From Golden Bears to Golden Falcons: Partnership with Felician gives seniors head start on college

Dec. 9, 2024

By Rayan Yamout
Editor

This article is part of a four-part in-depth reporting project about the Lyndhurst College Acceleration Program, better known as L-CAP. 

Thirty-nine seniors enrolled in the Lyndhurst College Acceleration Program, or L-CAP, are getting a taste of college life a year early.

The Class of 2025 is the first to be eligible to register for the program, which allows students to earn college credits by taking courses on Felician University’s Rutherford campus.

The courses offered this semester are Fundamentals of Marketing, Introduction to Criminal Justice and Introduction to Psychology. Each three-credit course costs the district $300, and the only expense students must cover is a $50 registration fee, which enables them to access campus buildings and use all services available to Felician students.

“I’ve come across some other college freshmen who are often just as lost as us high school students in a new environment.”

Principal Ms. Vuono said the district established L-CAP to expose seniors to college.

“We thought it would be much more beneficial for them to be on a college campus taking college classes rather than sitting in an elective that they don’t want to be in, taking up seats and [preventing] the underclassmen [from] being able to take those electives,” Vuono said.

LHS’ arrangement is part of a larger program at Felician called Project Forward, in which students from Clifton, Lodi and St. Mary High School of Rutherford take classes at the university. 

This semester, seniors in the program have been limited to three classes that they take with other LHS students. However, during the spring semester, L-CAP students can select from a list of courses offered at Felician, including evening classes, which will require students to arrange their own transportation instead of taking the shuttle Felician provides for daytime classes.

Vuono said within the next few years, the L-CAP program will extend beyond senior eligibility. She said starting in September 2026, the program will be open to juniors as well, allowing students to graduate high school with an associate’s degree from Felician.

“The opportunity to take college classes as a high school senior for free [is] really exciting. I know that’s really enticing for a lot of students, [and] especially parents,” Vuono said. “[The students  graduated with] a lot of college classes that they already have under their belt [that are] paid for. That’s a huge benefit.”

Senior Melania Ogando, who is enrolled in Introduction to Criminal Justice and Introduction to Psychology, said she registered for L-CAP to familiarize herself with college and gain knowledge.

INFOGRAPHIC BY IONANNA HANTZARAS Source: Felician University

Ogando, an aspiring doctor, said because of L-CAP, she has a newfound interest in criminal justice.

“The answers to questions asked in class come very easily to me because of how intrigued I am [by] the subject,” Ogando said.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, Ogando attends her morning classes at LHS, gets lunch in Lyndhurst and then takes the free shuttle from LHS to Felician, where she grabs a drink or snack before attending her classes.

Ogando said she feels comfortable on campus because everyone is friendly. 

“I’ve come across some other college freshmen who are often just as lost as us high school students in a new environment,” Ogando said.

Like Ogando, senior Ryan McKerry, who is enrolled in Fundamentals of Marketing and Introduction to Criminal Justice, said he registered for L-CAP so he could have a smooth transition into college next year.

McKerry, who aspires to pursue a business-oriented career, said he has learned a lot in his Fundamentals of Marketing class.

“The professor [Michael Cicchine] is very nice and teaches us real-world applications to marketing, which will actually help me in the future,” McKerry said.

On Mondays through Thursdays, McKerry attends his morning classes at LHS, has lunch in Lyndhurst and then drives to Felician. 

McKerry said he feels comfortable at Felician because of its relaxed environment.

“The atmosphere of high school is more strict than college, and [L-CAP] gives me more freedom after being stuck in the high school for three years,” McKerry said.

He said he feels great about his decision to enroll in L-CAP and recommends that current juniors enroll in the program next year.

“I am getting a head start into college and believe that will be a huge advantage moving forward,” said McKerry.