Shining as a beacon of commitment, Ball High School junior Erin Clore was honored with the Galveston College Spring 2024 Outstanding Dual Credit Student Award for her academic excellence and dedicated community service.

“I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked this year and I want to keep working hard and keep getting good grades,” said Clore, a Galveston native. “I plan on graduating next year with my associate degree.”

The 17-year-old junior believes in hard work, determination and teamwork, all valuable life lessons she learned from playing volleyball, a sport she’s been participating in since she was nine.

Clore is also active within the Galveston Island community through volunteerism. She has served at beach clean-ups, city-wide food drives, farmer’s markets and triathlons.

In addition, she has served as a Sunday School Leader to middle schoolers at Coastal Community Church, is also a member of the church’s Youth Group and Youth Leadership Academy, and was recently appointed to be Parliamentarian for the National Honor Society at BHS.

Clore’s drive and determination in the community are equally reflected in her academic career through GC’s Dual Credit program, and she says she has enjoyed her experience.

“I hold myself to high academic standards and I’m aiming to graduate at the top of my class, and I’m on track to graduate with my associate degree from Galveston College” said Clore. “I love dual credit. I feel that the classes are so much more my pace and it’s really good to be with that group of people. I really love it, and I love all my teachers.”

Clore says the experience in GC’s Dual Credit program will help her in the future when she goes to a four-year university.

“I think I will have a lot more knowledge of what college classes entail,” said Clore. “I won’t be going into it completely blind. I’ll know what to expect.”

The high school junior also likes that GC is close to home and BHS.

“It’s definitely super convenient,” she said. “I can come here and study or do whatever I need to do, whenever. It’s 10 minutes from home and two seconds from the school (BHS).”

After Clore achieves her goal of graduating with a high school diploma from BHS and an associate degree from GC, she plans to attend Baylor University and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Speech Disorders, followed by a master’s degree to become a speech pathologist.

“We’re proud of how hard Erin has worked to get where she is now and we believe it’s important to give recognition where it’s due,” said GC Student Success Advisor for Dual Credit, Alisha McCracken. “She is a wonderful asset to have in the community and one that her peers can look up to. I look forward to seeing her achievements throughout her senior year and watching her walk across the stage in the spring of 2025 to receive her associate degree.”

For more information about the Galveston College Dual Credit program, contact GC Student Success Advisor for Dual Credit, Alisha McCracken at 409-766-5854 or visit https://gc.edu/admissions/dual-credit.php.

ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE

Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.