Several members of the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Class of 2026 earned a college degree and credits before they officially graduate from high school next month. Students in the Early College Program – a collaboration between CCPS and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) – allows juniors and seniors to attend college courses while they are still in high school.
CCPS students participated May 15 in the college’s 67th spring commencement exercise held on the La Plata campus of CSM.
Juniors who enter the two-year program can earn an associate’s degree in business administration, a medical coding certificate or pharmacy technician certificate. Seniors can start a one-year program to receive a general studies transfer certificate. They earn the certificate while simultaneously fulfilling their high school requirements.
The Early College Program offers several benefits for CCPS students. CCPS covers a student’s CSM tuition, administrative fees and course materials. The school system also provides boxed lunches and transportation from a student’s home high school to CSM campuses and back.
Students can save up to $10,000 in college tuition by successfully completing the degree program. The program also gives college-bound students an early look at what campus life might look like, and they can take advantage of support services offered by CSM.
The associate of applied science is a two-year undergraduate degree which prepares students to enter the workforce or get a jumpstart on a four-year degree by fulfilling general education requirements. While some students earn an associate’s, others go for the general studies transfer certificate option. It is for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university, allowing them to apply for a transfer to most four-year institutions based solely on their college course work.
The following members of the CCPS Class of 2026 earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration from CSM.
Amy Argueta, Thomas Stone High School.
Gurteg Cheema, La Plata High School.
Giusepee De Lama, Stone.
Morgan Edwards, La Plata.
Makai Fitch, La Plata, honors.
Aubrey Hicks, Stone.
Eleanora Jones, Maurice J. McDonough High School.
Aysia Louis, St. Charles High School.
DaSiyah Parker, Stone, honors.
Mia Randolph, Westlake High School.
Courtney Rich, St. Charles, honors.
Chayse Savoy, La Plata.
Nico Silverans, McDonough.
Christopher Spell, McDonough, highest honors.
Imani Spencer, Westlake.
Jaylah Stephenson, McDonough.
Sanaa Thomas, La Plata, high honors.
Semaj Thomas, La Plata, high honors.
Marvin Washington Jr., Stone.
Anneliza Yarbrough, La Plata.
The following members of the CCPS Class of 2026 earned a general studies transfer certificate from CSM.
Amiyah Adams, Henry E. Lackey High School.
Alana Allen, Lackey.
Cristina Aquino, La Plata.
Summer Barber, St. Charles, highest honors.
Kamari Barrett, Westlake.
Vineet Bhavsar, La Plata.
Madison Bond, St. Charles.
London Brehon, La Plata, high honors.
Addison Burris, La Plata.
Isaac Castillo, St. Charles.
Kevin Daniel, St. Charles, highest honors.
Ava Davis, La Plata.
Elijah Dixon, St. Charles.
Xyonne Douglas, Westlake.
Jacob Dryden, Stone.
Sandy Espinal, Stone.
Syndey Gilmore, La Plata, honors.
Olivia Goldsmith, Lackey.
Riley Hall, La Plata, honors.
Harmony Hamilton, Lackey.
Bryce Harvey, Stone.
Brielle Hooker, Stone.
Charlie Jerome, La Plata.
Ezra Jones, La Plata.
Leah Kay, St. Charles.
Hunter Keeler, Lackey.
Jennah Lawndy, La Plata, honors.
Skye Leavy, La Plata, highest honors.
Camryn Lewis, Westlake, honors.
Jacinda McCall, Westlake.
Isabelle McCormick, McDonough, high honors.
Destyni McKay, Lackey.
Jaelyn Merrill, Westlake.
Marcellin Murray, St. Charles.
Jotham Ogunbona, McDonough.
Obinna Okoro, North Point High School, honors.
Estefany Portillo Ponce, St. Charles, highest honors.
Earl Walker Jr., La Plata.
Joshua Williams, La Plata.
Taleya Williams, McDonough.
Zoe Yorio, La Plata.
Aniyah Young, North Point.
The following members of the Class of 2026 earned a medical coding specialist certificate from CSM.
Sulette Atembeshu, St. Charles, honors.
Rayn Brown, Lackey.
Yizelle Orellana, La Plata, highest honors.
The following members of the Class of 2026 earned a pharmacy technician certificate from CSM.
Omaiude Augustine, Lackey.
Leah Bruce, McDonough.
Aubrey Ligons, Westlake.
Miae Martinez, St. Charles, honors.
Gabrielle Peete, McDonough, honors.
Abigail Prince, St. Charles, honors.
Rocmunn Richardson, Westlake.
To learn more about the Early College Program, visit the CSM website at https://www.csmd.edu/.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,904 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).