Alex Lenhart will graduate high school with Tri-C degrees already in hand

May 12, 2017

Alex Lenhart is a senior at Rocky River High School. He’ll graduate in June. And when he does, he’ll already have two degrees in hand from Cuyahoga Community College.

Lenhart, who will graduate from Tri-C May 18 with Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, has been a member of Tri-C’s College Credit Plus program since his junior year of high school. Through the CCP program, Lenhart was able to take numerous college-level courses not offered in high school. The program has allowed him to earn high school and college credit in subjects such as calculus, biology, psychology, sociology and philosophy.

“I was on the honors track in high school, where the trend is to load up on AP classes,” Lenhart said. “It’s not a bad way to go, but it’s a gamble relying on AP tests that may or may not get me the qualifying score. At least through CCP, I know I can enroll in college and get the credit while completing my high school credits. It’s a win-win.”

While enrolled as a CCP student, Lenhart was also accepted into the Robert L. Lewis Academy of Scholars, a program designed for ambitious students with a passion for social justice. Students in the academy are required to complete a community project. For his project, Lenhart worked to increase engagement around the opioid addiction crisis in Cleveland’s western suburbs. To raise awareness, he participated in a Rocky River town hall meeting in March.  

"I want to promote community awareness and encourage more discussion of the addiction problem in these communities," he said. "It affects families, especially children. My goal is to encourage development of some common-sense first steps to combat the problem and to advocate these suggestions to legislators."

This fall, Lenhart will attend Case Western Reserve University on a performing arts scholarship, with plans to major in music and business management. He has played trumpet since the fifth grade, and currently plays in a jazz band as well as in the Tri-C Eastern Campus Orchestra.

“I will always be appreciative of my time at Tri-C,” Lenhart said. “The College Credit Plus program has been such an amazing opportunity. My advice to a high school student would be to seriously consider the CCP option because it can really help you in the long run.”

Throughout the month, we will be highlighting members of this spring's Tri-C graduating class. Click here to read more of their stories.