History Making NFA P-TECH Program Marks 10th Year; 143 Associate Degrees
NFA P-TECH is making history: This year NFA P-TECH celebrates 10 years and 143 Scholars have earned AAS degrees.
NFA P-TECH celebrated 18 more scholars who have earned their AAS degree in Cybersecurity from SUNY Orange, 15 of whom accomplished this tremendous achievement in just four years. All scholars earned both their high school diploma and Associate Degree from SUNY Orange simultaneously through the NFA P-TECH program. 72% of our P-TECH scholars earning the AAS degree are graduating with honors. A total of 143 of graduates have earned their AAS degrees through the NFA P-TECH program that partners with IBM and SUNY Orange. Those who have not graduated with their Associate Degree have transferred their credits to four-year colleges or entered the workforce.
This year, Angelo Reade and Robert Lennon were recognized with a Cybersecurity award from SUNY Orange.
P-TECH, which stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School, began planning in 2010 using a school improvement grant (SIG) to open with students in 2011. NFA P-TECH is modeled after the founding P-TECH school in Brooklyn which opened in September 2011 on the Paul Robeson Campus.
The first P-TECH outside of NYC with IBM as a partner in NYS opened at Newburgh Free Academy under the leadership of Matt Doddo and NFA P-TECH House Principal Kevin Rothman in 2104. Doddo and Rothman were both high school graduates of NFA. Partnered with the ¶¹ÄÌÊÓƵ, SUNY Orange, and IBM, NFA P-TECH to provide scholars the opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and AAS degree in Cybersecurity. Today, NFA P-TECH House Principal is Anthony Williams, Sr. who was a former school counselor and track and field coach at the Founding P-TECH in Brooklyn. Williams is also a graduate of Paul Robeson High School.
At NFA, each year a total of 50 scholars are accepted into a cohort through a lottery admissions process. The P-TECH model typically can span up to six years, starting in ninth grade, continuing through Associate Degree completion. It combines traditional high school coursework with college-level classes and workplace experiences. The goal is to prepare scholars for both college and career success by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge in STEM fields. Some scholars choose to begin working or transfer to a four-year college upon high school graduation.
NFA is making history all around the world. Today, there are P-TECH programs in 28 countries and 14 that are modeling the work that NFA P-TECH has achieved. NFA opened with their first scholars in 2014. On April 3, 2024, at Kaplan Hall at SUNY Orange, there was a celebration of NFA P-TECH's ten-year milestone.
Congratulations to our NFA P-TECH Class of 2024
Bella Ammons
Leiyla Barthe
Gabriella Brathwaite
Johnathan Butts
Crystal Cabrera
Jason Cortez
Ava Forbes
Taylor Franceschi
Thomas Giorgianni
Keswayne Howell
Omari Jones
Robert Lennon
Erica Raya
Angelo Reade
Ammarah Royster
Deacon Toombs
Vincente Velasquez
Derrick Wang
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
