Perry Central student earns state conference spot, $500 scholarship

Summer Guillaume stepped into a statewide spotlight in Indianapolis and came home with more than applause. Perry Central said she was selected to speak at the CELL Early College Conference this week, and CELL surprised her with a $500 scholarship. The district also said Mr. Guillaume and Mrs. Howe presented sessions at the conference, while Perry Central’s award-winning PCAP video was showcased alongside them.

For Perry County families, the bigger story is what that appearance says about the path students can take at Perry Central Community Schools. The district says Perry Central is an Early College High School designated by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning, known as CELL, through a partnership with Ivy Tech Community College. Perry Central says that partnership includes intentional dual credits tied to career-ready and transferable credentials, along with a College Connection Coach from Ivy Tech to support parents and students.

CELL says early-college high schools can help students earn a high school diploma and, at the same time, the Indiana College Core, an associate degree, a technical credential or 15 or more dual credits. In other words, the pathway is not just about extra classwork in high school. It is built to move students closer to a postsecondary credential before they leave Perry Central.

The numbers already suggest the model has delivered in local terms. Perry Central says 38% of the Class of 2022 completed the first year of college during high school free of charge through its Early College High School program, saving about $300,000 in tuition costs. For a rural district in Perry County, that kind of savings matters as much as the recognition itself.

The school’s recent state-level visibility also fits a pattern. In January 2024, Perry Central highlighted students from Commodore Manufacturing and Commodore Construction presenting at the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and the State Board of Education in Indianapolis. Summer Guillaume’s conference appearance extends that same message: Perry Central is using statewide stages to show that students from Leopold and the rest of Perry County can build college momentum, gain confidence and earn real financial support before graduation.