More than ever, COM dual credit springboard to college for Hitchcock students

As a junior at Hitchcock High School, Marcus Escobedo was already bounding between
honors classes, power lifting practice (he earned 10th place at the state competition)
and shifts with the Hitchcock Volunteer Fire Department.
When Escobedo heard about dual credit classes, he thought it was too perfect of an
opportunity to pass up. Taking college classes and earning college credit during his
senior year of high school would give him a head start toward his dream job, kinesiology,
which would unite his passions for sports and helping others.
“I wanted to get ahead,” said Escobedo. “Hitchcock offers free college, so I wanted
to take advantage of that.”
“Free college,” as he put it, means that Hitchcock High School pays for college tuition,
books and fees after their students’ test scores qualify them to take dual credit.
Escobedo isn’t the only one to become excited about the program – more Hitchcock High
School students than ever are enrolling in dual credit classes at College of the Mainland.
“We had 11 students two years ago, 22 last year and 44 this year. We’ve made an exponential
increase,” said Derek Hutchinson, the COM counselor at Hitchcock High School who also
runs the college center that students can visit to ask questions about college majors,
entrance requirements and financial aid.
While many colleges offer dual credit, the COM program at Hitchcock provides more
than just academic classes. All dual credit students also enroll in Psychology for
Success, a course that prepares students for inherent challenges of life and college.
Held at Hitchcock High School, Psychology for Success weaves activities and discussions
with lessons about implementing study habits, viewing problems as potentials for growth
and planning for contingencies. Once a week, Hutchinson supplies scholarship applications
for students to complete. He also provides a segue to higher education with field
trips to community colleges and universities across the state, paid for by the Gulf
Coast PASS grant, funded by Houston Endowment Inc.
“The school district is embracing the program. They took away another barrier this
year by providing transportation for students coming to COM,” said Hutchinson. “It’s
paying off. Look at the numbers – 20 out of the 22 dual credit students last year
went off to college.”
Escobedo is one dual credit student who joined in the road trips to universities and
won a superintendent’s scholarship that he applied for during Psychology for Success.
Now a full-time student at COM, he’s armed with college credit and a knowledge of
courses’ structure.
“College is a lot easier because I did dual credit,” said Escobedo. “(Psychology for
Success teacher Doug Alvarez) got me doing presentations in front of people. During
the first ones I kept looking down at my cards. Now I prefer presentations to tests.
They’re easier for me.”
Plus, the mentors he gained in the program still walk his educational journey with
him.
“I go to (Derick Hutchinson) if I need help or advice. He told me I need to balance
work and school,” he said. “We text all the time.”
For more information about Dual Credit classes at College of the Mainland, call 409-933-8449
or visit www.com.edu/dual-credit.