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Incoming Asbury Park High School [APHS] student E’Niah Preston has yet to choose a career path but has made commitment to a curriculum that will lead her on the path to graduating in 2020 with a dual degree.

“One person can change a community, or change a society – that’s why I’m here,” said Preston, who opted to enroll in the school district’s Dream Academy Early College Program over a private high school.

Through its collaboration with Brookdale Community College, the high school’s Dream Academy offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree by the time they graduate.

“I want to work hard, I want to achieve,” Preston said. “In truth, I don’t know what occupation I want to have yet. The only thing that matters is that I want to leave a legacy. I want to show my parents, I want to show my siblings, I want to show everyone I know and love that I can actually do it.”

Preston is among 15 Asbury Park High School freshman who will supplement their high school coursework with college-level courses taught by Brookdale faculty in Asbury Park, according to a new release from the Middletown based college.

Last week, the inaugural Dream Academy students completed a four-week college prep program held at the Lincroft campus.

The summer program, which ran from July 11 through Aug. 4, included class trips, museum tours, yoga classes and seminars on leadership, team building, note taking, research, literature, ceramics, Chinese culture and World War II history.

Fellow Dream Academy student De’jia Dawkins  said the preparatory program has already had a significant impact on the class.

“I learned that you have to think with the end in mind,” Dawkins said. “You have to get things done as soon as they come to you or you are going to pass up a great opportunity. It was a very eye opening experience, and I am very proud to be here today with my classmates. We are all going to be successful in life.”

On Thursday, the students gave a college-level presentation on Chinese culture to a capacity crowd of parents, siblings and representatives from the school district, Brookdale, the Asbury Park City Council, the Brookdale Board of Trustees, and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders at the college’s Student Life Center.

“I am blown away by our students’ talent and dedication to this program,” said Asbury Park School District Superintendent Lamont Repollet [at right]. “The journey is going to be challenging, but you have the support of all of us in the administration, on the board and at Brookdale. Today, we have the chance to talk about you as college students, not just high school students. I am extremely proud.”

Successful Dream Academy students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree in social science, Brookdale spokesperson Keith Heumiller.

In their junior year, the students will begin taking courses at Brookdale’s Higher Education Center in Wall, before becoming full-time Brookdale students and completing their senior year on the college’s Lincroft campus, he said.

The Dream Academy is the second partnership between Brookdale and the Asbury Park School District. In June, college and district officials joined with the Jules L. Plangere Jr. Family Foundation to launch the Asbury Park College Promise, which will offer last-dollar scholarships to eligible graduates good for up to 64 credits toward a Brookdale associate degree.

[photos courtesy of Brookdale Community College]

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