Two yellow Hoke County Schools buses rolled onto the campus of Sandhills Community College on Monday morning.

It was an exciting new day for 55 SandHoke Early College High School students.

Three years ago, when they entered ninth grade, these first-generation college students began an innovative educational program. The tuition-free partnership between Hoke High School and Sandhills Community College allows them to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree in five years.

The group began taking ninth-grade classes at the Sandhills Hoke Center in Raeford. Now in their fourth year, they will attend classes on the Pinehurst campus. The Hoke County School System provides transportation.

The rigors and requirements of college are not new to this group. They have already taken both high school honors-level courses and some college classes. Sandhills Community College professors teach the college courses.

The SandHoke Early College High School students have not been denied the clubs and activities of high school. They have been able to participate in intramural sports, Student Government Association, Key Club, Dance Team, Praise Team and BETA Club. They even had their first prom last spring.

Now that they are on the Pinehurst campus, the students may participate in any of the activities and organizations available at the college. Currently, there are 150 SandHoke Early College High School students.

An application process admits rising ninth-graders. They must be first-generation college students and residents of Hoke County. Applications are available at East and West Hoke Middle Schools, Hoke County High School, and at the Sandhills Community College Hoke Center.