Among other accomplishments this semester, the Early College at Guilford has chosen a mascot and enacted necessary changes in dorm policy,.The Early College’s recently formed Student Council narrowed down submissions for a school mascot. Students chose the phoenix, a mythological bird that rises from its ashes when it dies, symbolizing renewal.

Theresa Forshey, Student Council vice president, said, “The phoenix was a legendary bird that by one account lived to be about 500 years old. The Early College at Guilford expects the school to last.”

The concept is popular. Principal Tony Burks said, “Over the coming years at least 70 early colleges will open across the nation.” Early College provides a way for gifted students to escape high school classes that do not challenge them enough.

According to a recent grade report, the vast majority of Early College students are making “A’s” and “B’s” in their Guilford Classes.

Philosophy professor Vance Ricks said of an Early College student he teaches, “I’m not even sure how many of his classmates are aware that he’s a high-school student.”

Ninth and tenth grade students compiled a list of the top 15 reasons to come to Early College at Guilford, which includes “two years of college classes and credit,” “great learning environment,” “awesome teachers,” and “little to no busywork”.

Already, Burks sees triumphs in the Early College at Guilford. He cites reasons for the school’s success, including active, supportive parents and guardians, a committed faculty, access to Guilford resources, and “highly motivated students who embrace challenging academic work and who are eager to serve the community and found clubs and organizations.”

The Early College students show strong initiative. Forshey, who heads the Service Committee, said “I am trying to find some nice ways for the school to help out our [Greensboro] community.” She is trying to round up people to participate in the Winter Walk for AIDS sponsored byTriad Health Project on Dec 1.

The Honor Code and Judicial Committee is responsible for drafting an honor code and creating a judicial board.

This sense of student unity recently helped Early College students receive access to the dorms for studying purposes. David Boy, Student Council president, said that the upperclassmen presnted a petition to the Guilford County School Board. The Board granted permission with little ado.

And all of this before winter break.