Newburgh Free Academy celebrated its third graduating class of P-TECH students last week. Students participated in a NFA graduation last Monday and Tuesday.

Last Wednesday students were given the opportunity to speak at IBM’s graduation for all P-TECH students across the nation.

P-TECH is an innovative and recent concept. NFA’s P-TECH program serves about 50 students per year who complete the blended high school and community college coursework in four to six years.

Alana Harris is one of these bright young minds. She will be graduating with her associate degree and high school degree. Harris will be studying business analytics at SUNY Farmingdale in the fall.

“It feels great to be done with this chapter of my life but it’s also sad at the same time,” said Harris. “I’ve met so many great people and learned so many great things.”

Harris learned many professional skills like public speaking, time management, workplace conduct, and more at P-tech.

“These really important skills are going to greatly help me in the future,” said Harris. “So I’m thankful for P-TECH for teaching me these skills.”

Like her fellow students, Harris had to deal with COVID-19 putting a damper on her studies.

“Being in the P-TECH program during this time made it manageable,” said Harris. “The staff and teachers reached out whenever they could to check on us and our families.”

This year 27 students are receiving their associate degree and high school diploma, 14 of these students are only receiving their high school diploma. One student will graduate from high school coursework this summer.