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Success Stories

Student Spotlight: Leslie P.

  • Diana Kanzler
  • May 12, 2023

Less than a month after earning his high school diploma, Leslie was promoted. “I was offered a store manager position at Domino’s because I got my diploma,” Leslie said. “They heard about how I went to school even though I have children, a wife, church responsibilities, and other things to do.” At just 24 years

Student Spotlight: Christina O.

  • Diana Kanzler
  • April 20, 2023

Christina grew up in and out of the foster care system. When she turned 18 during her junior year of high school, she could no longer stay with her foster family and ended up being homeless. She no longer had a physical address and, therefore, could not attend school. “I’m sure there was some sort

Years later, woman earns her CW diploma; also CW Schools survey

  • Sarah Smith
  • December 20, 2022

Columbus Messenger December 20, 2022 Dec. 19 was special for Canal Winchester resident Deidra Hudson when she became a graduate of Canal Winchester Local Schools after interrupting her education at the end of her junior year in the 1980s. Continue reading

Student Spotlight: Michael R.

  • Sarah Smith
  • October 25, 2022

At only 21, Michael had already experienced the hardships of not having a high school diploma such as “not being able to take certain positions with employers, not being able to attend college, and thoughts of failure.” After a quick Google search, Michael found out about the Central Plains Degree Completion Program and immediately enrolled.

Student Spotlight: Shaneque

  • Sarah Smith
  • October 4, 2022

Shaneque needed extra support to graduate from high school. Unfortunately, she did not receive the level of support she needed when she was a teenager, which led her to withdraw from high school. As an adult, she tried a GED program and a paid online program, but nothing worked quite right for her. She didn’t

Student Spotlight: Brittney Phannix

  • Sarah Smith
  • June 28, 2022

Brittney always wanted to get her high school diploma, but an unexpected pregnancy put her graduation plans on pause. “I got pregnant at 16 and just didn’t want to go to school pregnant and have the other kids talk about me,” Brittney said. “I really had no choice but to drop out.” Over the next

Student Spotlight: Elizabeth

  • Sarah Smith
  • March 23, 2022

At age 20, Elizabeth withdrew from her online high school program. She’d gotten married, had other priorities, and didn’t really feel like her education was going anywhere. She worked a variety of “dead-end” jobs over the next 14 years, but her experience as a security guard for a hospital psychiatric ward inspired her to finish

Student Spotlight: Zoë Coleman

  • Sarah Smith
  • March 16, 2022

Oftentimes, there are circumstances outside of your control. Zoë moved in with her grandmother during her senior year of high school but was unable to finish high school in her grandmother’s school district. She was stuck. At 20 years old, Zoë was able to finish high school online and enroll in an associate degree program

Student Spotlight: Christina

  • Sarah Smith
  • February 17, 2022

Christina grew up in and out of the foster care system. When she turned 18 during her junior year of high school, she could no longer stay with her foster family and ended up being homeless. She no longer had a physical address and, therefore, could not attend school. “I’m sure there was some sort