are getting the experience that other college students are getting.”

Izabella takes a computer basics course with STCC Professor Anthony Rondinelli. On one October day, he was teaching the high school students Microsoft Excel. He showed them how to manipulate data, use formulas, create graphs and more.

“They have different needs as students who are not yet graduated, but they’re very pleasant and they want to learn. They’re receptive to being taught,” Rondinelli said. “I really believe in the partnership. A lot of the students have voiced to me that they like the course and they’re learning a lot. That’s really important to me, and hopefully it’s something that will continue on for many years to come.”

For the Discovery students, there are challenges as well as rewards to studying on a college campus like STCC.

Michael Anderson said some days he would rather be with his friends than be in a class. But he understands that knuckling down on his school work will ultimately lead to the reward of earning college credit. “It always trickles down to your mindset: You might not be a college student, but you have to act like one. You’ve got to think, ‘What would a college student do?’”

The partnership aligns with STCC’s mission to provide accessible, affordable education to students from all backgrounds and to support pathways to higher education for underrepresented communities. It also reflects the growing trend of early college programs across Massachusetts, designed to increase college readiness and close the achievement gap for students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Discovery students are already reaping the benefits of this program, with many feeling more confident and motivated to pursue their educational goals. They’re experiencing firsthand the transformative power of education while building a strong foundation for future success at STCC and beyond.

“It’s very exciting being on a college campus,” said Izabella Martinez. “We are used to being in the same building every day and seeing the same faces. When we are on the college campus, we can work with people in fields that we eventually want to get to. We’re also able to network with people in those fields.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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