rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Once a senior completes high school, they expect to receive a high school diploma. For Canton Area High School’s Carmya Martell, she will not only receive her high school diploma this spring, but her Associate’s Degree as well!
Martell is the daughter of Amy and Gary Martell, both whom are local educators of Bradford County.
It all began with Martell’s tenth grade summer. While most of her classmates may have been enjoying the summer off, Martell began online college courses through Lackawanna College, using the Level Up Program for high schoolers, offered by Lackawanna.
“My parents are very involved in education and we knew a lot about the college and what classes to take,” said Martell.
The Level Up program at Lackawanna College was created in response to the national crisis related to the rising cost of higher education, the increased time that students spend in college before completing their degree, and the need for students to graduate from their secondary experience prepared to succeed in a major program of their choice.
Because of this option, it helps to reduce or eliminate barriers to enrollment in higher education, boost student retention and completion rates, and link early educational pipelines with family-sustaining careers for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, according to the website.
When asked what was the hardest in juggling both high school and college courses, Martell said “It was a lot of sacrifice. There were events I couldn’t attend,” referring to events with her friends.
Not only has she been doubling her homework the past two years, but Martell has also worked at the Shining Stars Daycare, played varsity and travelling volleyball, softball and track.
As a junior and senior, she spent most of her spring semesters in quarantine due to COVID. However, the lack of in-person instruction did not deter her from her classes. She said that because she is disciplined from the routine of online classes already, the school district moving to online a couple times during the school year, she was prepared and ready to complete her schoolwork and still managed both the high school and online classes smoothly.
On May 16, Martell will receive her Associate’s Degree for professional studies, a little less than three weeks until she receives her high school diploma from Canton Area High School.
“I’ve learned that working hard can present itself,” she said. “I’ve been involved in so many things. My activities list is two pages long.”
In her spare time, Martell likes to travel, play volleyball and play guitar.
“What a lot of people don’t know is that most of this college work was behind the scenes, but it helped me become a better leader and push myself,” she said.
Throughout the process, Martell completed her Associate’s Degree credits that will transfer to wherever she decides to go. Just recently, she announced she was continuing her education through Penn State and will be joining the Nittany Lions in the fall.
She will major in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education.
She hopes that one day, she ends up with her Doctoral degree and teaching at the college level. Martell will be the third generation educator in her family.
During the summer, Martell plans to work at A&A Country Mart and wait for her fall classes to begin.
A piece of advice she has for the underclassmen of Canton Area School District is: “Education is evolving,” she said, “People are wanting to do and become more. This is a good opportunity for kids to be able to do more if they want to.”
For more information about the Level Up Program for high school students, visit Lackawanna’s website at www.lackawanna.edu/offices-and-departments/admissions/level-up.