Beaufort County Early College High School (BCECHS) honored its Class of 2026 during a graduation ceremony held at the Washington High School auditorium. The dual enrollment program, based on the campus of Beaufort County Community College (BCCC), awarded high school diplomas to 53 students. Together, the Class of 2026 earned a combined total of at least 78 associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Students who completed college credentials also participated in a separate commencement ceremony on May 7 alongside graduates from BCCC and other early college programs. Graduates are now headed to four-year universities and careers in the workforce.
Honors and Recognition
At the ceremony, students were recognized for their academic achievements through colored cords. Students wearing gold cords had earned a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, while students wearing white cords had completed an associate degree.
Elli Pake was named valedictorian.
Twelve graduates were recognized as North Carolina Scholars for achieving unweighted GPAs of 3.5 or higher: Henry Adams, Yamiled Bautista Hernandez, Zofia Cheeseman, Jacob Gassman, Cesar Ledezma Valenzuela, Trapper Manley, Zoey Ormond, Elli Pake, Adan Placencia Garcia, Lesly Resendiz, Bayro Tellez Palacios, and Alyssa Winstead.
College Credentials Earned
The Class of 2026 earned an impressive range of college credentials through BCCC.
Three credentials were earned by four students: Yamiled Bautista Hernandez, Danna Valeria Cordova Guerrero, Adan Placencia Garcia, and Kassandra Tejeda each received a Certificate in Community Spanish Interpreter, an Associate in Science, and an Associate in Arts.
Two degrees (Associate in Arts and Associate in Science) were earned by 13 students: Christopher Elias Adame Gachuz, Henry Macon Adams, Alexis Faith Alligood, Saoirse Anam Casey, Zofia Adelina Cheeseman, Skyler Alexander Farlow, Michael Gabriel Furlough, Jacob Ryan Gassman, Alison Giselle Groover, Chase Harley Haddock, Rochelle E. Moore, Elli Margaret Pake, and Alyssa Renee Winstead.
An Associate in Arts and a Certificate in Community Spanish Interpreter were earned by seven students: Dayana Cruz Quiroz, Destiny Cruz Trejo, Viridiana Martinez, Karyme Mendoza Esquivel, Maria Mendoza Soto, Lesly Melanie Resendiz, and Bayro Tellez Palacios.
An Associate in Arts was earned by 21 students through BCCC: Kayon Khaled Al-Shami, Erica Allie Avery, Christopher Chase Barber, Caden David Daugherty, Enijal Evans, Chyanne Elizabeth Harrell, Corris James Jenkins, Savannah Lynn Leggett, Layna Lovett, Trapper Grant Manley, Hazy Marie Murphy, Zoey Karaline Ormond, Jamari Love Pruitt, Imani Tylynn Smith, Makenzie Spruill, Joselyn Trejo-Cota, MacKenzie Ann Viegra, Maria Elaine Wainwright, Makayla Lynn Wells, Alex Morgan Woolard, and Jakob Alexander Woolard.
Several graduates earned specialized credentials in career and technical fields:
- Jamyia Laws earned a Diploma in Cosmetology.
- Cesar Jovany Ledezma Valenzuela earned an Associate in Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, becoming the first student to earn this credential while still in high school.
- Yamilet Osario-Rosalino earned a Certificate in Community Spanish Interpreter.
- Rodrigo Padilla Rubio Jr. earned a Diploma in Electrical Engineering Technology-Applied Electrical Principles.
- Kenneth Salas Hernandez earned an Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Systems Technology.
About Beaufort County Early College High School
BCECHS is a dual enrollment program where students spend their first two years completing high school coursework before transitioning to college-level classes on the BCCC campus. Most students finish the five-year program with a high school diploma and at least one associate degree, and an increasing number are completing the program in fewer than four years.
BCCC also partners with Columbia Early College High School, Hyde Academy, and Washington County Early College High School. Through the Career and College Promise program, qualified students from area high schools, including Northside, Ocracoke, Southside, Washington High School, Washington County High School, Washington Montessori Public Charter School, and Pungo Christian Academy, can take free college courses, with many completing associate degrees.
BCCC congratulates the Class of 2026 and wishes them continued success.
