PDCCC

Under the guidance of Olivia Crawley, retired counselor for Suffolk Public Schools, approximately 60 Lakeland High School sophomores have been given the opportunity to participate in the Paul D. Camp Community College Bridge Partnership program.

Crawley was selected to serve as the community college career coach for the partnership program in which Paul D. Camp and Suffolk Public Schools have joined forces. This purpose of the Bridge Partnership is to promote the continuation of education beyond high school through programs such as Tech Prep, dual enrollment, Path to Industry certifications and other articulated programs.

According to Hobbs Suffolk Campus Dean, Harriette Arrington, &uot;The purpose of the initiative is to build a &uot;bridge&uot; to higher education by identifying and supporting students and helping them stay focused, graduate and attend college.&uot;

A kick-off luncheon was held on March 17 at the Hobbs Suffolk campus where 47 Lakeland High School tenth-graders listened to speakers explain the advantages of higher education and were encouraged to get involvement in the program.

Later events are scheduled for the parents and guardians to become more familiar with the partnership’s requirements. Stu-dents must meet the following criteria in order to participate. First, they must be a high school sophomore at Lakeland, the pilot site for the project, and complete the Career Interest Survey. Next, they must take the PSAT and score in the second or third quartile. Finally, all tenth grade students are eligible, but first generation college students are strongly encouraged to participate.

One of the goals of the program is to introduce the students to the opportunities available

in Suffolk. Students can get ahead by taking college level courses offered at the Paul D. Camp Hobbs Suffolk campus.

Crawley, who is working out of an office at Lakeland High School, is considered a good match for the career coach position. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Norfolk State, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Hampton University and a master’s degree in Christian education from the Virginia University of Lynchburg.

In 1970, Crawley began her career by teaching history and working as a guidance counselor at L.P. Jackson High School in Surry County. In 1974, she moved to Kennedy High School in Suffolk, where she was the director of guidance for three years. For nine years, Crawley worked at Driver Middle School as a guidance counselor, and from 1991 to 2002, she was the lead guidance counselor at Kennedy Middle School. She then took a job in the guidance department in Gates County, N.C. from 2002-2003.

Her goal is to encourage Lakeland sophomores, who would not have considered going to college, to explore the advantages of higher education.