Cleveland County Schools District

Aniyah McMullens - 2013

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight Miss Aniyah McMullens. Aniyah McMullens is a 2013 graduate of CECHS and a 2018 graduate of Western Carolina University. During her time in college, she explored various leadership opportunities and retreats for a chance to make a difference on the campus. She also worked hard to encourage other students to do the same. She graduated with a Bachelor's of Social Work and is considering going back to earn her master's degree. She spent the last two years of college working for the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. She never saw herself as a law enforcement officer, but after working for the sherrif's office in Jackson County, she is now considering completing Basic Law Enforcement Training in hopes of possibly becoming a patrol deputy. This doesn't hinder her thoughts of going back to school to get her Master's in Social Work. For now, she continues to travel back and forth occasionally to work for the office, but focuses most of her time on her biggest influence, her son, Jayden.

Jordan Kohler (Reep) - 2012

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight Miss Jordan Köhler (Reep). Jordan Köhler (Reep) graduated from Cleveland Early College High School with the First Cohort in May of 2012. After high school, she attended Gardner-Webb University where she pursued a degree in Economics and Finance. She graduated from Gardner-Webb in May of 2015 with her Bachelors in Science. Since then she has worked as an accountant, and most recently (until the birth of her son) with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department. She says she was blessed to have her CECHS teachers and peers through her high school years to help shape her into who she is today! She would also like to let the current CECHS students know she is here for them at anytime!

Lydia Biggers - 2015

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight Miss Lydia Biggers. Lydia Biggers is from Shelby, North Carolina. She went to Elizabeth Elementary School, which is now Shelby Intermediate School, and then Crest middle school. She applied to and was accepted into Cleveland Early College High School and graduated in May of 2015. She then went on to attend Gardner-Webb University where she studied Psychology. As an undergrad Lydia was involved in the psychology club where she participated in giving back to the community. She graduated from Gardner Webb University in May of 2017 with a Bachelors of Science degree with a concentration in Psychology. Lydia then applied to and got accepted in the graduate program at Gardner-Webb University, where she is currently pursuing a Master's degree in School Counseling. Lydia also has a job with Cleveland County Schools where she is a behavioral interventionist. She is very excited to be furthering her education to becoming a School Counselor. Lydia enjoys working with children and she feels that God has placed her where she belongs.

Amiee Littlejohn - 2018

Miss Amiee Littlejohn, from Shelby, NC graduated from Cleveland Early College High School in 2018. While at CECHS Amiee was student body president and Class of 2018 Valedictorian. She is attending The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where she is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish. Amiee works as a laboratory assistant at UNC's Genetic Medicine Laboratory, where she hopes to gain valuable knowledge as she studies cell replication. Since being at UNC since August 2018 she has become involved in various organizations such as Young Life and the Community Service Committee of the Student Government Association. She hopes to be able leave her "heel print" at UNC as she continues her journey to becoming a Doctor!

Terra Shiles - 2014

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight Miss Terra Shiles. Terra Shiles (Ayden) graduated from Cleveland Early College High School in May of 2014. After high school, She attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington and pursued a degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentration in English and Social Studies while also pursuing a degree in English. During her time at UNC-Wilmington, she worked with at-risk youth in the community and became a Resident Assistant in an upperclassman dorm. She volunteered at UNC-Wilmington by mentoring international students from all over the world. She was blessed with the opportunity to travel to London, United Kingdom to study abroad in order to see education from a different point of view. She lived there for seven months observing teaching methods and also traveled to Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Denmark. Upon her return she graduated from UNC-Wilmington with two degrees, a Bachelors in Middle Grades Education and a Bachelors in English Literature. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade English in Horry County, SC. She honors her CECHS teachers and peers for contributing in a major way and having a huge impact on where she is today. For her experience at CECHS she says, "I am eternally grateful."

Taylor Banner - 2013

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight Miss Taylor Banner. Taylor Banner, an Alumna of Early College High School and East Carolina University. Taylor graduated from Cleveland Early College High School in 2013. Here she was able to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity of receiving her high school diploma along with her Associates Degree. This made the college journey a little easier and she was able to graduate college a year early. During her time at Early College, she discovered her passion for helping others in the community and understanding people. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and well as Child Development and Family Science. Taylor graduated from East Carolina University in 2016 and shortly after, began her career as a Foster Care Social Worker for Gaston County Department of Health and Human Services. She loves being able to reunite families together and hopes to further her education and take a leadership role in the field.

Austin Phelps - 2014

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight MR. Austin Phelps. Austin Phelps is a 2014 graduate of CECHS. Austin was only the third cohort to travel through CECHS, and was in the main CCC building! He says these new students do not know how lucky they are to have more than one hallway for all of the traffic! During his 4 years at ECHS he stayed involved with the school in multiple ways. He traveled to Crest Middle School to speak to potential students, was a member of the first Glee Club, and also sang at the very first graduation ceremony! Austin enjoyed all of his experiences at Early College; from the numerous expeditionary learning trips, to even going to see the musical Wicked on Broadway with his class. "Maturity is not an age, but a mindset" is one of the most memorable things he learned during his 4 years. Austin graduated in 2014 and traveled to Campbell University where he majored in Communication Pre-Law. Austin was the VP of the Gospel Choir, founding father of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and was a member of the national winning cheer leading team before he graduated in 2016. Since 2016, he has worked for Bank of America, DSS, managed a law office, and now the 22 year old is the Front Desk Manager at the new Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Shelby, NC! Austin wants to make sure that all CECHS students know he is always available to assist or answer any questions as he truly has seen the benefits of this type of program!

Justin McCurry - 2014

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight 2014 graduate Mr. Justin McCurry. Justin was born and raised in Lawndale, NC. After graduating from CECHS in May of 2014, he moved to Buies Creek, NC to attend Campbell University and to study Pharmaceutical Science in preparation for entering graduate school. During his undergraduate career, Justin participated in many leadership opportunities ranging from program ambassadorship to leading review sessions for other undergraduate students. During his studies, Justin discovered his love for microbiology, organic chemistry, and molecular biology, and in May of 2018, Justin graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree from Campbell.

In November of 2016 Justin was accepted into the Campbell University Doctor of Pharmacy program and began his graduate studies in August of 2017. He is currently a second-year professional student in the pharmacy curriculum. While studying to become a pharmacist, Justin teaches undergraduate Clinical Microbiology labs for nursing students, works alongside other students from other medical specialties in treating patients in local care clinics, is a member of the Phi Delta Chi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, and currently serves as the Chaplain for his class of pharmacy students. Additionally, he is involved in the local church community serving in varying capacities. Justin has a passion for helping patients in the clinical setting and working alongside other physicians and nurses to provide the best medical and pharmaceutical care possible. He is planning to graduate from pharmacy school with his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree in May of 2021 and hopes to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy.

Kaitlyn Bolin - 2017

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight 2017 graduate Miss Kaitlyn Bolin. Kaitlyn, from Kings Mountain, North Carolina, graduated from CECHS in 2017. She is currently a sophomore in the class of 2021 at Princeton University in New Jersey. On campus, she's involved with the Orange Key tour guide society, is a copy editor for the Daily Princetonian, speaks with alumni through the Annual Giving Office, and virtually advises high-achieving, low-income students across the country as a Matriculate Advising Fellow. This past summer, Kaitlyn interned for Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, a nonprofit children's festival in Galway, Ireland. There, she spent two months working in communications, designing social media campaigns and contacting performing companies. She later travelled to Tecpán, Guatemala with the Alexander Hamilton Scholars organization for International Leader Week, a week-long opportunity for cohort relationship-building and important sociocultural conversations. Kaitlyn is looking forward to the coming years at Princeton, where she plans to major in Sociology with minors in Spanish and Ethnographic Studies. She's planning a career in college access and higher education administration, as she hopes to one day impact other first-generation college students by advocating for them in admissions and financial aid.

Ana Jones - 2015

Cleveland Early College High School would like to highlight 2015 graduate Miss Ana Jones. Ana was born and raised in Shelby, North Carolina. After graduating from CECHS she attended North Carolina Central University, in Durham, NC. During her time at NCCU she was active in many organizations encouraging political involvement and grassroots organizing. She was presented with many opportunities to gain valuable knowledge of the world of graduate studies, especially through her experience at the American Political Science Association's Ralph Bunche Summer Institute at Duke University in 2016. She graduated from NCCU in May of 2017 with a B. A. in political science. After taking a year off from academia, Ana got accepted into the graduate program for Political Science and is currently pursuing her PhD at Syracuse University located in Syracuse, NY. Though her political interests vary, she is most interested in Civic Engagement and Political Philosophy, and hopes to become a professor in the coming years. CECHS graduates are going great things and impacting the nation in tremendous ways. We are proud of our CECHS Vikings!!!