Freshmen encouraged to sign up for OCC Advantage program at JEHS

Ninth graders are being encouraged to sign up for the Onondaga Community College Advantage Program at Jordan-Elbridge High School. It allows students who meet certain criteria to attend the college on a full tuition scholarship after they graduate.

Students participating in the program who meet attendance and grade point average requirements and complete community service all four years of high school will be eligible to attend OCC on a full tuition scholarship. Students would have two years once they get to OCC to earn an associate degree or certificate.

While attending OCC, they also have to maintain a certain GPA or higher and meet community service requirements to stay in the program. During the 2021-22 academic year, full-time tuition at OCC is $2,545 per semester.

The current senior class is the first to have the program available to them through all four years of their high school experience. There are currently 34 seniors eligible for the scholarship, but deadlines for community service hours have been extended because of COVID-19.

Freshmen have until March to sign up for the program. There will be a kickoff ceremony at JEHS in January, with the OCC kickoff taking place in May of 2022.