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Samantha Villegas is a super senior at Stanly Early College who graduated from the five-year program this month with her Associate in Arts degree.

She was accepted into all five of the colleges she applied to and will be attending The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the fall to major in Special Education.

When not in school, Villegas is an active community member. She not only volunteers with the humane society, but also with West Stanly Christian Ministries by helping young Hispanic students with their academic success.

Besides volunteering, she works as a math tutor at Forest Hills High School and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa at Stanly Community College.

Looking back on her time at the Early College, Villegas notes that her connections with teachers and staff aided in her personal and academic growth by helping her find jobs and scholarship opportunities.

Whenever she needed a hand in her endeavors, the school was always there to answer questions and help her along the way.

Villegas is especially grateful for the school’s guidance counselor, Mrs.Weeks, and all the help she provided in the recent years.

“I am grateful for every experience I have had at the Early College,” she said.

Abby Furr, who has written about the Early College for the last two years, is also a graduate this month from the school.