Chattanooga State honors seniors for earning college credit while in high school
Posted on 05/29/2019
Hannah Rollins, Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State; and Wilmer Perez, The Howard School.  Photos provided by Chattanooga State.Chattanooga State’s Early College program recently recognized seniors from the area who completed early college courses at the school while in high school. The seniors recognized include 23 graduates from ten high schools in Hamilton County Schools. The ambitious and dedicated students earned a total of 389 college credit hours as a group.
Hannah Rollins, the 2019 valedictorian at Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State, received her high school diploma and earned 78 hours of college credit. She was also active in ChattState’s Global Scholars honors program, and ArtsBuild's Regenerate high school leadership program; an organization that raises money for grant programs for elementary school art teachers. Hannah plans to continue her education at Wright State University majoring in musical theatre. One feature that attracts students to Collegiate High is the opportunity to graduate with college credit. Roland Frederico, another 2019 graduate of Collegiate High, also earned 78 hours of college credit while in high school.
Wilmer Perez, the salutatorian of the Class of 2019 at The Howard School, was honored as an Outstanding Early College student in the Chattanooga State program. He completed two dual enrollment courses at Howard while. Active in the National Honors Society, Youth Court, Upward Bound, Nooga Chatt, and Student Government, Perez will attend Berea College on a full scholarship this fall to study in the nursing program. He plans to become a registered nurse and eventually, a nurse practitioner.
Leaving high school with college credits and prepared for success after graduation is a key element of the Hamilton County Promise. Future Ready Students, Action Area 2 in the Future Ready 2023 action plan, includes a focus on early post-secondary options for students. College credits, advanced courses, and opportunities for industry certifications are so important for student achievement that the Focus Five Performance Targets in the action plan measure successes in this area. Advanced coursework and industry certifications provide students with a head start on college and a career and earning a college degree. Hamilton County Schools plans for additional opportunities for early college credit options and industry certifications in the proposed budget for the 2019-2020 school year.
Recognized seniors from Hamilton County Schools by name, high school attended, and the number of college credit hours completed:
• Central High School: Jacob Logan McClain, 34.
• Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts: Jaylon Atkins, 6.
• Chattanooga School for Arts Sciences: Troy Alexander Pride, 3.
• Collegiate High: Roland Federico, 78; Hannah Rollins, 78.
• East Ridge High School: Valerie Ho, 6; Deimer Hipolito Ordonez-Gomez, 3; Savannah Phillips, 35; Ana Villegas, 9.
• Hixson High School: Alyssa Hobbs. 6; Faiz Sheikh, 3; Fatima Sheikh, 6.
• Ooltewah High School: Jessica Anchanattu, 3; Austin Ash, 12; Avery Bouie, 3; David Thompson, 43.
• Sale Creek Middle/High School: Tanner Harvey, 22; Jacqueline Whaley, 18.
• The Howard School: Galdino Chavez, 3; Hayle Mack, 3; Marco Perez, 3; Wilmer Perez, 6.
• Tyner Academy: Samantha Pena, 6.

Photos: Hannah Rollins, Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State; and Wilmer Perez, The Howard School.
Photos provided by Chattanooga State.