Agriculture is Georgia’s oldest and largest industry. Its economic impact is over $74 billion a year. The Hall County School District is tapping into that market with a new agribusiness education initiative.
This week, the District announced it’s partnering with the University of Georgia to offer a dual enrollment program for students pursuing agricultural careers. Rising high school seniors may apply to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences-Ivester Rising Scholars Program (CAES-IRSP). Participants will receive dual enrollment credit for CAES courses taken at UGA through the Howard E. Ivester Early College. The Hall County School District will provide transportation.
The Howard E. Ivester Early College is an innovative Hall County School District dual enrollment campus for academically ready high school students. The campus provides students an opportunity to earn a high school diploma while also earning college credits.
“We are proud of our six-year relationship with our current college partners: Brenau University, Lanier Technical College, and the University of North Georgia,” says Ivester Dean of Students, Michele Hood. “Now, we are excited to partner and begin a new journey with the University of Georgia.”
Eligible students applied to the new program in the spring semester of last year. Currently, three students are participating: Walker Barrett from East Hall, Ayden Plumlee from Cherokee Bluff, and Chloe Mootz from Flowery Branch. The students began taking classes at the UGA campus in August, studying Introductory Regenerative Bioscience and Animals in Society.
A signing ceremony was held at the Howard E. Ivester Early College campus Monday afternoon, August 30. Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield and UGA President Jere Morehead were among those who attended.
“Almost one half of Georgia’s economy depends on agriculture,” says Schofield. “We need to do more to expose students to the career opportunities that exist in this critical area. Our venture with UGA and the Ivester Foundation is an exciting opportunity that has the potential to change lives and strengthen the economy of the great state of Georgia. We are grateful for the partnership.”
The Ivester Foundation presented a check for $100,000 to the new program. Additionally, a private business owner, at the behest of Ivester, provided a check to the program for $50,000.
