Bridge Year Program featured in Bangor Metro article on United Technologies Center

Bangor Metro magazine published an article on the United Technologies Center (UTC) in Bangor and its participation in the Bridge Year Program, an educational collaborative that aims to increase the number of Maine students who earn a college degree by giving them access to college classes during their junior and senior years in high school. The Bridge Year Program began as the result of an effort involving the faculty of UTC, University of Maine, Hermon High School and Eastern Maine Community College, according to the article. Now, there are seven area public high schools involved as sending schools, as well as area private schools. Students who apply and are accepted to the program can potentially earn 29.5 credits — equivalent to about a year of college — during high school. Programs of study range from business management to building construction, the article states. After graduation, the students have the opportunity to enroll in a Maine community college and graduate with an associate’s degree in applied science within a year. From there, they can enter the workforce or transfer to UMaine where their credits are applied toward a bachelor’s degree, Bangor Metro reported.