Celebrate Completion Of New Great Path Academy at Manchester Community College
The Connecticut Department of Public Works (DPW) will join with Great Path Academy inter-district magnet high school, Manchester Community College (MCC), and other state and local officials to celebrate the dedication of the new $32 million Great Path Academy at MCC in Manchester on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 9 a.m.
The event will take place in the Great Path Academy school courtyard. The new facility is located adjacent to the Lowe Building on the MCC campus.
With the completion of the new state-of-the-art home for Great Path Academy, the school becomes the first public high school constructed on a college campus in Connecticut. The new facility can serve up to approximately 325 students in grades 10, 11 and 12. Great Path Academy had been utilizing classrooms at the MCC campus since its founding in 2002.
Governor M. Jodi Rell stated, “Education is one of my Administration’s major themes and is a vital key to our economic recovery. This beautiful new magnet school offers more students greater educational opportunities – especially those who may not otherwise attend college. This achievement is the product of collaboration among a number of agencies and organizations, including the Capitol Region Education Council, the Great Path Academy Governing Board, the Community College Board of Trustees, the state Department of Education, area superintendents, Manchester Community College, DPW and the Legislature.”
DPW Commissioner Raeanne V. Curtis called the modern and spacious structure a major accomplishment for the Rell administration. Commissioner Curtis added, “My thanks to the design and construction team, and to our own DPW staff for their dedication, and for bringing this important project in under budget.”
Great Path Academy Principal Dr. Thomas M. Danehy, stated, “Our students are thrilled with our middle college high school theme. They love our new classrooms and learning spaces, and take advantage of all that Great Path and MCC have to offer, earning an average of thirty college credits by the time they graduate from high school. It’s great to see our students learning and working in their new school building. Our high graduation rate of 98%, with 100% of students moving on to post-secondary education, exceeds our communities’ goals.”
The new building was named in honor of former MCC President Jonathan M. Daube who retired in 2007 after a long career at the college, and who was a driving force behind the project.
The speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, in addition to Great Path Academy Principal Thomas Danehy, will include Chancellor Marc S. Herzog, Connecticut Community Colleges, and Gena Glickman, President of MCC.
The project consists of a 75,000 square foot facility, including 18 classrooms with advanced technology and flexible learning spaces; science, computer, and language laboratories; art studios; an internet café; a gymnasium; and a large community room. The design promotes easy access to the College and facilitates collaboration between Great Path Academy and MCC.
The architect for the project was Tai Soo Kim Partners of Hartford, the contractor was Banton Construction Company of North Haven, and the construction administrator was Gar-San Corporation of Watertown.
Great Path Academy students presently represent 15 towns and 22 high schools. The students are immersed in the College community and are encouraged to accelerate their post-secondary studies by taking college courses along with their high school courses.
The state Department of Public Works is responsible for the design and construction of major capital building projects (except highways and bridges) for most state agencies, leasing and acquisitions statewide, and facility management, maintenance and security of state buildings in the greater Hartford area.
Students of any age who possess the desire to pursue higher education are welcome at Manchester Community College. MCC is proud of its academic excellence, new facilities, flexible schedules, small classes, low tuition and faculty with both academic and “real world” credentials. The College offers over 60 programs, transfer options, financial aid and scholarships, as well as access to baccalaureate degrees through guaranteed admissions programs with several universities. MCC is situated on a park-like campus and is easily accessible from I-84.
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