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Cayuga CC, Area High Schools Celebrate Remarkable Dual Graduates

Cayuga Community College and a trio of school districts celebrated six students Friday for simultaneously earning their high school and associate degrees, an impressive feat made possible through academic partnerships at Cayuga and area districts.

Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant and leaders from Dana L. West High School, Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES, and Union Springs High School praised the students, saying the dual graduates’ impressive academic success is matched by their commitment to further their education.

“We’re incredibly proud of these students, who challenged themselves to accomplish something that very few have done at Cayuga: Earning high school and college degrees simultaneously,” said Dr. Durant. “Our partnerships with area school districts, led at Cayuga by Professor Sarah Yaw, created countless pathways for high school students to explore their academic options and earn credits toward an associate’s degree. These students seized these opportunities, and have demonstrated to future students everything that’s possible through our partnership programs.”

The six students, their school districts and Cayuga degrees are:

  • Nina Bartolotta, Dana L. West High School, Associate in Arts;
  • Stephen Case, Union Springs High School, Associate in Arts;
  • Gracie Chalupnicki, Union Springs High School, Associate in Arts;
  • Ella Dougherty, Union Springs High School, Associate in Arts;
  • Carissa Quagliata, Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES, Associate in Science;
  • Lilyana Thornton, Union Springs High School, Associate in Arts.

“Port Byron is extremely proud of Nina for the diligence she has shown in obtaining her associate’s degree from Cayuga Community College, while also facing the numerous rigors each teen faces during their senior year of high school,” said Dana L. West High School Principal Kim Brown. “We cannot wait to see the amazing things Nina accomplishes as she transitions into higher education and her future career field.”

Quagliata is the first student from Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES to be a dual graduate. The school is a partnership between Cayuga and CiTi BOCES, offering an online environment for high school students to earn their degree.

“Graduating with both a high school diploma and an associate degree at the same time is an extraordinary accomplishment. Not only did Carissa achieve this milestone, but did so by taking courses both online and on-campus, demonstrating exceptional independence, focus, and perseverance,” said Melissa Daniels, Director of Virtual Learning & Innovation P-16 at Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES. “Congratulations on such an incredible achievement, and our sincere thanks to Cayuga Community College for providing the opportunity and investing in the future of our students in partnership with Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES.”

“Stephen, Gracie, Ella and Lilyana identified in ninth grade that reaching this moment was something they wanted to achieve. Year after year, they pushed themselves and encouraged each other. They are more than just exceptional students — they’re well-rounded individuals who are athletes, musicians, Board of Education student representatives and more. They’ll accomplish great things at their next step,” said Union Springs High School Principal Jason Dentel.

The students are pursuing diverse pathways after earning their high school and associate degrees. Bartolotta is evaluating colleges but plans to study psychology and biology; Case will attend Le Moyne College to study business management; Chalupnicki will attend SUNY Polytechnic Institute to study biology; Dougherty will attend Villanova University to study biology on a pre-med track; Thornton is evaluating colleges but plans to study marine biology; and Quagliata will attend RIT to study cybersecurity.

Cayuga partners with school districts across the region to create opportunities for high school students to earn college credits through programs like Cayuga Advantage, a K-12 distance learning program, and on-campus courses. The College collaborates with school districts across Cayuga and Oswego Counties, as well as in select districts in Onondaga, Seneca and Wayne Counties.

The College also offers its Early College High School program, which allows students in select school districts in Oswego County the chance to earn credits toward an associate degree in Health Sciences or Information Technology. In 2024, the College launched its Early College Pathways initiative, which offers high school students and their families a guided route to earning extensive credits toward specific associate degrees.

For more details on academic pathways at Cayuga, visit https://www.cayuga-cc.edu/academics/high-school-programs/cayuga-advantage/pathways/.