DURHAM, N.C. - The Triangle is in the thick of graduation season, and proud parents have been snapping pictures all over the Triangle for a couple weeks. Today though, a unique batch of grads walked across the stage.

 

 

 

They're all graduating high school, but most have already gotten a jump start on college, too.

 

This is the first class of Governor Easley's "Learn and Earn" program; Clement Early College High School is the prototype, and there are 42 more schools like it starting up around the state.

 

In many respects, this graduation is just like any other with "Pomp and Circumstance" and a nervous valedictorian prepping his speech.

 

In others, it's something completely different. 

 

"It means to be a pioneer, to be a leader," said graduate Aria Halliday. "That's what I'm supposed to be."

 

The 60 students earning diplomas from Clement have spent the last four years immersed in a college atmosphere, taking college courses free of charge at North Carolina Central University. 

 

Some of these students already have two full years of college credit.

 

"Five years ago, we started this early college high school, without really knowing what it would look like, what it would be like, what our students would do, how they would matriculate through this school," said Dr. Cecelia Steppe-Jones, dean of NCCU's Micheaux School of Education. "And today we're so proud to be graduating 60 wonderful students."

 

"We weren't the people we were when we came through these doors," said graduate James Blackwell. "We're new, developed, young adults right now. It's a very important program."

 

It's not just a different type of advanced placement: the program is designed to help underprivileged students, many of whom are the first in their family to go to college.

 

"I wanted to quit at first," admitted graduate Bryant Taborn. "But I strived through it with the help of my teachers and my principal."

 

Most of the graduates say this is just the beginning.

 

"More and more graduations, more and more degrees and more and more success," said Blackwell.

 

Some of these students wouldn't have made it through high school without this program; now, every single one of the graduates has already been accepted to a college.

 

Two thirds of the class will be staying right at NCCU. 

 

Part of the reason for that is the school is offering free laptops and tuition to Clement graduates who want to continue their education there.