Students entered NCSSM-Morganton in 2022 as the first to grace the campus. This year, those same students will be the first class to graduate on Friday, May 24, at 9 a.m.
In 2016, North Carolina voters passed the Connect NC bond that included $58 million to add a second campus for the North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM). Planning for what would become the Morganton campus began soon afterward.
The location was approved by the NCSSM Board of Trustees in 2017. The 62 acres of NCSSM would be carved out of the greater educational campus that includes the North Carolina School for the Deaf and Western Piedmont Community College.
"This is the last/first milestone on campus. We're over the moon about it [graduation] because 145 of the students who were admitted two years ago as the first class are going to be walking across the stage," said Kevin Baxter, Vice Chancellor & Chief Campus Officer at NCSSM-Morganton.
The campus is composed of new construction as well as reviving and repurposing buildings that were at one time used by NCSD.
"I've been in education for 25 years and it's special for any class to graduate from any program anywhere, but this is the most special feeling that I will ever experience because we saw these students through from the very beginning. They accepted enrollment here when the campus was not finished,” said Baxter.
The difference between NCSSM-Morganton and traditional high schools is that students come from throughout the state to attend and that they live on campus.
"They, along with their families, took a real chance because they had faith in this institution. We're going to be rewarding that faith with a beautiful diploma. They are the most free-spirited, pioneering group of all-stars you will ever meet," said Baxter.
NCSSM-Morganton graduates from Burke County are Naydelin Lopez-Rodriguez, Mary Ramirez, Samuel Ramirez, and Ethan Winebarger.
Charda Pearson is the education and business reporter for The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595 or via email at charda@thepaper.media.
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